汀棠湖轮虫主要食性功能群及其优势种群的周年动态对水环境变化的响应

为探讨轻度富营养湖泊中轮虫主要食性功能群及其优势种群的动态对水环境响应的生态机理,于2011年7月至2012年6月每月4次采集了芜湖市汀棠湖水体中的浮游动物样品,同步测定了水温、水体透明度、p H值、水体叶绿素a含量和氮磷含量,利用相关分析和多元线性回归分析方法分析了轮虫主要食性功能群及其优势种群的密度与非生物因子(如水温等)、食物资源(以粒径大小不同的藻类中的叶绿素a含量作为指标)及生物因子(枝角类、桡足类和晶囊轮虫等轮虫潜在竞争者和捕食者的密度)间的关系。结果显示:(1)汀棠湖中,掠食性轮虫的优势轮虫为针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla);滤食性轮虫的优势种包括裂足臂尾轮虫(Brachionus diversicornis)、长三肢轮虫(Filinia longiseta)和裂痕龟纹轮虫(Anuraeopsis fissa);(2)主成分分析表明,水温、叶绿素a含量、枝角类、桡足类及其无节幼体和晶囊轮虫的密度是影响与汀塘湖轮虫群落结构有关的变动最大的水环境因子。水温和藻类叶绿素a总含量分别对滤食性轮虫和掠食性轮虫总密度的周年变动的影响最大,而轮虫的潜在竞争者和捕食者对它们的负面影响均不大;(3)轮虫的潜在竞争者和捕食者对于轮虫优势种群密度动态的负面影响也不大。水温、藻类叶绿素a总含量及小型藻类叶绿素a含量(经孔径为25μm的筛绢过滤后水样中的叶绿素a含量(Chl-a25μm))均与滤食性裂足臂尾轮虫和长三肢轮虫的密度间呈现显著或极显著的正相关关系。仅小型藻类的叶绿素a含量对裂足臂尾轮虫和长三肢轮虫密度的周年变动的影响最大。水温是影响滤食性裂痕龟纹轮虫密度动态的主要因子;(4)两食性功能群中的优势轮虫种群的卵率均未与其潜在竞争者和捕食者密度间呈现显著的负相关性。裂足臂尾轮虫、长三肢轮虫和针簇多肢轮虫种群卵率的变动受水温的影响最大,且它们之间均分别呈现显著的负相关性。研究结果表明,水温和食物资源可能是影响汀塘湖中滤食性轮虫和掠食性轮虫密度变动的重要的生态因子。     

芜湖市镜湖轮虫群落结构分析及水质的生态学评价

2003年1—12月,对芜湖市镜湖轮虫群落结构的周年动态进行了研究,并分析了轮虫密度与有关生态因子间的关系。经鉴定,共发现轮虫55种,隶属于15科21属。密度优势种为裂痕龟纹轮虫(Anuraeopsis fissa)、暗小异尾轮虫(Trichocerca pusilla)、前额犀轮虫(Rhinoglena frontalis)、红多肢轮虫(Polyarthra remata)、长三肢轮虫(Filinia longise-ta)、广布多肢轮虫(Polyarthra vulgaris)和多须伪前翼轮虫(Proalides tentaculates),而生物量优势种为前节晶囊轮虫(Asplanchna priodonta)、多须伪前翼轮虫和暗小异尾轮虫。全年轮虫的总密度与水温、叶绿素a浓度及小型纤毛虫密度具有显著的相关性;温度对全年轮虫总密度的影响最大,叶绿素a浓度对春、冬季轮虫总密度影响最大,小型纤毛虫密度对夏季轮虫总密度影响最大,而水温是影响秋季轮虫总密度的主要因素。根据污染指示生物、物种多样性指数和Q值并结合水理化性质对治理后的镜湖水质所进行的初步评价表明,经清淤、截流和换水等措施治理后,小湖区应偏属寡污-β中污至β中污型水体,大湖区属于β中污型水体;目前镜湖水体处于中营养后期—富营养化初期阶段。       

