Effects of salinity, temperature and food level on the demographic characteristics of the seawater rotifer Synchaeta littoralis Rousselet

A strain of the seawater species Synchaeta littoralis, isolated from a Spanish Mediterranean coastal salt marsh, was cultured in the laboratory and fed with the alga Tetraselmis sp. The effect of three salinities (25 per thousand, 30 per thousand and 35 per thousand), two temperatures (20 degrees C and 25 degrees C) and two food levels (75,000 and 150,000 cells ml(-1)) on demographic parameters was studied using a life table approach. Average lifespan (LS) ranged between 4.0 and 7.3 days, net reproductive rate (R(0)) between 4.2 and 9.1 offspring per female, and intrinsic growth rate (r) between 0.50 and 0.95 day(-1). Salinity and temperature had a significant negative effect (***p<0.001) on both average lifespan (LS) and net reproductive rate (R(0)). Nevertheless, S. littoralis grew adequately at 35 per thousand (average value of r=0.67 day(-1)). Intrinsic growth rate also increased with temperature due to the lower value of the generation time (ranged between 2.3 and 3.8 days in all assays). Food level only had a significant negative effect (***p<0.001) on R(0). The experiments designed allowed us to know the basic demographic parameters of S. littoralis.     

Effects of Olisthodiscus luteus on the feeding and reproduction of the marine rotifer Synchaeta cecilia

The chrysophyte Olisthodiscus luteus is not ingested by Synchaetacecilia. It inhibits the feeding on other, acceptable food atO. luteus densities as low as 50 cells ml^–1 and reducessurvival and reproduction at O. luteus densities > 10³ cellsml^–1. The possible mechanisms and implications of thisphenomenon for the distribution and abundance of S. ceciliaare discussed.     

Effects of food quality on life history of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas

1. Herbivorous zooplankton face considerable temporal and spatial variation in food quality, to which they respond by adapting their life histories. Zooplankton may even take up mineral nutrients directly, and use these to counter the effects of algal nutrient limitation (mineral compensation). This study examined the life history of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus fed phosphorus‐, and nitrogen‐limited Scenedesmus obliquus (Chlorophyta), and investigated whether B. calyciflorus was capable of mineral compensation. 2. Both phosphorus‐ and nitrogen‐limited algae gave similar life history responses: somatic growth and reproduction were reduced, whereas lifespan remained unaffected. 3. No evidence was found for mineral compensation in B. calyciflorus in relation to detrimental life history effects, so mineral compensation does not seem to be relevant for this species under field conditions. 4. The similarity in life history responses of B. calyciflorus and the low levels of ω‐3 PUFAs in both phosphorus‐ and nitrogen‐depleted algae suggest that ω‐3 PUFAs were limiting to B. calyciflorus, although other (bio)chemicals or mineral nutrients may also have been important. 5. No trade‐off was observed between life span and reproduction during algal nutrient limitation. Reduced population growth rates of B. calyciflorus were caused by shorter reproductive periods.     

Effects of salinity, food level, and the presence of microcrustacean zooplankters on the population dynamics of rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis

We investigated the population dynamics of the rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis fed with the alga Isochrysis galbana at two food concentrations (3 × 10⁴ and 40 × 10⁴ cells ml⁻¹) and four salinity levels (5, 10, 20, and 30) in the presence and absence of two copepod species, Pseudodiaptomus annandalei and Apocyclops royi and one cladoceran, Diaphanosoma aspinosum. Both the density and population growth rate of B. rotundiformis increased at higher food concentration and at salinity levels of 10 and 20. Among the microcrustaceans, only P. annandalei had a significant negative effect on the growth rate of the rotifer population because of its efficient predation. In contrast, the presence of both A. royi and D. aspinosum did not affect the growth rates at any of the salinity and food levels. Brachionus rotundiformis had significantly larger size during the log-phase, particularly if P. annandalei was present. Thus, B. rotundiformis grows better at higher food level and medium salinity levels. Unlike the larger calanoid, P. annandalei, B. rotundiformis can definitely coexist with relatively small cyclopoid copepods (A. royi) and cladocerans (D. aspinosum), because of the absence of interference.     

