Food limitation in naupliar and adult Diaptomus pallidus 1

The relationships between survivorship and fecundity of Diaptomus pallidus and algal food concentrations ( Cryptomonas reflexa ) were examined with a flow‐through system that prevents the depletion and settling of algal cells. Egg production in adult females increased with increasing food concentration up to a maximum at 600 µ g dry wt liter −1 . Under starvation conditions, egg production stopped and survival decreased, whereas at 60 µ g dry wt liter −1 production was halted and survival was high. Adults survived longer under conditions of starvation than did nauplii. Adult survival was high at all food concentrations; naupliar survival was highest at 60 µ g dry wt liter −1 , slightly lower at 600 µ g dry wt liter −1 , and much lower at 6,000 µ g dry wt liter −1 . Naupliar development was faster at 600 and 6,000 µ g dry wt liter −1 than at 60 µ g dry wt liter −1 .