Food limitation in naupliar and adult Diaptomus pallidus1

Abstract

The relationships between survivorship and fecundity of Diaptomus pallidus and algal food concentrations (Cryptomonas reflexa) were examined with a flow‐through system that prevents the depletion and settling of algal cells. Egg production in adult females increased with increasing food concentration up to a maximum at 600 µg dry wt liter−1. Under starvation conditions, egg production stopped and survival decreased, whereas at 60 µg dry wt liter−1 production was halted and survival was high. Adults survived longer under conditions of starvation than did nauplii. Adult survival was high at all food concentrations; naupliar survival was highest at 60 µg dry wt liter−1, slightly lower at 600 µg dry wt liter−1, and much lower at 6,000 µg dry wt liter−1. Naupliar development was faster at 600 and 6,000 µg dry wt liter−1 than at 60 µg dry wt liter−1.