Abstract
Dry weights of individual Daphnia galeata and D. hyalina, which coexist in Lake Con- stance, were determined weekly during a two year investigation. From each sample and each species a length — weight relationship (LWR) was calculated resulting in 54 (65) regression equations based on N = 2466 (3032) in D. galeata (D. hyalina). The constants (Ln(A)) and (B) of the LWRs showed a marked seasonal variability, ranging from Ln(A) = 1.0784 - 2.4740(1.0152 - 2.3860) and B = 2.14 — 4.20(2.11 - 4.15). The seasonal variability of the LWR was estimated with four different models. Condensing the 54 (65) equations into one seasonal cycle resulted in a model with an explained variance of r 1 = 0.873 (0.869). Three more models were established by calculating multiple regres- sions with lake stratification, average fecundity (E), and food concentration as determining variates. Differences in LWRs of the two Daphnia species were significant (p <0.001). As the most useful approximation during the period of stratification, LWRs are recommended for D. galeata: Ln(W) «= (1.5674 + 0.0287*(E)) + Ln(L)*(3.3611 + 0.0111*(E)) as a generalized LWR for an epilimnetic daphnid, and for D. hyalina: Ln(W) = (1.5593 + 0.0613'(E)) + Ln(L)*(3.2709 + 0.0017*(E)) as LWR for a daphnid which migrates diurnally between epi and hypolimnion. The explained variance of this model is r2 = 0.843 (0.826). The influence of food concentration in the epilimnion on LWRs was found to be significant on Ln(A) but not on (B).
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