INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH, REPRODUCTION AND LONGEVITY OF MOINA-SALINA DADAY, 1888 (CLADOCERA, MOINIDAE)

This paper presents the results of a study of the effects of temperatu re on the growth, reproduction and longevity of the cladoceran Moina s alina, a species of potential use as live food in marine aquaculture. The growth rate of M.salina increased with increasing temperature. Som e parameters of development, such as length at death and the number of adult instars, were also positively related to temperature. Other par ameters (duration of juvenile and adult instars) decreased with increa sing temperature, while the number of juvenile instars was unaffected. An increased in temperature resulted in a reduction in age at maturit y and a decrease in the number of days between broods. The number of y oung per female, the number of broods per female, the number of young per day of reproductive life, and the number of young per brood, incre ased up to a temperature of 25-degrees-C. At 15 and 20-degrees-C, subs tantial degeneration of eggs and/or embryos occurred. Likewise, temper ature affected the type of reproduction carried out by sexual females. Temperature and longevity were inversely correlated. It was concluded that temperature acts as a very important factor regulating the life cycle of M.salina. Temperature > 30-degrees-C may correspond to sublet hal levels, while a temperature of 15-degrees-C is considered to impos e stress. The range 20-25-degrees-C is optimal for the development and reproduction of this species.