The Life Histories of Two Temporarily Coexisting,Pond Dwelling Cladocerans

Investigations on the life histories of two cladocerans, Moina brachiata and Daphnia obtusa, in a small, nearly temporary pond in South Germany revealed that M. brachiata is better adapted to fluctuating environmental conditions; the species dominated from May to October. D. obtusa was present in spring and autumn/winter but disappeared completely during the summer months. Both species coexisted for extended periods in spring and autumn; abundance of D. obtusa was generally by an order of magnitute lower. Four periods of low water level were slightly preceded by or coincided with a decrease of clutch size, a decrease of the proportion of egg bearing females indicating that both species suffered from food shortage. Laboratory investigations on life history parameters showed that the two species have different temperature tolerances and preferences. M. brachiata showed its highest reproductive success at 25 and 30°C but died at temperatures <15°C and ≥ 35°C. D. obtusa experienced a broader temperature range (2 to 25°C) but could not withstand temperatures ≥ 30°C. Short term starvation periods (3d) caused the death of M. brachiata females, while D. obtusa soon recovered and reproduced when being refed. M. brachiata is a typical r-species with early reproduction, rapid development, high population growth rates and a high tendency to produce resting eggs; D. obtusa pursues more the concept of k-selection.     

NATURAL GENETIC VARIATION OF LIFE SPAN,REPRODUCTION, AND JUVENILE GROWTH IN DAPHNIA

The evolutionary theory of senescence predicts that high extrinsic mortality in natural populations should select for accelerated reproductive investment and shortened life span. Here, we test the theory with natural populations of the Daphnia pulex-pulicaria species complex, a group of freshwater zooplankton that spans an environmental gradient of habitat permanence. We document substantial genetic variation in demographic life-history traits among parent and hybrid populations of this complex. Populations from temporary ponds have shorter life spans, earlier and faster increases of intrinsic mortality risk, and earlier and steeper declines in fecundity than populations from permanent lakes. We also examine the age-specific contribution to fitness, measured by reproductive value, and to expected lifetime reproduction; these traits decline faster in populations from temporary ponds. Despite having more rapid senescence, pond Daphnia exhibit faster juvenile growth and higher early fitness, measured as population growth rate (r). Among populations within this species complex we observed negative genetic correlations between r and indices of life-history timing, suggesting trade-offs between early- and late-life performance. Our results cannot be explained by a trade-off between survival and fecundity or by nonevolutionary theories of senescence. Instead, our data are consistent with the evolutionary theory of senescence because the genetic variation in life histories we observed is roughly congruent with the temporal scale of environmental change in the field.     

Female fecundity traits in wild populations of African annual fish: the role of the aridity gradient

The evolution of life history is shaped by life expectancy. Life‐history traits coevolve, and optimal states for particular traits are constrained by trade‐offs with other life‐history traits. Life histories contrast among species, but may also diverge intraspecifically, at the level of populations. We studied the evolution of female reproductive allocation strategy, using natural populations of two sympatric species of African annual fishes, Nothobranchius furzeri and Nothobranchius orthonotus. These species inhabit pools in the Mozambican savanna that are formed in the rainy season and persist for only 2–10 months. Using 207 female N. furzeri from 11 populations and 243 female N. orthonotus from 14 populations, we tested the effects of genetic background (intraspecific lineage) and life expectancy (position on the aridity gradient determining maximum duration of their temporary habitat) on female fecundity traits. First, we found that variation in female body mass was small within populations, but varied considerably among populations. Second, we found that fecundity was largely defined by female body mass and that females spawned most of their eggs in the morning. Third, we found that the trade‐off between egg size and egg number varied among lineages of N. furzeri and this outcome has been confirmed by data from two separate years. Overall, we demonstrate that local conditions were important determinants for Nothobranchius growth and fecundity and that eggs size in arid region was less limited by female fecundity than in humid region.     

Feeding and energy budget estimations inDaphnia obtusa

The reproductive and growth strategies ofDaphnia obtusa are discussed in terms of energy budget. The results obtained through feeding and life table experiments allow us to understand the role of biotic factors, such as competition and predation, in the evolution of life history traits.     