镜湖夏秋季节裂足臂尾轮虫卵率变化及影响因素

调查了安徽省芜湖市镜湖中裂足臂尾轮虫的卵率,分析了卵率与种群密度、食物资源、潜在捕食者和竞争者、水温、水体透明度、溶氧、pH以及氨氮浓度等之间的关系。结果表明,大湖区中,裂足臂尾轮虫的卵率在0.095-1.073间变动,均值为0.293;卵率与种群密度和透明度呈显著的负相关(r值分别为-0.346和-0.329),与总叶绿素a含量和直径小于25μm的藻类叶绿素a含量均呈显著的正相关(r值分别为0.457和0.417);异尾轮虫密度对裂足臂尾轮虫卵率的影响具有明显的时滞效应(r=0.382);在晶囊轮虫密度高峰期,其密度是影响卵率的最主要因素(R2=0.5074)。小湖区中,裂足臂尾轮虫的卵率在0.0471-0.5455间变动,均值为0.194;卵率只与总叶绿素a含量呈显著的正相关(r=0.356)。研究结果提示影响裂足臂尾轮虫卵率的因素具有时空异质性。     

长江口北支轮虫群落结构周年变化特征

2010年10月—2011年9月,对长江口北支水域轮虫和水体理化因子进行了调查。共采集到轮虫19种,隶属于7科,17属,以腹尾轮虫科、腔轮科和臂尾轮科为主。舞跃无柄轮虫和针簇多肢轮虫出现频率高。其中,春季、秋季和冬季的优势种皆为舞跃无柄轮虫,夏季的优势种则为针簇多肢轮虫。轮虫年平均密度为1.40±1.11 ind·L-1,各月平均密度的变化范围为0.2~4.4 ind·L-1,秋季最高(2.25±1.7 ind·L-1)冬季最低(0.93±0.69 ind·L-1),距入海口最近采样点(S5)轮虫全年密度最低(1.00±0.67 ind·L-1)。应用Primer软件,对每月轮虫的群落密度进行聚类分析和MDS分析,两者分析结果一致,1、2、3和9月轮虫密度相近,5、8和11月差异不大。CCA分析表明,盐度是影响轮虫群落结构变化的主要环境因子。     

新安江水域(屯溪段)轮虫的种群增长研究

应用群体培养法对采自新安江水域(屯溪段)的萼花臂尾轮虫在4种不同温度(15℃、20℃、25℃和30℃)下的种群动态进行研究。结果表明,温度对轮虫的种群增长率和休眠卵产量均有显著影响(P<0.05)。随着培养温度的升高,轮虫的种群增长率逐渐增大;休眠卵产量在15℃时最小,其余温度下无显著差异。轮虫的总雌体密度在25℃最大,15℃最小;4温度下,雄体和产雄卵的混交雌体的生产量15℃下最小,25℃下最大;而产休眠卵的混交雌体的生产量在15℃下最小,20℃下最大。温度对轮虫的平均混交雌体百分率和平均混交雌体受精率均无显著影响。     

甲胺磷和17β－雌二醇对萼花臂尾轮虫实验种群动态的影响

对暴露于不同浓度的甲胺磷(0.01、0.1、1.0、10.0、100.0、1 000.0和10 000.0 μg·L-1)和17β-雌二醇(0.001、0.01、0.1、1.0、10.0、100.0、和1 000.0 μg·L-1)溶液中的萼花臂尾轮虫的种群动态进行了研究.结果表明:甲胺磷和17β-雌二醇对轮虫种群动态的影响存在差异.甲胺磷和17β-雌二醇对实验期间轮虫的平均种群增长率均有显著影响,但对轮虫种群中的混交雌体受精率的平均值无显著影响;甲胺磷对实验期间轮虫种群中的携卵雌体数/非携卵雌体数和混交雌体百分率的平均值均有显著影响,而17β-雌二醇则无显著影响;甲胺磷对实验期间轮虫的休眠卵总产量无显著影响,而17β-雌二醇的影响较显著.与对照相比,10.0～10 000.0 μg·L-1的甲胺磷和100.0 μg·L-1的17β-雌二醇均使轮虫的平均种群增长率显著提高;0.1～10 000.0和10.0 μg·L-1的甲胺磷分别显著地降低了实验期间轮虫种群中的携卵雌体数/非携卵雌体数和混交雌体百分率的平均值;1 000.0 μg·L-1的17β-雌二醇显著降低了轮虫的休眠卵总产量.在实验浓度范围内,轮虫平均种群增长率(Y,d-1)与甲胺磷浓度(X,μg·L-1)之间的关系为Y=-2×10-8X2 0.0002X 0.3474.种群增长率可用于监测和评价甲胺磷对轮虫种群动态的影响.     

