Population dynamics and morphometries of Gammarus pulex L.: evidence of seasonal food limitation in a freshwater detritivore

Abstract

SUMMARY. 1. Seasonal changes in population size structure of Gammarus pulex L. in a Cotswold stream appeared to indicate a growth check in late summer.2. The relationships between dry weight and body length, and between the number of primary flagellar segments on the first antenna and either dry weight or body length provided further evidence of a reduction in growth in mid and late summer.3. Body fat content was minimal (4% of dry weight) at the end of summer, when large particulate organic detritus was scarce or of poor quality, and maximal in late winter (17.9% dry weight in females; 9.4% in males), after a period of high food availability. In a field experiment, the fat content of animals in summer was raised to levels typical of winter by providing high quality food.4. Field and experimental evidence together strongly infer that this population of G. pulex was subject to severe food limitation from early summer until leaf fall in autumn.