Development,Reproduction and Growth Pattern of two Coexisting,Pond Dwelling Cladocerans

Laboratory investigations on life history parameters of 2 coexisting cladocerans (Daphnia obtusa. Moina brachiata) from a nearly temporary pond in South Germany revealed that the species have different temperature tolerances and temperature optima. D. obtusa experienced the highest reproductive success at 15 and 20 °C and was able to survive and to reproduce at 2 °C but died at 30 °C. The reproductive success of M. brachiata was highest at 25 and 30 °C and the species could not withstand temperatures <15 °C and ≥35 °C. At temperatures between approximately 20 and 25 °C, where both cladocerans coexisted in nature, M. brachiata showed a faster population growth due to its approximately twofold higher egg production rates (10–12 eggs female⁻¹ day⁻¹ compared to approximately 5 eggs female⁻¹ day⁻¹ in D. obtusa) and its shorter juvenile development (3.3 and 2.4 days compared to 6.3 and 5.3 days in D. obtusa); M. brachiata needs generally only 3 molts to reach maturity while D. obtusa requires 5–6 molts.     

Does urbanization affect selective pressures and life‐history strategies in the common blackbird (Turdus merula L.)?

Urbanization, one of the most extreme land‐use alterations, is currently spreading, and the number of species confronting these changes is increasing. However, contradictory results of previous studies impede a clear interpretation of which selective pressure (nest predation or food limitation) is more important in urban habitats compared with natural situations, and whether birds can confront them by adjusting their life‐history strategies. We investigated life‐history syndromes of three common blackbird (Turdus merula) populations differing in their human influence (urban, rural, and woodland). We analysed daily nest predation and nestling starvation rates to assess the relative importance of these selection pressures in each habitat. Simultaneously, several life‐history traits were investigated to determine if T. merula seem adapted to their main source of selection. Food limitation was more important in the city, whereas nest predation was the most important selective force in the forest. The rural habitat was characterized by an intermediate influence of these two factors. Life‐history syndromes, as the covariation of a suite of traits, confirmed these results because T. merula seem well adapted to the main cause of selection in each habitat. Our results are consistent with urbanization imposing new challenges on birds, and that they adaptively respond to them. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 101 , 759–766.     

Life history variation within a parthenogenetic population of Daphnia parvula (Crustacea: Cladocera)

Summary Evidence for genetically determined life history variability within a population or a species is rare. In this three year experimental examination of a parthenogenetically reproducing population of the planktonic crustacean Daphnia parvula, we found evidence for a succession of clones or groups of clones that exhibited distinctive body size and reproductive differences that were maintained after numerous generations under standardized conditions in the laboratory. The D. parvula population reached maximum density in the fall and maintained relatively high densities through the winter and spring. Isolates from this fall-winter-spring period all had a larger body size at death and higher fecundity when compared with summer isolates under natural food and temperature conditions. These differences could not be accounted for by differences in temperature and food abundance among the seasons. An additional difference in these experiments was a shift in reproductive effort by the summer isolate which produced a higher proportion of its offspring in the first two broods. The shift in life history characteristics and a summer decline of the Daphnia parvula population was correlated with both an increase in inedible and perhaps toxic blue-green algae and an increase in a dipteran predator Chaoborus. Comparison of the survivorship curves for all of the seasonal life history experiments indicated that D. parvula survivorship was not lower during the summer discounting a toxic effect from blue-green algae. Positive population growth on natural food in the laboratory at this time indicated food was not limiting and that predation was the probable cause of the population decline.Laboratory life history experiments under standardized food and temperature conditions were run with D. parvula isolates from the spring and summer plankton. Genetically based differences as determined in these experiments were smaller body size, lower fecundity, smaller brood size, and shorter life span for the summer animals relative to spring animals. Thirty seven percent of the summer animals also reproduced at an earlier age under standardized conditions. The shift in reproductive effort to earlier broods by summer animals rnder natural conditions appeared to be a phenotypic response as the summer isolate did not produce a higher proportion of its offspring in early broods under standardized conditions.When estimates of predatory mortality were added to the life tables of the standardized experiments, the earlier reproduction of some of the summer animals allowed a population increase under a regime of intense predation. Life tables for the spring animals predicted a population decline under these circumstances. Predictable seasonal changes in biotic factors such as predation suggest a mechanism whereby diverse life history patterns with corresponding differences in r may be maintained within a population.     

Effect of habitat permanence on life-history: extending the Daphnia model into new climate spaces

We use an Australian freshwater invertebrate species, Daphnia carinata, to assess whether variation in habitat permanence influences life-history traits in subpopulations. Using a life table experiment, we measure the life-history traits of populations from both permanent and temporary pools. We show that these habitat classes are associated with clear differences in important life-history traits and evidence of trade-offs in important traits influencing reproduction, diapause, and growth rate and suggest this is evidence for local adaptation. Here we use Daphnia from Australian populations spanning semi-arid and temperate climates generating results that are in broad agreement with similar studies in the northern hemisphere, and so extend these results to a new continent and its particular climate. Variation in habitat permanence, it appears, is a very general driver of life-history divergence.

