Abstract
The life-cycle of the ancient asexual ostracod Darwinula stevensoni was studied during 1 year in a eutrophic pond in Belgium. The reproductive period of this species started in March and was effectively completed by September of the same year. All changes in population structure took place during the spring and summer months and a rapid turnover of the instars was observed. The life-cycle of Darwinula stevensoni appears to take one year or less in Belgium and this is considerably shorter than the 4 years which had been reported previously from subarctic populations. The difference to the present study is most likely temperature-related. Maximal densities of D. stevensoni were observed in June and July and attained 105 ind. m−2. During winter, densities were lower with a mean of 104 ind. m−2. Consequently, the calculated population size of each month was high throughout the year. Together with the low mutation rate, such a large population size could effectively counteract the stochastic loss of mutation-free genotypes as predicted by Muller's ratchet. D. stevensoni is a brooder; the maximum number of embryos and juvenile instars (up to third stage) found within a single female was 11.
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Van Doninck, K., Schön, I., Martens, K. et al. The life-cycle of the asexual ostracod Darwinula stevensoni (Brady & Robertson, 1870) (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in a temporate pond. Hydrobiologia 500, 331–340 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024656920904
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024656920904