Dormancy patterns in rotifers

Dormancy is common among rotifers: monogononts produce resting eggs (diapau se) commonly after switching to mictic phase, and bdelloids enter anhydrobi osis (quiescence) at any time during their life cycle. Monogononts are shor t-lived and inhabit coarse-grained environments; their dormancy is a long-l asting diapause, commonly initiated by indirect remote cues. Bdelloids live 3 times as long, live in fine-grained environments and enter short-lasting quiescence as a direct response to changing environment. The two dormancy forms of the rotifers can be related to the temporal variation of their env ironments and seem to represent diverse responses to disturbance occurring at different rates. The two strategies are alternative and mutually exclusi ve, as no single rotifer species seems capable of both diapause and quiesce nce. Dormancy has great ecological significance: it can carry the populatio n through stressful conditions, promote species coexistence and serve as a biodiversity bank providing reliable colonization source.