种群起始密度对萼花臂尾轮虫休眠卵形成的影响

应用群体累积培养法,研究了种群起始密度对萼花臂尾轮虫休眠卵的形成及之相关的混交雌体百分率和受精率的影响,结果表明,在连续１１ｄ的培养中,轮虫休眠卵的产量和形成效率以及种群中的平均混交雌体百分率以种群起始密度为１．０－１０．０ｉｎｄ．ｍｌ＾－１组最大,２０．０ｉｎｄ．ｍｌ＾－１组次之,５０．０ｉｎｄ．ｍｌ＾－１组最小,各组间的平均混交雌体受精率则无显著差异,对轮虫休卢卵最大形成效率及其出现的时间以及     

镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫夏季种群等位酶分析以及克隆间的生殖差异

应用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶垂直板电泳技术和特异性染色方法,对采自芜湖市镜湖的萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionuscalyciflorus)夏季种群内的16个克隆进行了等位酶分析。在检测的6种等位酶系统中,依据葡萄糖磷酸异构酶(GPI)和苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)的酶谱在克隆间所存在的明显差异,将镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫夏季种群内的16个克隆划分为4个互不相同的克隆群。对由4个克隆群中分别随机选取的1个克隆(共4个克隆,分别命名为克隆A、克隆B、克隆C和克隆D)在4种斜生栅藻(Scenedesmusobliquus)密度(1.0,2.0,4.0和8.0×106cells/ml)下的孤雌生殖和有性生殖所作的研究发现,食物密度、克隆以及两者间的交互作用对轮虫的种群瞬时增长率、种群中的混交雌体百分率、混交雌体受精率和休眠卵产量等4项指标均有显著影响。4克隆中,克隆D的这4项指标均最高,而克隆B的种群瞬时增长率以及克隆A的其他3项指标均最低。克隆B的种群瞬时增长率、种群中的混交雌体百分率和混交雌体受精率均与食物密度间无显著的相关性;克隆A和C的种群瞬时增长率与食物密度间呈曲线相关,而其种群中的混交雌体百分率和混交雌体受精率均与食物密度间无显著的相关性;克隆D的种群瞬时增长率、种群中的混交雌体百分率和混交雌体受精率均与食物密度间呈曲线相关。这些结果表明:镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫夏季种群内存在“克隆共存”现象,且有些克隆间在生化遗传和生态特征方面具有明显的差异     

利用种群增长研究镜湖夏季萼花臂尾轮虫对水温的适应

运用种群增长实验方法, 在4个温度(20℃、24℃、28℃和32℃)和3个斜生栅藻Scenedesmus obliquus (Turpin) Kuetzing密度(1.0106、2.0106和4.0106 cells/mL)共12个条件组合下研究了镜湖夏季出现的萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas)的种群增长率、平均混交率、平均受精率和休眠卵产量等生殖参数。结果表明, 在各食物密度下, 轮虫种群增长率均在28℃和32℃下最高。平均混交率、平均受精率和休眠卵产量等与温度间的关系因食物密度的不同而异。温度对种群增长率、平均混交率、平均受精率和休眠卵产量均有极显著性影响(P 0.01), 食物密度对种群增长率和休眠卵产量均有极显著性影响(P 0.01), 温度和食物密度的交互作用对平均混交率、平均受精率和休眠卵产量均有极显著性影响(P 0.01)。在1.0106、2.0106和4.0106 cells/mL的斜生栅藻密度以及28℃和32℃下, 轮虫具有较高的种群增长率(1.501.95/d)表明该种群能够适应较高的水温, 水温不是导致其在夏季水体中具有极低的种群密度(远低于1个/L)的直接因素。在种群存在于镜湖水体期间(7月初至12月初), 特别是当水温降至20℃左右时, 其较高的休眠卵产量为该种群在次年的同一时段在水体中重新出现提供了保证。       