Effects of geography and life history traits on genetic differentiation in benthic marine fishes

Dispersal of planktonic larvae can create connections between geographically separated adult populations of benthic marine animals. How geographic context and life history traits affect these connections is largely unresolved. We use data from genetic studies (species level F_ST) of benthic teleost fishes combined with linear models to evaluate the importance of transitions between biogeographic regions, geographic distance, egg type (benthic or pelagic eggs), pelagic larval duration (PLD), and type of genetic marker as factors affecting differentiation within species. We find that transitions between biogeographic regions and egg type are significant and consistent contributors to population genetic structure, whereas PLD does not significantly explain population structure. Total study distance frequently contributes to significant interaction terms, particularly in association with genetic markers, whereby F_ST increases with study distance for studies employing mtDNA sequences, but allozyme and microsatellite studies show no increase in F_ST with study distance. These results highlight the importance of spatial context (biogeography and geographic distance) in affecting genetic differentiation and imply that there are inherent differences in dispersal ability associated with egg type. We also find that the geographic distance over which the maximum pairwise F_ST between populations occurs (relative to total study distance) is highly variable and can be observed at any scale. This result is consistent with stochastic processes inflating genetic differentiation and/or insufficient consideration of geographic and biological factors relevant to connectivity.     

A new pelagic marine rotifer from the southern Benguela,Synchaeta hutchingsi,n. sp., with notes on its temperature and salinity tolerance and methods of culture

A new species of marine rotifer is described from the S.E. Atlantic off Cape Town. Synchaeta hutchingsi n. sp. is unique among the approximately 36 recognized Synchaeta species in exhibiting the following combination of characters: single sharply pointed toe; slender bristle along ventral midline of foot: single lateral antenna on left side near foot base; spur on dorsal side of foot used to carry egg; total length 165–200 µm. Salinity tolerance experiments showed the new species to be obligate brackwater/marine; a temperature of 35 °C could be tolerated for a short period of time. The new species has been mass-cultured for use as an experimental live food for rearing marine fish larvae.     

Phenotypic plasticity of Daphnia life history traits: the roles of predation, food level and toxic cyanobacteria

1. We studied the life history responses of Daphnia pulex under different biotic conditions. In a factorially designed experiment, we tested the impacts of water conditioned by the invertebrate predator Chaoborus, low and high food level (10 000 and 100 000 Scenedesmus cells ml^–1), and exposure to toxic Microcystis (5000 cells ml^–1) on twelve D. pulex clones originating from different habitats. Our aim was to compare the phenotypic plasticity of different clones, and to study the interactions among biotic factors.
2. Individuals cultured in Chaoborus -conditioned water started to reproduce at a larger size than individuals cultured in water not conditioned by the predators. We found interactions between food level and Chaoborus -conditioned water on age at first reproduction and total offspring number. In addition, the impact of the Chaoborus treatment on the size at first reproduction was reduced by Microcystis exposure.
3. Clonal differences were found in the degree of phenotypic plasticity of different life history traits. However, there was no obvious connection between the original habitat of the clone and the degree of plasticity.     

食物密度对镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫不同克隆生活史特征的影响

对镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫（Brachionus calyciflorus）夏季种群内4个生化遗传特征上互不相同的克隆（克隆A、B、C和D）在4个斜生栅藻（Scenedesmus obliquus）密度（1.0×10⁶、2.0×10⁶、4.0×10⁶和8.0×10⁶ cells·L^-1）下的生活史特征进行了研究.结果表明：食物密度对各克隆轮虫的存活率和繁殖率均有不同的影响.4克隆中克隆C的世代时间最短,克隆B的世代时间、生命期望和平均寿命最长,克隆A的后代混交雌体百分率最高;净生殖率和个体适合度在4克隆间无显著差异.镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫在2.0×10⁶ cells·L^-1的食物密度下净生殖率最低;在1.0×10⁶cells·L^-1的食物密度下平均寿命和生命期望最短,而后代混交雌体百分率却最高;在8.0×10⁶cells·L^-1的食物密度下种群内禀增长率最高,平均寿命和生命期望最长;在高食物密度（4.0、8.0×10⁶cells·L^-1）下个体适合度较大.克隆C的个体适合度在密度为3.9×10⁶cells·L^-1时最小,而克隆D的个体适合度在食物密度为6.34×10⁶cells·L^-1时最大.食物密度的变化可能是7月份之后镜湖萼花臂尾轮虫从水环境中消失的原因,而4克隆轮虫个体适合度的相似性则可能是镜湖轮虫共存于同一水体的原因之一.     

