Skip to main content
Log in

Physioecology of zooplankton. I. Effects of phytoplankton concentration, temperature, and body size on the growth rate of Calanus pacificus and Pseudocalanus sp.

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Changes in dry weight and in weight-specific growth rates were measured for copepodite stages of Calanus pacificus Brodsky and Pseudocalanus sp. cultured under various combinations of phytoplankton concentration and temperature. Mean dry weight of early copepodites was relatively unaffected by either food concentration or temperature, but mean dry weight of late stages increased hyperbolically with food concentration and was inversely related to temperature. The food concentration at which maximum body weight was attained increased with increasing temperature and body size, and it was considerably higher for C. pacificus than for Pseudocalanus sp. This suggests that final body size of small species of copepods may be determined primarily by temperature, whereas final body size of large species may be more dependent on food concentration than on temperature. Individual body weight increased sigmoidally with age. The weight-specific growth rate increased hyperbolically with food concentration. The maximum growth rate decreased logarithmically with a linear increase in body weight, and the slope of the lines was proportional to temperature. The critical food concentration for growth increased with body size proportionally more at high than at low temperature, and it was considerably higher for C. pacificus than for Pseudocalanus sp. Because of these interactions, early copepodites optimized growth at high temperature, even at low food concentrations, but under similar food conditions late stages attained higher growth at low temperature. The same growth patterns were found for both species, but the rates were significantly higher for the larger species, C. pacificus, than for the smaller one, Pseudocalanus sp. On the basis of findings in this study and of analyses of relationships between the maximum growth rate, body size, and temperature from other studies it is postulated (1) that the extrapolation of growth rates from one species to another on the basis of similarity in body size is not justified, even for taxonomically related species; (2) that the allometric model is inadequate for describing the relationship between the maximum weight-specific growth rate and body size at the intraspecific level; (3) that the body-size dependence of this rate is strongly influenced by temperature; and (4) that species of zooplankton seem to be geographically and vertically distributed, in relation to body size and food availability, to optimize growth rates at various stages of their life cycles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Banse, K.: Rates of growth, respiration and photosynthesis of unicellular algae as related to cell size — a review. J. Phycol. 12, 135–140 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett, J. R.: Energetic response of salmon to temperature: a study of some thermal relations in the physiology and freshwater ecology of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). Am. Zool. 11, 99–113 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett, J. R.: Tank experiments on the culture of pan-size sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) and pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) using environmental control. Aquaculture, Amsterdam 4, 341–352 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett, J. R. and J. E. Shelbourn: Growth rate of young sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka, in relation to fish size and ration level. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 32, 2103–2110 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett, J. R., J. E. Shelbourn and C. T. Shoop: Growth rate and body composition of fingerling sockeye salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka, in relation to temperature and ration size. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 26, 2363–2394 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinton, E.: Vertical distribution and avoidance capability of euhausiids in the California Current. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 451–483 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, D. G.: Statistical problems in dynamics of exploited fisheries populations. Proc. Berkeley Symp. math. Statist. Probab. 4, 153–168 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Coker, R. C.: Influence of temperature on size of freshwater copepods (Cyclops). Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. Hydrogr. 29, 406–436 (1933)

    Google Scholar 

  • Collias, E. E., N. McGary, and C. A. Barnes: Atlas of physical and chemical properties of Puget Sound and its approaches, 235 pp. Seattle: SH University of Washington Press 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Conover, R. J.: Oceanography of Long Island Sound, 1952–1954. VI. Biology of Acartia clausi and A. tonsa. Bull. Bingham oceanogr. Coll. 15, 156–233 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, E. L.: Growth of wild and hatchery strains of brook trout. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 90, 424–438 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corkett, C. J. and I. A. McLaren: The biology of Pseudocalanus. Adv. mar. Biol. 15, 1–231 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cushing, D. H.: The vertical migration of planktonic Crustacea. Biol. Rev. 26, 158–192 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dagg, M. J.: Complete carbon and nitrogen budgets for the carnivorous amphipod, Calliopius laeviusculus (Krøyer). Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 61, 297–357 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Deevey, G. B.: Relative effects of temperature and food on seasonal variations in length of marine copepods in some eastern American and western European waters. Bull. Bingham oceanogr. Coll. 17, 55–86 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Deevey, G. B.: Annual variations in length of copepods in the Sargasso Sea off Bermuda. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 44, 589–600 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, W. J.: BMD—Biomedical computer programs, 3rd ed. 733 pp. Berkeley: University of California Press 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Elgmork, K. and G. Halvorsen: Body size of free living copepods. Oikos 27, 27–33 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, J. M.: The growth rate of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) fed on reduced rations. J. Anim. Ecol. 44, 823–842 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, J. M.: The energetics of feeding, metabolism and growth of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) in relation to body weight, water temperature and ration size. J. Anim. Ecol. 45, 923–948 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenchel, T.: Intrinsic rate of natural increase: the relationship with body size. Oecologia 14, 317–326 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost, B. W.: Effects of size and concentrations of food particles on the feeding behavior of the marine planktonic copepod Calanus pacificus. Limnol. Oceanogr. 17, 805–815 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost, B. W.: Feeding processes at lower trophic levels in pelagic communities. In: The biology of the oceanic Pacific, pp 59–77. Ed. by C. B. Miller, Corvallis: Oregon State University Press 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost, B. W.: Feeding behavior ofCalanus pacificus in mixtures of food particles. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22, 472–491 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaudy, R.: Feeding four species of pelagic copepods under experimental conditions. Mar. Biol. 25, 125–141 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guillard, R. R. L. and J. H. Ryther: Studies on marine planktonic diatoms. I. Cyclotella nana Hustedt and Detonula confervacea (Cleve) Gran. Can. J. Microbiol. 8, 229–239 (1962)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, R. P. and G.-A. Paffenhöfer: Feeding, growth and reproduction of the marine planktonic copepod Temora longicornis Müller. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 56, 675–690 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinle, D. R.: Production of a calanoid copepod, Acartia tonsa, in the Patuxent River estuary. Chesapeake Sci. 7, 59–74 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda, T.: The effect of laboratory conditions on the extrapolation of experimental measurements to the ecology of marine zooplankton. I. Effect of feeding condition on the respiration rate. Bull. Plankton Soc. Japan 23, 51–60 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda, T.: The effect of laboratory conditions on the extrapolation of experimental measurements to the ecology of marine zooplankton. IV. Changes in respiration and excretion rates of boreal zooplankton species maintained underfed and starved conditions. Mar. Biol. 41, 241–252 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivlev, V. S.: Experimental ecology and feeding of fishes, 302 pp. New Haven: Yale University Press 1961. [Translated from Russian by D. Scott]