氯氰菊酯和溴氰菊酯对萼花臂尾轮虫生殖的影响

以萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)为受试动物,运用3d种群增长和4d休眠卵产量实验方法研究了不同浓度的氯氰菊酯(31.25、62.5、125、250、500、1000 μg/L和2000 μg/L)和溴氰菊酯(15.63、31.25、62.5、125、250μg/L和500 μg/L)对轮虫生殖的影响.结果显示,氯氰菊酯浓度对轮虫种群增长率、轮虫种群中的OF/NOF值和MF/AF值、混交率和休眠卵产量均有显著影响(P均＜0.001),但对轮虫混交雌体受精率无显著的影响(P＞0.05);溴氰菊酯浓度对轮虫种群增长率、轮虫种群中的MF/AF值、混交率和休眠卵产量均有显著影响(P均＜0.05),但对轮虫种群中的OF/NOF值和混交雌体受精率均无显著的影响(P＞0.05).与空白对照组相比,31.25-125 μg/L的氯氰菊酯和除31.25 μg/L外所有浓度的溴氰菊酯都显著升高了轮虫的种群增长率,而1000 μg/L和2000 μg/L的氯氰菊酯却显著降低了轮虫的种群增长率;500 μg/L的氯氰菊酯使轮虫种群中的带卵雌体数/不带卵雌体数显著升高,而各浓度的溴氰菊酯对其无显著影响;62.5 μg/L和125 μg/L的氯氰菊酯显著升高了轮虫种群中的混交雌体数/非混交雌体数,而15.63 μg/L的溴氰菊酯却显著降低了轮虫种群中的混交雌体数/非混交雌体数;62.5-250 μg/L的氯氰菊酯显著升高了轮虫混交率,而500-2000 μg/L的氯氰菊酯以及15.63、31.25、250 μg/L和500μg/L的溴氰菊酯却均显著降低了轮虫混交率;62.5 μg/L和125 μg/L的氯氰菊酯以及15.63 μg/L和125 μg/L的溴氰菊酯均显著升高了轮虫的休眠卵产量.包括空白对照组在内,所有测试液内的轮虫混交雌体受精率均为零.在实验设置的浓度范围内,氯氰菊酯浓度与轮虫的种群增长率、轮虫种群中的混交雌体数/非混交雌体数及轮虫混交率间均具有显著的剂量-效应关系.     

Effect of juvenile hormone and serotonin (5-HT) on mixis induction of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Muller

Juvenile hormone (JH) and serotonin (5-HT) were previously shown to enhance mictic (sexual) female production of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis in batch cultures. To explore the basis of these effects, experiments were conducted on isolated individuals. JH treatment of maternal rotifers with 5 and 50 μgml(-1) (18.8 and 187.7 μM) resulted in significantly higher (P<0.05) mictic female production in the second (F(2)) and third (F(3)) generations. JH treatment was effective even at a lower food concentration of 7x10(5) cellsml(-1), but it was not effective when free ammonia was added at 2.4 and 3.1 μgml(-1). Mictic female production was not increased with exposure to 5-HT up to 50 μgml(-1) (129.1 μM) concentrations. When food level was reduced to 7x10(5) cellsml(-1), however, 5-HT-treated rotifers produced significantly (P<0.05) more mictic females than the control, particularly in F(3) generation. Mictic female production of 5-HT-treated rotifers did not differ from that of the control with or without free ammonia, but the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) of 5-HT-treated rotifers at 3.1 μgml(-1) free ammonia was significantly higher than the control. These results show that juvenile hormone increases mictic female production under optimum and sub-optimum food levels, whereas 5-HT increases both mictic female production at low food level and population growth rate at high free ammonia concentrations. These compounds could be used to manage rotifer cultures and probe the mechanisms controlling the rotifer life cycle as it switches to mictic reproduction.     

Delayed mixis in rotifers: an adaptive response to the effects of density-dependent sex on population growth

In most cyclically parthenogenetic life cycles, sex is neededto produce resting stages. In several species of cyclicallyparthenogenetic rotifers, some generations of clones are notresponsive to a density-dependent signal that triggers sexualfemale production. These unresponsive rotifers hatch from restingeggs and typically pass 8–12 generations of female parthenogenesisbefore becoming receptive to the mixis signal. We addressedthe selection for mixis delay using a simulation model. A delayof sexual reproduction could increase population growth throughparthenogenesis and thus the number of resting eggs ultimatelyproduced. In a monomorphic population without mixis delay, wedetermined the optimal ratio of mictic to amictic females (mixisratio) to be 45%, and the optimal population density thresholdfor induction of mictic females (mixis threshold) to be 82 rotifersL^–1. This mixis pattern, however, was not an evolutionarilystable strategy. A mixis ratio of 14% and threshold of 70 rotifersL^–1 proved to be resistant to invasion by other mixispatterns. When we gave this phenotype a mixis delay of 8–10days, it could invade a population with the same mixis pattern,but lacking a mixis delay. The advantage of delaying mixis wasrelatively small, suggesting that a polymorphism is possible.     

