La reproduction de Temora stylifera: ses implications anatomiques en relation avec le facteur 'nutrition'

The culture of copepods under different feeding regimes hasallowed us to determine the effects of food availability onegg laying. In Temora stylifera spawning appears to be modifiedby the food resources of the adult. Conditions encountered duringdevelopment have little effect on spawning. The life span offemales is reduced by high food availability. In such casesthe sex organs are hypertrophied, the oviducts being distendedby the large oocytes. The ovary is little affected by changesin food availability, while the size of the oviducts variesin relation to feeding. The size of the genital system is reducedin older females. Variations in food concentration induce variationsof several days in the time required for egg laying. A rapidmaturation of the oocytes, combined with nutrition and the availabilityof food permits Temora stylifera to optimize egg laying.