     

Breeding site characteristics regulating life history traits of the brown tree frog, Litoria ewingii

Past research has determined the habitat requirements of amphibian species predominantly from presence/absence studies. This study tested the hypothesis that relationships between breeding site habitat components, life history traits and fitness may provide a higher resolution of biological data relating to the habitat requirements of amphibian species. We tested this novel approach by using Litoria ewingii as our model species. We correlated larval and metamorph life history traits with habitat variables at 28 small to medium sized ponds within a commercially logged forest in southern Tasmania, Australia. To avoid larval mortality due to pond desiccation, L. ewingii laid eggs and metamorphosed earlier in smaller ponds. Snout vent length at metamorphosis increased with elevation and metamorphosis was earlier in less shaded ponds. Breeding ponds that maximised the fitness of L. ewingii were higher elevation ponds with reduced shading, steeper bank slopes and reduced pond isolation. The findings of the study equip land managers with a greater ecological understanding of ecosystem function in relation to specific species. The methodological approach has broad application to conservation biology where an awareness of the specific habitat requirements of amphibians is critical to successful ecosystem management.     

Effects of salinity on the life history and fitness of Daphnia magna: variability within and between populations

The life history traits of Daphnia magna were studied in laboratory experiments under freshwater and brackish (5 salinity) conditions. The variability of responses within and between populations was examined by comparing 11 clones from a brackish lake and 10 clones from a freshwater pond. Experimental clones were hatched from ephippia collected from the sediment and thus represent random samples of the clone banks of each population.Most clones with a high salinity tolerance were from the population of the brackish habitat, but some were also found in the freshwater population. Thus, freshwater populations appear to have the potential to invade brackish habitats. A proportion of clones from the brackish population had very low fitness (measured as e^r) under freshwater conditions. This unexpected result means that freshwater adaptation can be lost by the freshwater cladoceran Daphnia magna. The effects of unfavourable conditions on growth and reproduction varied among clones and were not correlated. This clonal variation in growth and reproduction indicates that the environmental sensitivities of these traits are independent. The pattern of fitness reaction norms showed no trade-off between fitness under brackish and under freshwater conditions for either population. Thus, euryhaline generalists should be favoured in habitats with salinity fluctuations between freshwater and brackish conditions.     

Hatching phenology,life history and egg bank size of fairy shrimp Branchipodopsis spp. (Branchiopoda,Crustacea) in relation to the ephemerality of their rock pool habitat

In temporary aquatic habitats, permanence and the severe disturbance associated with desiccation are strong selective agents expected to lead to differentiation in life history strategies in populations experiencing different disturbance regimes. Besides optimal timing of hatching of dormant life stages, maturation and reproduction, pool inhabitants also benefit from the acquisition of reliable cues for the quality of the ambient environment. We investigated whether hatching patterns, life history characteristics and egg bank size of Branchipodopsis fairy shrimp (Branchiopoda, Anostraca) inhabiting a cluster of temporary rock pools in South Africa reflect variation in habitat stability and hatching cues. Long-term hydrological variation was used to select pools along a gradient of habitat stability. Initial conductivity was a good indicator for the length of inundations. No hatching occurred under elevated conductivities, which may present a mechanism to avoid abortive hatching. Egg bank size was unaffected by habitat size or habitat stability but instead was related to cover by a protective sheet of dry aquatic vegetation, which presumably counteracts egg bank erosion by wind when pools are dry. Life history but not hatching phenology reflected some aspects of habitat stability. Fairy shrimp populations in ephemeral pools started reproduction earlier than populations in more stable habitats. Additional common garden or transplant experiments, however, will be required to assess the relative importance of environmental and genetic components in explaining the observed variation and acquire more insight into the trade-offs that lie at the base of the evolution of life history strategies along the pond permanence gradient.     