Endogenous regulation of environmentally induced sexuality in a rotifer: a multigenerational parental effect induced by fertilisation

SUMMARY 1. Sexual reproduction in the heterogonic life cycle of many rotifers occurs when amictic females, which produce diploid eggs developing parthenogenetically into females, are environmentally induced to produce mictic females. Mictic females produce haploid eggs which develop parthenogenetically into males or, if fertilised, into resting eggs – encysted embryos which develop into amictic females after an obligatory diapause. 2. A Florida strain of Brachionus calyciflorus was used to test the prediction that amictic females hatching from resting eggs (Generation 1), and those from the next few parthenogenetic generations, have a lower propensity to produce mictic daughters in response to crowding than those from later parthenogenetic generations. In 10 replicate clones, populations initiated by amictic females from generations 1, 5, 8, 12 and 18 were exposed to a standardised crowding stimulus, and the proportion of mictic females in the populations was determined. These proportions varied significantly across generations and clones. They were very low in the early generations and gradually increased to a mean of about 0.5 at Generation 12. 3. The mechanism for the transgenerational plasticity in response to crowding is not known. One possibility is that resting eggs contain an agent from their fertilised mictic mother's yolk gland that prevents development into mictic females and is transmitted in increasingly low concentrations through successive parthenogenetic generations of amictic females. 4. This parental effect may contribute to clonal fitness by ensuring that a clone developing from a resting egg will attain a higher population size through female parthenogenesis before maximising its commitment to sexual reproduction, even in the presence of a crowding stimulus from a high population density of other clones. Therefore, the number of resting eggs to which a clone contributes its genes should be maximised. 5. The clonal variation in propensity to produce mictic females in this strain indicates genetic variation in the trade‐off between maximising population growth via female parthenogenesis and increasing the probability of producing at least some resting eggs before local extinction from the plankton.     

Effects of three organophosphorus pesticides on population growth and sexual reproduction of rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas

Effects of organophosphorus pesticides including dichlorvos, triazophos and chlorpyrifos on population growth and sexual reproduction of freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus were studied by 3-d population growth and 4-d resting egg production tests. The results showed that all the three organophosphorus pesticides influenced significantly the population growth rate, the ratio ovigerous females/non-ovigerous females in the rotifer populations and the resting egg production of the rotifers. Both dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos influenced markedly the mictic rate of the rotifers, but triazophos did not. Compared to the controls, both dichlorvos at 10.0–1000.0 μg/L and chlorpyrifos at 0.01–100.0 μg/L increased the population growth rate, but the reverse was also true for dichlorvos and triazophos both at 10000.0 μg/L. Chlorpyrifos at 10000.0 μg/L made the rotifers dead after 24-hr exposure. Dichlorvos and triazophos both at 10000.0 μg/L, and chlorpyrifos at 1000.0 μg/L all increased the ratio ovigerous females/non-ovigerous females. Both dichlorvos at 10000.0 μg/L and chlorpyrifos at 0.1–100.0 μg/L increased the mictic rate. Dichlorvos at 10.0 μg/L and 100.0 μg/L, and triazophos and chlorpyrifos both at 0.1–100.0 μg/L increased the resting egg production. Both population growth rate and ratio ovigerous females/non-ovigerous females are suitable endpoints for assessing the effects of dichlorvos, triazophos and chlorpyrifos, and mictic rate is a suitable endpoint for monitoring the effects of dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos on the reproduction of the rotifers. Both population growth rate and ratio ovigerous females/non-ovigerous females are more sensitive to dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos than mictic rate.     

Isolation of mixis-related genes from the rotifer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus plicatilis</Emphasis> using subtractive hybridization

The monogonont rotifer Brachionus plicatilis produces resting eggs through sexual reproduction (mixis), which is affected by external and internal factors. We collected resting eggs from rotifers cultured at 15 and 25°C and hatched them with and without 14-day dormancy in the dark. Stem females hatched from both conditions were further cultured at 15, 20 and 25°C. We obtained two phenotypes, one with high mixis (more than 50%), which was hatched from resting eggs formed at 15°C without dormancy, and another in which sexual reproduction occurred at 25°C and resting eggs were formed at 15°C with a 14-day dormancy. In the latter phenotype, mictic females appeared at 15°C, but not at 25°C. Using subtractive hybridization, we isolated one gene from the latter phenotype of females that had no significant similarity to known genes in BLAST searches. We propose that this gene is unique to rotifer mictic reproduction. Ongoing characterization of this gene attempts understand its role in mixis.     

