Abstract
Field sampling during successive inundations was followed by laboratory studies on growth, egg production and hatching of Triops granarius from temporary pans in southern Africa.
The species was common where mean inundation was less than one month. Sexual maturity was reached in as little as six days at a carapace length of 6.5 mm. A biomass of 2.0 g, at carapace length of 25 mm was achieved in two months. Males and females occurred in similar numbers and mating was a prerequisite for sustained fertile egg production. Eggs were in similar numbers in both pouches, while successive clutches were larger. Hatching was light-dependent. Desiccation of eggs was not necessary but a period of up to 20 days was required before undesiccated eggs would hatch. In the event of desiccation, no minimum period thereof was necessary and hatching occurred within as little as a day of rehydration. Hatching success seldom exceeded 50 percent.
As a candidate for aquaculture, the species has failings such as low hatching rate and cannibalism, but it grows rapidly and produces eggs over an extended period.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnard, K. H., 1929. Contributions to the crustacean fauna of South Africa. No. 10. A revision of the South African Branchiopoda (Phyllopoda). Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 29: 181–270.
Fryer, G., 1988. Studies on the functional morphology and biology of the Notostraca (Crustacea: Branchiopoda). Phil. Trans. r. Soc. Lond. B 321: 27–124.
Goudie, A. S. & D. S. G. Thomas, 1985. Pans in southern Africa with special reference to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Z. Geomorph. N.F. 29: 1–19.
Le Roux, J. S., 1978. The origin and distribution ofpans in the Orange Free State. S. afr. Geogr. 6: 167–176.
Longhurst, A. R., 1956. A review of the Notostraca. Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. Zool. 3: 1–57.
Pianka, E. R., 1970. On r- and K-selection. Am. Nat. 104: 592–597.
Price, P. W., C. N. Slobodchikoff & W. S. Gaud, 1984. A new ecology. Wiley-Interscience, N.Y..
Rayner, N. A. & A. E. Bowland, 1985. Notes on the taxonomy and ecology of Triops granarius (Lucas) (Notostraca: Crustacea) in South Africa. S. afr. J. Sci. 81: 500–505.
Romanovsky, Y. E., 1985. Food limitation and life-history strategies in cladoceran crustaceans. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. 21: 363–372.
Scott, S. R. & A. A. Grigarick, 1979. Laboratory studies of factors affecting egg hatch of Triops longicaudatus (Leconte) (Notostraca: Triopsidae). Hydrobiologia 63: 145–152.
Seaman, M. T. & D. J. Kok, 1987. Ecological diversity in Orange Free State pans. In R. D. Walmsley & L. Botten (eds), Symposium on the ecology and conservation of wetlands in South Africa, Foundation for Research Development, CSIR, Pretoria, Occasional Report Series 28: 260–273.
Takahashi, F. & M. Gohda, 1981. The type of egg production curve with respect to population preservation: ecological studies of tadpole shrimps (Branchiopoda: Triopsidae) for the biological control of weeds in rice paddies. Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 21: 1531–1540.
Tyson, P. D., 1986. Climatic change and variability in South Africa. Oxford University Press, Cape Town
Williams, W. D., 1985. Biotic adaptations in temporary lentic waters, with special reference to those in arid and semiarid regions. Hydrobiologia 125: 85–110.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Seaman, M.T., Kok, D.J., von Schlichting, B.J. et al. Natural growth and reproduction in Triops granarius (Lucas) (Crustacea: Notostraca). Hydrobiologia 212, 87–94 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025991
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025991