Effects of extreme,fluctuating temperature events on life history traits of the grain aphid,Sitobion avenae

Altered temperatures affect insects’ life history traits, such as development period and fecundity, which ultimately determine population growth rates. Understanding insects’ thermal biology is therefore integral to population forecasting and pest management decision‐making such as when to utilise crop spraying or biological control. Aphids are important crop pests in temperate regions, causing considerable yield losses. The aphid thermal‐biology literature is, however, heavily biased towards the effects of rising mean temperatures, whereas the effects of fluctuating, extreme climatic events (e.g., heat waves and sub‐zero cold periods) are largely overlooked. This study assessed the effects of laboratory‐simulated heat waves and sub‐zero cold periods on the survival, development period, and fecundity of the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Microsiphini), in addition to assessing maternal effects on the birth weight and development period of the offspring of exposed individuals. Exposure to heat stress periods (total of 16 h at 30 °C) significantly reduced aphid fecundity and increased physiological development period (in day‐degrees) resulting in a reduced population growth rate. Cold exposure (total of 1.33 h at ?15 °C) reduced population growth rate due to an elongated development period (in days), but did not affect fecundity or physiological development period (in day‐degrees). Both cold and heat stress significantly reduced aphid survival. Maternal experience of heat stress reduced nymphal birth weight although nymphal development period was not affected by either cold or heat stress. The results suggest that including the effects of fluctuating, extreme temperature events on aphid life history in population forecast models is likely to be of great importance to pest management decision‐making. The demonstration of maternal effects on birth weight also suggests that cross‐generational effects of heat waves on population growth rates could occur.     

Antipredator reaction norms for life history traits in Daphnia pulex: dependence on temperature and food

Synergistic effects between temperature and food level on the vulnerability of Daphnia life histories to predation have previously received little attention, despite their potential significance for summer population dynamics. In this investigation, most traits in the early life history of Daphnia pulex altered in response to increasing concentrations of fish kairomone. Although there was some variation attributable to experimental temperature and food treatments, traits exhibited reaction norms which suggested at least some degree of kairomone dose-dependence. Temperature, food level and their interaction affected the mean values of every trait examined and in some cases also influenced the antipredator response via a three-way interaction with fish kairomone. The insertion of an extra juvenile instar resulted in later maturation at a larger size for most females raised under conditions of low temperature and low food, but this response was largely suppressed in the presence of fish kairomone. Earlier maturation due to deletion of an instar was observed most frequently under high food and temperature conditions with fish kairomone present, suggesting an effect of kairomone on the size threshold for reproductive development. Principal components analysis was used to produce an index reflecting the net potential vulnerability to fish predation of the suite of life history traits. Vulnerability generally declined with increasing kairomone level as a result of the apparently adaptive alterations in most life history traits. Raised temperature and food level also generally reduced potential vulnerability, but a highly significant interaction between these factors was also found. Potentially important implications of these results for optimal vertical migration and summer population dynamics are discussed.     

Effects of temephos and temperature on Wolbachia load and life history traits of Aedes albopictus

Maternally inherited Wolbachia (gram-negative bacteria) often affect the reproductive fitness of their arthropod hosts and may cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Comparing Wolbachia-infected and uninfected strains of the mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), we assessed the effects on fitness of two stressors: temperature elevation (25 degrees C vs. 37 degrees C) and exposure to temephos insecticide (concentration range 0.0017-0.0167 mg/L) during larval development. Fitness was measured in terms of life history traits: percentage survival, development time and wing size. Insecticide treatment was associated with reduction in survival rates and wing size in both sexes, but did not affect development time or Wolbachia load. Temperature elevation by 12 degrees C significantly reduced all four bionomic parameters observed in both sexes. Wolbachia density within individual adult mosquitoes was determined by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the wsp gene. Both male and female adults had significantly lower densities of Wolbachia after larval rearing at the higher temperature.     

