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The seasonal cycle of Thermocyclops crassus (Fischer, 1853) (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) in a shallow, eutrophic lake

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Abstract

The seasonal cycle of Thermocyclops crassus was studied from 1985 to 1987, in the Gronne, a shallow, productive lake. T. crassus was present from late April to early October, while water temperature was above 10 °C. It produced three generations per year. Population peak was usually reached by the second generation, in August. Abundance was positively correlated with water temperature. Females carried 18.3 to 32.3 eggs on average. Reproduction rates were highest in July and August. Sex ratio was low, as females generally outnumbered males. Between October and April copepodites 4 went in diapause, predominantly in the deepest part of the lake and 0–4 cm deep in the bottom mud. Variations in body size were low across the year.

T. crassus coexisted with the cyclopids, Cyclops vicinus and Mesocyclops leuckarti. In 1985 and 1986, abundances of M. leuckarti were low, while those of T. crassus and C. vicinus were high. In 1987 lower water temperatures, caused by cold weather, resulted in a marked decrease of the population density of T. crassus, while the abundance of M. leuckarti increased, and density of C. vicinus remained high. Comparison of the egg duration times of T. crassus, C. vicinus and M. leuckarti showed that at 15 °C and below T. crassus may be outcompeted by its comparatively longer egg development times. However, experiments in limnocorrals showed that T. crassus has an advantage over C. vicinus when fish predation is high.

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  1. G. Maier
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Department of Biology III, University of Ulm

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Maier, G. The seasonal cycle of Thermocyclops crassus (Fischer, 1853) (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) in a shallow, eutrophic lake. Hydrobiologia 178, 43–58 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006112

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006112

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