CUES FROM INJURED DAPHNIA AND FROM CYCLOPOIDS FEEDING ON DAPHNIA CAN MODIFY LIFE-HISTORIES OF CONSPECIFICS

Size, age and number of offspring at the first and subsequent two repr oductions were compared in Daphnia treated with cues from invertebrate predators (adult Cyclopoida fed Daphnia) and from crushed conspecific s. Daphnia in the presence of invertebrate predators had earlier matur ation, greater size at first and subsequent reproductions and a larger number of offspring than control animals, while the opposite (later m aturation and smaller size at subsequent reproductions) happened when Daphnia were treated with homogenate from crushed conspecifics.