Dh. Anderson et Ac. Benke, GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF THE CLADOCERAN CERIODAPHNIA-DUBIA FROM A FORESTED FLOODPLAIN SWAMP, Limnology and oceanography, 39(7), 1994, pp. 1517-1527
Microcrustaceans are abundant in many freshwater wetlands, including f
orested floodplain swamps, but little has been done to assess their se
condary production and functional role in these systems. Since standar
d cohort approaches to estimating secondary production are impossible
with continuously growing and reproducing microcrustaceans, it is nece
ssary to obtain independent determinations of their growth and reprodu
ctive characteristics under environmental conditions encountered in th
eir natural habitat throughout the year. The growth and reproduction o
f Ceriodaphnia dubia fed natural swamp seston were measured at 10, 15,
20, and 25 degrees C-temperatures which span much of the annual tempe
rature range in southeastern floodplain swamps. Somatic biomass growth
rates were as high as 61% d(-1). Total growth rates (somatic tissue a
nd egg mass) reached 95% d(-1). Both somatic growth rates and total gr
owth rates could be described as functions of individual size and temp
erature. High egg production, particularly in the larger instars, resu
lted in individuals maintaining high total growth rates (>20% d(-1) at
most temperatures) over the lifespan. Lifetime egg production account
ed for >50% of biomass produced by individuals at all temperatures and
>80% for temperatures greater than or equal to 20 degrees C. Somatic
growth rates for C. dubia fed swamp seston were within the range of li
terature estimates for other species of Ceriodaphnia under various foo
d conditions.