Population dynamics and production of Acanthocyclops robustus (Sars) and Mesocyclops leuckarti (Claus) in Tjeukemeer

The population dynamics and production ecology of the two dominant copepod species, Acanthocyclops robustus and Mesocyclops leuckarti, in Tjeukemeer (The Netherlands) were studied for three successive years. Since copepods in Tjeukemeer show continuous recruitment, a population dynamics model INSTAR was developed and used to integrate field data on population density, population structure and fecundity and laboratory data on development rates and length-weight relationships. The pattern of size specific mortality indicated that both invertebrate and vertebrate predation were important in the regulation of population numbers.