Experimental studies on competition between Bosmina longirostris and Bosmina fatalis

Abstract

The effects of food density on competition between Bosmina longirostris and Bosmina fatalis from Lake Kasumigaura were examined in the laboratory. When the animals were reared with a high concentration of Chlorella, B. fatalis, which is slightly larger than B. longirostris in body length, had larger brood sizes and a higher rate of population growth than B. longirostris. When the species were reared together at high food density, B. fatalis overcame B. longirostris. But B. longirostris won the competition at low food density. The effects of Microcystis on the competition were also examined. When the two species of Bosmina were reared in a mixture of Chlorella and Microcystis, the populations of both species hardly increased, although individual B fatalis showed slightly better individual growth and reproduction than B. longirostris. Decomposed Microcystis, however, was utilized well by both species. In Lake Kasumigaura, the decomposition of abundant Microcystis seemed to raise the food level, favouring B. fatalis over B. longirostris.