REPRODUCTIVE AND LIFE-CYCLE STRATEGIES IN EGG-CARRYING CYCLOPOID AND FREE-SPAWNING CALANOID COPEPODS

Egg-carrying cyclopoid copepods have lower fecundity and feeding rates , and longer egg hatching times, than free-spawning calanoid copepods. Simple demographic considerations suggest that the lower feeding and fecundity of egg-carrying cyclopoids are adaptations to the potentiall y elevated mortality of ovigerous females, while the shorter egg hatch ing time and higher feeding and fecundity rates found in free-spawning calanoid copepods represent adaptations to the very high mortality ra tes experienced by suspended eggs.