除草剂草甘膦对萼花臂尾轮虫生活史特征的影响

采用生命表实验方法研究了不同浓度(0.10、0.50、3.00、5.50、8.00和10.50mg·L^-1)的除草剂草甘膦对萼花臂尾轮虫生活史特征的影响.结果表明,草甘膦对轮虫的胚胎发育时间、幼体阶段历期、生殖期历期、平均寿命、净生殖率和种群内禀增长率均有显著影响.与对照组相比,当草甘膦浓度为3.00和8.00mg·L^-1时,轮虫胚胎发育时间显著延长;达3.00mg·L^-1时,轮虫的幼体阶段历期开始显著延长;达8.00和0.50mg·L^-1时,轮虫净生殖率和种群内禀增长率分别开始显著降低.在各参数中,种群内禀增长率是较敏感的指标,可用于监测草甘膦对萼花臂尾轮虫生活史特征的影响.     

The influence of temperature on life history traits in the Iberian slug,Arion lusitanicus

The slug Arion lusitanicus is an invasive species which has recently become established in many European countries and is considered a serious pest, both in agriculture and private gardens. The effect of temperature on growth rate, survival, egg developmental time and hatchability of the slug are reported. The growth rate was positively correlated with temperatures up to 20°C and A. lusitanicus continued (on average) to grow until they die. A model describing how growth depends on temperature was developed, and a field survey found that the predicted growth matched the observed with reasonable accuracy. This study confirms the assumption that A. lusitanicus die after egg laying. Free‐ranging A. lusitanicus has an annual life cycle, but our data show that slugs also possess the ability to live for up to 3 years. The egg developmental time was, like growth, positively correlated with temperature and was shortest at 20°C, but the optimum temperature for egg development, when regarded as the temperature with highest hatchability was found to be 10°C. In conclusion, this study has shown that growth and the life‐history traits, egg developmental time and hatchability, of A. lusitanicus are highly influenced by temperature. However, data also show that temperatures within the range 2–20°C did not influence survival rates to any large degree, and that A. lusitanicus can quickly adjust to changes in temperature. The study provides a number of basic parameters which contribute to the understanding of the population dynamics of A. lusitanicus.     

赤潮藻塔玛亚历山大藻对褶皱臂尾轮虫生活史特征的影响

采用生命表方法,研究了不同浓度塔玛亚历山大藻对褶皱臂尾轮虫生命周期中各发育阶段历时以及种群增长参数的影响．结果表明：塔玛亚历山大藻对褶皱臂尾轮虫的生长发育有明显影响,使轮虫的繁殖前期和世代时间延长,繁殖期、繁殖后期和平均寿命缩短,产卵量和繁殖率降低．轮虫的净生殖率和内禀增长率均低于对照．不同藻浓度下轮虫能够维持一定的种群增长．     

Effects of salinity on metabolism and life history characteristics of Daphnia magna

In the Baltic Sea area, the cladoceran Daphnia magna is commonly found in brackish water rockpools and it has been suggested that salinity is one of the niche dimensions that affects the distribution of the species. The salinity tolerance of D. magna was studied both in physiological and life history experiments. The experimental salinities were freshwater, 4S and 8S. The highest respiration and ammonium excretion rates were measured in the freshwater treatment with decreasing respiration and ammonium excretion rates at higher salinities. The lowest O/N ratio (oxygen consumption to ammonium excretion), describing the metabolic status of an organism, was obtained at 8S, although the only significant differences were detected when comparing to 4S treatments. Individual growth rate, reproductive output and population growth rate were highest at 4S. At 8S growth and reproduction were reduced as compared to freshwater and 4S. The life history parameters in the performed experiments indicated higher fitness (expressed as r) as well as more favourable conditions for growth and reproduction at 4S, whereas the O/N ratio was more difficult to interpret and, in this case, gave a less clear picture of the salinity influence.     

