Abstract
Seasonal changes in morphology and size in a Daphnia hyalina population were studied during one year. In addition to the total length, carapace and head lengths were also measured. At the beginning of the year, the large Daphnia produce large neonates. With the coming of the warm season, a decrease in size at first reproduction and minimum size of neonates is observed which may be related to the increase in food availability. Also the maximum size attained tends to decrease from spring to summer, probably in relation to the increase in fish predation. A general increase in size is again found in late summer (August) as a result of the increase in head length and in head/carapace ratio, mainly observed in the smaller size fraction of the population (≤ 1000 µm). This result supports the hypothesis of invertebrate predation as a major factor responsible for the success of ‘long head morphs’.
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Manca, M., Tognota, A.G. Seasonal changes in morphology and size of Daphnia hyalina Leydig in Lago Maggiore. Hydrobiologia 264, 159–167 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007286
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007286