Effects of three organophosphorus pesticides on population growth and sexual reproduction of rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas

Effects of organophosphorus pesticides including dichlorvos, triazophos and chlorpyrifos on population growth and sexual reproduction of freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus were studied by 3-d population growth and 4-d resting egg production tests. The results showed that all the three organophosphorus pesticides influenced significantly the population growth rate, the ratio ovigerous females/non-ovigerous females in the rotifer populations and the resting egg production of the rotifers. Both dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos influenced markedly the mictic rate of the rotifers, but triazophos did not. Compared to the controls, both dichlorvos at 10.0–1000.0 μg/L and chlorpyrifos at 0.01–100.0 μg/L increased the population growth rate, but the reverse was also true for dichlorvos and triazophos both at 10000.0 μg/L. Chlorpyrifos at 10000.0 μg/L made the rotifers dead after 24-hr exposure. Dichlorvos and triazophos both at 10000.0 μg/L, and chlorpyrifos at 1000.0 μg/L all increased the ratio ovigerous females/non-ovigerous females. Both dichlorvos at 10000.0 μg/L and chlorpyrifos at 0.1–100.0 μg/L increased the mictic rate. Dichlorvos at 10.0 μg/L and 100.0 μg/L, and triazophos and chlorpyrifos both at 0.1–100.0 μg/L increased the resting egg production. Both population growth rate and ratio ovigerous females/non-ovigerous females are suitable endpoints for assessing the effects of dichlorvos, triazophos and chlorpyrifos, and mictic rate is a suitable endpoint for monitoring the effects of dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos on the reproduction of the rotifers. Both population growth rate and ratio ovigerous females/non-ovigerous females are more sensitive to dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos than mictic rate.     

Sexual reproduction and diapause of Hexarthra sp. (Rotifera) in short-lived ponds in the Chihuahuan Desert

1. In the life cycle of monogonont rotifers it is generally assumed that diapausing eggs invariably hatch into amictic stem females which produce female offspring parthenogenetically. Diapausing eggs are only produced by later generations after sexual reproduction has been induced by environmental cues. 2. We show that populations of an undescribed Hexarthra species inhabiting small temporary ponds in the Chihuahuan Desert deviate from this life cycle pattern. These ponds may dry within days and up to 85% of females were mictic. Females producing male offspring and diapausing eggs were observed 1 or 2 days, respectively, after ponds had filled with water. 3. Under laboratory conditions, 7–46% of females hatching from re‐hydrated sediments were sexual. Male offspring of these females can fertilise other mictic stem females leading to diapausing egg formation. In laboratory experiments, females produced fully developed diapausing eggs within 1.9 days at 20 °C and 1.2 days at 30 °C. 4. In addition, embryonic development time (1.1–0.3 days at temperatures between 12 and 30 °C) and juvenile period (2.1–0.5 days for the same temperature range) are shorter than those of other rotifer species. In short‐lived habitats, the potential for rapid population development and production of new diapausing eggs may be crucial in the long‐term survival of populations.     

Hopf bifurcation in a structured population model for the sexual phase of monogonont rotifers

 We are studying a population of monogonont rotifers in the context of non-linear age-dependent models. In the sexual phase of their reproductive cycle we consider the population structured by age, and composed of three subclasses: virgin mictic females, mated mictic females, and haploid males. The model system has a unique stationary population density which is stable as long as a parameter, related to male-female encounter rate, remains below a critical value. When the parameter increases beyond this critical value, the stationary solution becomes unstable and a stable limit cycle (isolated periodic orbit) appears. The occurrence of this supercritical Hopf bifurcation is shown analytically. Received: 2 August 2001 / Revised version: 3 January 2002 / Published online: 26 June 2002     

Evolution of Rotifer Life Histories

When compared to most other multicellular animals, rotifers are all relatively small, short-lived and fast-reproducing organisms. However among and within different rotifer species there is a large variation in life history patterns. This review accounts for such variation in rotifers, with a strong focus on monogonont rotifers. As the life cycle of monogonont rotifers involves both asexual and sexual reproduction, life history patterns can be examined on the level of the genetic individual, which includes all asexual females, sexual females and males that originated from one resting egg. This concept has been applied successfully in many areas, for example in predicting optimal levels of mictic reproduction or sex allocation theory. The benefits and implications of the view of the genetic individual are discussed in detail. Rotifer life histories can also be viewed on the level of physiological individuals. A large part of this review deals with the life histories of individual amictic females and addresses life history traits like body size, egg size and resource allocation patterns. It asks which trade-offs exist among those traits, how these traits change under the influence of environmental factors like food availability or temperature, and whether these changes can be interpreted as adaptive.