Factors Influencing the Seasonal Phenology and Composition of Zooplankton Communities in Mountain Temporary Pools

In 2001 nine temporary pools of the northern Apennines (Italy) were visited on 13 occasions during the ice‐free season (May to October). The aims of this research were to define the relationships between hydroperiod and other environmental variables and the zooplankton. In total, 49 zooplankton taxa were identified: 36 rotifers, 5 cladocerans, 6 copepods and 2 anostracans. Our results indicate that hydroperiod is a major determinant affecting zooplankton species richness. The highest number of taxa was found in the pond having the longest duration. Distinctive species assemblages were observed in different habitat types: pools with the shortest hydroperiod were characterised by organisms with brief life cycles (e.g. rotifers) and/or typical of temporary habitat (e.g. anostracans). Of the physical and chemical characteristics, pH and chlorophyll‐a appeared to have the largest influence on zooplankton distribution in the studied pools. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Trait flexibility of generalist invertebrates exposed to contrasting predation and drying stressors

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Predator‐induced phenotypic plasticity in an arid‐adapted tropical tadpole

Adaptive phenotypic plasticity is widespread and involves diverse phenotypes. Key environmental stressors, such as predation risk, can simultaneously induce changes in multiple traits, but the magnitude of response is dependent upon the environmental conditions. Species that utilize temporary ponds are expected to exhibit stronger predator‐induced responses in the form of morphology than behaviour (i.e. reduced activity) to meet the demands of rapid development by maintaining high foraging activity while reducing predation risk via morphologically plastic traits. In a laboratory experiment, I examined the effects of predator chemical cues and conspecific alarm cues on activity, development and morphology on Leptodactylus bufonius tadpoles. This species has terrestrial oviposition and completes the early part of its development outside of ephemeral and temporary ponds in the Gran Chaco ecoregion of South America. Tadpoles in the predator treatments exhibited both behavioural and morphological predator‐induced plastic responses. Tadpoles tended to possess shorter, deeper tails when exposed to predators. The greatest reduction in activity was observed in tadpoles exposed to both predator and conspecific alarm cues, which subsequently resulted in the slowest development. Temporary and ephemeral pond adapted species with terrestrial oviposition may capitalize on a head start in development by being able to afford reduced growth rates via a reduction in activity. This may occur when the constraints imposed by pond hydroperiod (e.g. risk of pond drying) are relaxed when compared with species with aquatic oviposition, which must undergo all stages of development during the pond's hydroperiod. Thus, in addition to the predator and hydroperiod gradients, examining phenotypically plastic responses along a ‘terrestriality gradient’ in a comparative framework would provide insights as to the costs and benefits of increasing terrestriality in anuran reproductive modes to environmental stressors.     

Field and laboratory studies on Daphnia carinata King (Cladocera: Daphnidae) from a seasonal tropical pond

The life history and seasonal variation in egg production of Daphnia carinata King, with reference to the seasonal variation in physico-chemical as well as biological factors of a tropical temporary pond, were studied. Laboratory observations on the life history of D. carinata were also made. The seasonal events of D. carinata are discussed in relation to recent studies on Cladocerans.     

Adaptive divergence vs. environmental plasticity: tracing local genetic adaptation of metamorphosis traits in salamanders

In order to assess the significance of local adaptation relative to environmental plasticity on the evolution of life history traits, we analysed the possible genetic basis of differences between pond- and stream-breeding fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) in Germany. These salamanders typically deposit their larvae in small streams, where they grow until they are sufficiently large to metamorphose. However, some populations in Western Germany use ponds as larval habitat. Because habitat quality of streams differs from that of ponds one expects life history differences in the pond animals, which may result either from a plastic response or through genetic differentiation (i.e. local adaptation). Using a phylogeographical analysis of mitochondrial D-loop sequences, we show that both stream and pond populations in Western Germany are derived from a single lineage that recolonized following the last glaciation. This finding suggests that pond breeding originated very recently. Our studies of habitat quality and metamorphic behaviour of larvae in natural ponds and streams disclosed that pond larvae experience a significantly reduced food supply and greater risk of drying than do stream larvae. Pond larvae metamorphose earlier at the cost of reduced mass. Common-environment experiments with pond and stream larvae show that metamorphic behaviour of pond larvae under limited-food conditions is determined genetically and is not simply a plastic response to the differing habitat conditions. These results show that phenotypic plasticity is less important than local adaptation in explaining differences in ecological diversification within this species and suggests the possibility of rapid evolution of genetic adaptations when new habitats are exploited.     