双酚A对萼花臂尾轮虫毒性及生活史的影响

应用生态毒理学研究方法,研究了双酚A(BPA)对萼花臂尾轮虫毒性及生活史影响。结果表明:BPA对萼花臂尾轮虫24 h急性毒性LC₅₀为13.76 mg/L,95%置信限为10.97-17.10 mg/L。生活史研究显示:与对照组相比,0.25-4.0 mg/L的BPA对轮虫胚胎发育历时影响不显著;2.0-4.0 mg/L的BPA显著延迟了轮虫幼体发育时间;当BPA为0.5 mg/L时,轮虫净生殖率(R₀)显著上升,但BPA浓度为2.0和4.0 mg/L时R₀显著降低;4.0 mg/L的BPA显著缩短世代时间(T);BPA浓度为2.0、4.0 mg/L时,轮虫生命期望值(e₀)显著下降;BPA浓度为1.0、2.0、4.0 mg/L时,轮虫内禀增长率(r_m)显著下降;BPA浓度为0.5、1.0 mg/L时轮虫所产后代混交率(MR)显著增长。研究结果表明BPA对轮虫的生殖具有干扰作用,其中R₀和MR受BPA影响最为显著。     

Effects of UVB-irradiated algae on life history traits of Daphnia pulex

1. The impact of ultraviolet-B (UVB)-irradiated phytoplankton on the life history parameters of Daphnia was studied. Three species of Chlorophyceae ( Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Scenedesmus acutus and S. subspicatus ) and one species of Cryptophyceae ( Cryptomonas pyrenoidifera ) were cultured with and without exposure to UVB radiation (biologically effective dose of 3 kJ m^–2 day^–1 DNA weighted) and fed to Daphnia pulex.
2. The daphnids feeding on UVB-irradiated algae tended to be smaller in size, to produce less and smaller offspring, and to have a reduced population growth rate.
3. Fatty acid (FA) analysis of the phytoplankton showed a reduced total FA content under UVB radiation for all four species. Changes in the content of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) were species specific.
4. The results indicate that the energy transfer between the primary producers' and grazers' level might be negatively influenced by UVB radiation. Direct effects on food quality are modest but detectable, changes in quantity or species composition may be more important in the energy transfer.     

Influence of food quality and temperature on life history characteristics of the parthenogenetic mayfly, Cloeon triangulifer

SUMMARY. 1. Laboratory and field data indicate that Cloeon triangulifer McDunnough has at least three generations per year in White Clay Creek (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.).
2. The duration of the egg stage ranged from 5 days at 30°C to about 90 days at 10°C.
3. Larvae completed development (i.e. first instar to adult) in 27 days at 25°C, 45 days at 20°C, and 179 days at 10°C on an algal diet dominated by diatoms.
4. Larvae reared on hickory leaves completed development in 30 days at 25°C but died prior to metamorphosis at 10, 15 and 20°C.
5. Adult size (i.e. body length, wing length and dry mass) and fecundity were inversely related to rearing temperature for all laboratory and field experiments.
6. The significant interaction of food quality and temperature suggest that these factors may be important in understanding geographic variation in the life history of C. triangulifer.     

Effects of temperature on life history variables in perch

Population structure, recruitment, mortality, life expectancy, age at maturity, gonad development, fecundity, net reproductive rate and energy storage were studied in a perch population exposed to thermal discharge. The experiment was conducted during 1978–1990 in an artificial enclosure at a nuclear power plant on the Baltic Sea coast. Abundance increased after the plant started operating, although the proportion of larger perch dropped to a low level. Recruitment improved, but adult mortality increased. This effect was accentuated as the fishes matured very early and at a very small size, reducing their ability to support a growing gonad in high winter temperatures. During the spawning period, condition dropped to very low levels accompanied by increased mortality. Surviving fish delayed the next spawning by one or more years and reduced their fecundity. Body condition thus improved in large perch at the end of the study period. Life-time fecundity was reduced, and reproductive performance shifted to youner ages.     

Effects of scarcity and excess of larval food on life history traits of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Few studies have assessed the effects of food scarcity or excess on the life history traits of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) independently from larval density. We assessed immature survival, development time, and adult size in relation to food availability. We reared cohorts of 30 Ae. aegypti larvae from newly hatched to adult emergence with different food availability. Food conditions were kept constant by transferring larvae each day to a new food solution. Immature development was completed by some individuals in all treatments. The shortest development time, the largest adults, and the highest survival were observed at intermediate food levels. The most important effects of food scarcity were an extension in development time, a decrease in the size of adults, and a slight decrease in survival, while the most important effects of food excess were an important decrease in survival and a slight decrease in the size of adults. The variability in development time and adult size within sex and treatment increased at decreasing food availability. The results suggest that although the studied population has adapted to a wide range of food availabilities, both scarcity and excess of food have important negative impacts on fitness.