Population growth of some genera of cladocerans (Cladocera) in relation to algal food (Chlorella vulgaris) levels

Abstract

We studied the patterns of population growth of 7 cladoceran species (Alona rectangula, Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia laevis, Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Moina macrocopa, Scapholeberis kingi and Simocephalus vetulus) using 6 algal densities, viz. 0.05×10⁶, 0.1×10⁶, 0.2×10⁶, 0.4×10⁶, 0.8×10⁶ and 1.6×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, of Chlorella vulgaris for 18 – 30 days. In terms of carbon content these algal concentrations corresponded to 0.29, 0.58, 1.16, 2.33, 4.65 and 9.31 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. Cladocerans in the tested range of algal levels responded similarly, in that increasing the food concentrations resulted in higher numerical abundance and population growth rates (r). The peak population densities were (mean±standard error) 71±5; 17.1±0.4, 3.6±0.3, 12.7±1.1, 18.2±2.7, 15.8±1.0 and 10.9±0.02 ind. ml⁻¹, respectively for A. rectangula, C. dubia, D. laevis, D. brachyurum, M. macrocopa, S. kingi and S. vetulus. In general, the lowest r values were obtained for D. laevis (0.01±0.001) at 0.05×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ food level while the highest was 0.283±0.004 for A. rectangula at 1.6×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ of Chlorella. When the data of peak population density for each cladoceran species were plotted against the body length, we found an inverse relation, broadly curvilinear in shape. From regression equations between the food level and rate of population increase, we calculated the theoretical food quantity (the threshold level) required to maintain a zero population growth (r = 0) for each cladoceran species, which varied from 0.107 to 0.289 μg ml⁻¹ d⁻¹ depending on the body size. When we plotted the cladoceran body size against the corresponding threshold food levels, we obtained a normal distribution curve. From this it became evident that for up to 1300 μm body size, the threshold food level increased with increasing body size; however, beyond this, the threshold level decreased supporting earlier observations on rotifers and large cladocerans.