Resource partitioning in two coexisting cladocerans,Daphnia magna and Scapheloberis kingi (Anomopoda: Daphniidae), in north-eastern Algeria

Life-history traits of two coexisting cladocerans, Daphnia magna Straus and Scapheloberis kingi Sars, inhabiting a temporary pond in north-eastern Algeria were monitored in 2013 under laboratory conditions. Their life histories were compared for differences in traits such as age and size at first reproduction, size of neonates, brood size, number of broods per female, total life span and intrinsic rate of increase (r_m). Data were recorded during their entire life cycle. Daphnia magna, the larger species, could possibly be more successful in colonising temporary habitats than S. kingi because it allocates more energy to reproduction. Scapheloberis kingi, the smaller species, starts reproduction early, resulting in a smaller brood size and a shorter life span with fewer broods. Consequently, S. kingi produces a smaller number of neonates during its lifetime and has a lower r_m. In contrast, D. magna delays reproduction but produces a larger brood size and, because it is longer-lived, produces more broods and so produces a greater number of neonates and has a higher r_m over its lifetime.     

The components of life-history traits variation in Daphnia magna population

The variation of six growth and reproduction traits in the parthenogenetic clones of Daphnia magna and its relationships with the genotypes at 5 isozyme loci were studied under controlled conditions at three food concentrations. A significant genetic component of age at maturity, growth rate and fecundity variation was detected. Nested ANOVA revealed the influences of the genotypes of the isozyme loci, that are more pronounced at the high food concentration. In some cases the genotype-environment interactions were found.The variation of body length at 6 days and total number of offspring includes a significant heterozygosity — environment interaction. The most heterozygous clones show the least differences in life history traits between food conditions.Life-history traits heritability, genotype-environment interactions and different reproductive strategies of the clones are discussed.     

Emergence and dynamics of cyclopoid copepods in an unpredictable environment

SUMMARY. 1. We studied species composition, abundance and population dynamics of cyclopoid copepods emerging from dormancy from the sediments of a temporary pond in South Carolina in 1985, 1988 and 1989. During a drought in 1988–89, the maximum hydroperiod was 19 days; in 1985 and late 1989-early 1990, the hydroperiods were 57 and 118 days. We also report on species present in 1984 and 1987, two years that had longer hydroperiods, and on abundance of cyclopoids in 1984. 2. Within a day after standing water appeared, fourth-instar copepodids of Diacydops haueri and D. crassicaudis brachycercus became active. These two species appeared every time the pond filled in winter, spring, or autumn. Other species, including Acanthocyclops vernalis, were usually not collected until weeks or months after the pond filled. Because the times and durations of fillings were extremely variable, species composition differed among years, with the most species (eleven) appearing in 1984, the year with the longest hydroperiod. 3. The abundances of emerging Diacydops were much lower in 1988 and 1989 (range of means from seven fillings in spring and autumn: 675–7382 animals m^?2) than 1985 (range of means from three fillings in winter: 26,037–107,418 animals m^?2). Low abundances of emerging animals could have been caused by poor survival of dormant animals, poor production during preceding seasons, or incomplete emergence of the dormant populations. 4. Substrate samples from the dry pond were collected in spring, summer, and autumn 1988 and winter 1989 to measure emergence of the cyclopoids in laboratory incubations. Population densities of emerging animals were much lower in 1988 and 1989 (range of means from seven experiments: 0–120 animals m^?2 over the first 3 days) than in similar experiments in 1984 (Taylor & Mahoney, 1990, means from two experiments: 3630 and 6890 animals m^?2). 5. Despite the low abundance of animals emerging from dormancy in late 1989, the cyclopoid populations in 1990 reached similar densities of copepodids (10^4?-10⁵ animals m^?2) to those reached in 1984 and 1985. These results suggest that short generation time and high reproductive capacity permit rapid recovery from population reductions.     

Population genetic structure of three pond-inhabiting Daphnia species on a regional scale (Flanders, Belgium)

1. Only a few studies have compared patterns of genetic variation among populations of different Daphnia species on a regional scale. The present study addresses this gap and examines the relationship between diversity as revealed by allozyme variation and habitat size for populations of Daphnia pulex, D. obtusa and D. curvirostris in Flanders (Belgium). In addition, we examined whether patterns of isolation‐by‐distance could be observed in each of these three Daphnia species. 2. The relationship between genetic diversity and habitat size varied among Daphnia species that occur in the same region. In D. pulex and D. obtusa populations, a positive relationship between local genetic diversity and habitat size was found, whereas the relationship was negative in D. curvirostris populations. 3. Regional genetic diversity was lower than expected from patterns of local genetic diversity in D. pulex and D. obtusa populations in Flanders. This suggests that the subdivision of local Daphnia populations in a region did not obviously increase genetic diversity. 4. Genetic differentiation among populations of these three species in Flanders was moderate and comparable with values observed in other Daphnia species. Patterns of isolation‐by‐distance could be observed, but the scatter was high (D. pulex) or the slope was very low (D. obtusa).