The mating and reproductive biology of the freshwater planktonic calanoid copepod Eudiaptomus gracilis

Abstract

1. Quantitative aspects of the mating and reproductive biology of the freshwater planktonic calanoid copepod Eudiaptomus gracilis, including duration and frequency of mating, duration of various phases of the oviducal cycle, egg production rate and adult longevity were studied under laboratory conditions. One set of copepods was fed the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii whose density was adjusted to 2 × 105 cells mL−1 (about 10 mg C L−1), another set was fed a mixed diet consisting of natural plankton (copepod nauplii, small rotifers and large algae) in the size range of 50–150 μm (dry mass approximately 90 mg L−1).2. The entire mating process, from the grasping of the female by the male’s right geniculate antennule to the separation of the pair, lasted about 2 min. Spermatophore placement started at about 30 s to 1 min after mating began and took approximately 1 min. Immediately after the spermatophore had been fixed in the female’s genital segment, the pair separated.3. The total oviducal cycle, including the gravid phase where the female carried ripe oocytes and the non‐gravid phase where the female did not carry ripe oocytes, lasted about 5–6 days. The non‐gravid phase was particularly long; it was longer than the gravid phase and constituted 62–72% of the total cycle.4. Mating and spermatophore placement usually occurred with gravid females although occasionally (in 30 of 200 observations) spermatophores were attached in the genital segment of non‐gravid females. Generally two to four, but up to seven, spermatophores were observed at a female’s genital segment at the same time.5. Clutch size, rate of egg production and adult longevity depended on food. When fed on C. reinhardtii, females carried 7–8 eggs clutch−1, produced a mean of 1.3 clutches and lived 14 days on average. When fed natural mixed food, females carried 10 eggs clutch−1, produced 5.6 clutches and lived 37 days on average.6. Removal of males after the first clutch resulted in no further egg production. Re‐mating is necessary in E. gracilis for continuous clutch production and the production of fertile eggs.7. Mating duration is comparatively short and the non‐gravid phase comparatively long in E. gracilis. This could be an adaption to the life in the pelagic zone of the lake, where fish predators are present. Fish select ovigerous females, pairs in copula and, probably, females with ripe oocytes which make them conspicuous. Thus, a short mating duration and a prolonged period without conspicuous oocytes, can be advantageous.