    Google Scholar 

  • Kersting K. and C. van der Leeuw-Leegwater: Effect of food concentration on the respiration rate of Daphnia magna. Hydrobiologia 51, 137–142 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampert, W.: Studies on the carbon balance of Daphnia pulex as related to environmental conditions. I. Methodological problems of the use of 14C for the measurement of carbon assimilation. Arch. Hydrobiol. (Beih. Falkau-Arb.). 48, 287–309 (1977a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampert, W.: Studies on the carbon balance of Daphnia pulex de Geer as related to environmental conditions. II. The dependence of carbon assimilation on animal size, temperature, food concentration, and diet species. Arch. Hydrobiol. (Beih. Falkau-Arb.) 48, 316–355 (1977b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampert, W.: Studies on the carbon balance of Daphnia pulex de Geer as related to environmental conditions. III. Production and production efficiency. Arch. Hydrobiol.(Beih. Falkau-Arb.) 48, 336–360 (1777c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampert W.: Studies on the carbon balance of Daphnia pulex de Geer as related to environmental conditions. IV. Determination of the “threshold” concentration as a factor controlling the abundance of zooplankton species. Arch. Hydrobiol. (Beih. Falkau-Arb.) 48, 361–368 (1977d)

    Google Scholar 

  • Landry, M. R.: Population dynamics of the planktonic marine copepod, Acartia clausi Giesbrecht, in a small temperate lagoon, 200 pp. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Washington 1976a

  • Landry, M. R.: The structure of marine ecosystems: an alternative. Mar. Biol. 35, 1–7 (1976b)

    Google Scholar 

  • LaRow, E. J., J. W. Wilkinson and K. D. Kumar: The effect of food concentration and temperature on respiration and excretion in herbivorous zooplankton. Verh. int. Verein. theor. angew. Limnol. 19, 966–973 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lock, A. R. and I. A. McLaren: The effect of varying and constant temperature on the size of a marine copepod. Limnol. Oceanogr. 15, 638–640 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, S. M.: Respiration and feeding in copepods. Adv. mar. Biol. 11, 57–120 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, S. M., A. G. Nicholls and A. P. Orr: On the biology of Calanus finmarchicus. V. Seasonal distribution, size, weight, and chemical composition in Loch Striven in 1933, and their relation to the phytoplankton. J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K. 19, 793–818 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, S. M. and A. P. Orr: The biology of a marine copepod, Calanus finmarchicus (Gunnerus). 180 pp. Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd 1955

    Google Scholar 

  • McAllister, C. D.: Zooplankton rations, phytoplankton mortality and the estimation of marine production. In: Marine food chains, pp 419–457. Ed. by J. H. Steele. Berkeley: University of California Press 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaren, I. A.: Effects of temperature on growth of zooplankton and the adaptive value of vertical migration. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 20, 685–727 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaren, I. A.: Some relationships between temperature and egg size, body size, developmental rate, and fecundity of the copepod Pseudocalanus.Limnol Oceanogr. 10, 528–538 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaren, I. A.: Demographic strategy of vertical migration by a marine copepod. Am. Nat. 108, 91–102 (1974)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLaren, I. A.: Inheritance of demographic and production parameters in the marine copepod Eurytemora herdmani. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 151, 200–213 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullin, M. M.: Production of zooplankton in the ocean: the present status and problems. Oceanogr. mar. Biol. A. Rev. 7, 293–314 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullin, M. M. and E. R. Brooks: Laboratory culture, growth rate, and feeding behavior of a planktonic marine copepod. Limnol. Oceanogr. 12, 657–666 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullin, M. M. and E. R. Brooks:Growth and metabolism of two planktonic, marine copepods as influenced by temperature and type of food. In: Marine food chains, pp 74–95. Ed. by J. H. Steele. Berkeley: University of California Press 1970a

