Effect of temperature on growth and fecundity of selected species of Cladocera

Abstract

This paper highlights the biological aspects of a few sub-tropical cladocerans, Daphnia similis, Moina macrocopa, Simocephalus vetulus and Ceriodaphnia cornuta in relation to varying environmental temperatures. At all low temperatures, egg production is uniformly low in D. similis, M. macrocopa and C. comuta, whereas higher temperatures favour increased production of eggs in M. macrocopa, D. similis and C. cornuta. In S. vetulus, on the other hand, environmental temperature resulted in a lowered fecund condition. Of the various species studied, the rate of egg production was the highest in M. macrocopa followed in decreasing order by D. similis and C. cornuta.