Journal of Plankton Research, Vol 21, 1553-1564, Copyright © 1999 by Oxford University Press
M Reinikainen, J Hietala and M Walls
We investigated experimentally how resources were allocated to reproduction
in Daphnia pulex and Daphnia
longispina when varying levels of toxic
Microcystis were added to higher quality food. We used
multiple regression models to estimate mean offspring size and clutch size
in relation to maternal size and clutch number, and analysed effects of
treatments on residuals from the models. We also measured variation in per
offspring investment. At a high cyanobacterial level,
D.pulex was virtually unable to reproduce. At a lower
level, D.pulex produced small clutches. However, the
regression model residuals indicated that the presence of cyanobacteria
increased the portion of available resources allocated to reproduction. The
observed allocation may be a means to maximize reproduction under
diminished longevity. Effects on mean offspring size were marginal in
D.pulex but variation in per offspring investment
sometimes decreased in cyanobacterial exposures. Daphnia
longispina was affected by a higher cyanobacterial level only,
where offspring sized was reduced. Deviations from the regression model
indicated that effects on maternal size alone do not explain this effect.
Clutch size residuals and per offspring investment were unaffected by
treatments in D.longispina. The observed responses
differ from theoretical models on reproductive allocation under food
imitation.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Reproductive allocation in Daphnia exposed to toxic cyanobacteria
University of Helsinki, Tvarminne Zoological Station, FIN-10900 Hinko, Finland; University of Turku, Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland; Corresponding author at: Umeå University, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science & Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?