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullin, M. M. and E. R. Brooks: The effect of concentration of food on body weight, cumulative ingestion, and rate of growth of the marine copepod Calanus helgolandicus. Limnol. Oceanogr. 15, 748–755 (1970b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullin, M. M. and E. R. Brooks: The ecology of the plankton off La Jolla, California, in the period April through September, 1967. Part VII. Production of the planktonic copepod, Calanus helgolandicus. Bull. Scripps Instn Oceanogr. 17, 89–103 (1970c)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullin, M. M., E. F. Stewart and F. J. Fuglister: Ingestion by planktonic grazers as a funtion of concentration of food. Limnol. Oceanogr. 20, 259–262 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paffenhöfer, G.-A.: Cultivation of Calanus helgolandicus under controlled conditions. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 20, 346–359 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paffenhöfer, G.-A.: Grazing and ingestion rates of nauplii, copepodites and adults of the marine planktonic copepod Calanus helgolandicus. Mar. Biol. 11, 286–298 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paffenhöfer, G.-A.: Feeding, growth, and food conversion of the marine planktonic copepod Calanus helgolandicus. Limnol. Oceanogr.21, 39–50 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paffenhöfer, G.-A. and R. P. Harris: Feeding, growth and reproduction of the marine planktonic copepod Pseudocalanus elongatus Boeck. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 56, 327–344 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paffenhöfer, G.-A. and S. C. Knowles: Feeding of marine planktonic copepods on mixed phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 48, 143–152 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons T. R., R. L. LeBrasseur and J. D. Fulton: Some observations on the dependence of zooplankton grazing on cell size and concentration in phytoplankton blooms. J. oceanogr. Soc. Japan 23, 10–17 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Prinsloo, J. E. and J. A. V. Eedeen: The influence of temperature on the growth rate of Bulinus (Bulinus) tropicus (Krauss) and Lymnaea natalensis Krauss (Mollusca: Basommotophora). Malacologia 14, 81–88 (1973)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Purdom, C. E.: Fish cultivation research. Lab. Leafl. Fish. Lab. Lowestoft 35, 1–28 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeve, M. R. and M. A. Walter: Conditions of culture, food-size selection, and the effects of temperature and salinity on the rate and generation time in Sagitta hispida Conant. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 9, 191–200 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, F. J.: A flexible growth function for empirical use. J. exp. Bot. 10, 290–300 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricker, W. E.: Handbook of computations for biological statistics of fish populations. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 119, 1–300 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, G. A.: Theory of food-chain relations in the oceans. In: The sea, Vol. 2. pp 438–463. Ed. by M. N. Hill, New York: John Wiley & Sons 1963

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelbourn, J. E., J. R. Brett and S. Shirahata: Effect of temperature and feeding regime on the specific growth rate of sockeye salmon fry (Oncorhynchus nerka), with a consideration of size effect. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 30, 1191–1194 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Steele, J. H.: The structure of marine ecosystems,128 pp. Cambridge: Harvard University Press 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Steele, J. H. and B. W. Frost: The structure of plankton communities. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 280, 485–534 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Steele, J. H. and M. M. Mullin Zooplankton dynamics. In: The sea, Vol. 6. pp 857–890. Ed. by E. D. Goldberg, I. N. McCave, J. J. O'Brien and J. H. Steele, New York: John Wiley & Sons 1977

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney, B. W.: A diurnally fluctuating thermal system for studying the effect of temperature on aquatic organisms. Limnol. Oceanogr. 21, 758–763 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidal, J.: Physioecology of zooplankton. II. Effects of phytoplankton concentration, temperature,and body size on the development and molting rates of Calanus pacificus and Pseudocalanus sp. Mar. Biol. 56, 135–146 (1980a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidal, J.: Physioecology of zooplankton. III. Effects of phytoplankton concentration, temperature, and body size on the metabolic rate of Calanus pacificus. Mar. Biol. 56, 195–202 (1980b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidal, J.: Physioecology of zooplankton. IV. Effects of phytoplankton concentration, temperature, and body size on the net production efficiency of Calanus pacificus. Mar. Biol. 56, 203–211 (1980c)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by I. Morris, West Boothbay Harbor

Contribution No. 1127 from the Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vidal, J. Physioecology of zooplankton. I. Effects of phytoplankton concentration, temperature, and body size on the growth rate of Calanus pacificus and Pseudocalanus sp.. Mar. Biol. 56, 111–134 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397129

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397129

Keywords

Navigation