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Life histories of some species of Chydoridae (Cladocera: Crustacea)
Author(s) -
ROBERTSON ANNE L.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1988.tb01719.x
Subject(s) - cladocera , biology , branchiopoda , littoral zone , predation , ecology , crustacean , plankton , invertebrate
SUMMARY 1. Life history parameters of two species of Chydoridae ( Leydigia leydigi and Disparalona rostrata ) were studied in the field and in the laboratory. 2. For both species the number of juvenile instars was variable and tentatively related to initial size of neonate. Egg volume increased with increasing parent length and with decreasing temperature; possible advantages gained by the offspring are discussed in relation to invertebrate predation. 3. The life history strategy employed by the littoral Chydoridae is compared to that of large and small planktonic cladocerans. Small planktonic cladocerans and the Chydoridae (except the Eurycercinae and the Saycinae) produce large young relative to their size at maturity and mature early. However, unlike the small planktonic cladocerans, growth in the Chydoridae is curtailed after the onset of reproduction and in this they resemble the large planktonic cladocerans. This strategy may be related to vertebrate predation and the presence of vegetation in the habitat.