Abstract
The population growth rates of monospecific cultures of asexually reproducingNais variabilis, N. elinguis andPristina aequiseta were determined under laboratory conditions at 8 °C, 12 °C and 20 °C. Two different agar-based culture media were used to promote bacterial populations as a food for the worms.
The exponential growth rate (r) of the worm populations was dependent upon species, temperature and culture medium. Highest r-values recorded were forN. variabilis andP. aequiseta at 20 °C (mean population doubling time about 3 days) and the lowest r-value recorded was forP. aequiseta at 8 °C (mean population doubling time about 22 days). The r-values forN. elinguis were generally lower than expected, possibly because conditions in the experimental cultures were less suitable for this species.
Temperature, culture medium and species identity also affected the carrying capacity of the cultures. Carrying capacity increased with increase in temperature over the experimental range.P. aequiseta cultures supported significantly higher carrying capacities than theNais cultures at all temperatures.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blueweiss, L., Fox, H., Kudzma, V., Nakashima, D., Peters, R. & Sams, S., 1978. Relationships between body size and some life history parameters. Oecologia 37: 257–272.
Edwards, R. W., Benson-Evans, K., Learner, M. A., Williams, P. & Williams, R., 1972. A biological survey of the R. Taff. Wat. Pollut. Contr. 71: 144–166.
Galtsoff, P. S., Lutz, F. E., Welch, P. S. & Needham, J. G., 1937. Culture methods for invertebrate animals. Dover Publications, New York.
Harper, R. M., Fry, J. C. & Learner, M. A., 1981a. A bacteriological investigation to elucidate the feeding biology of Nais variabilis (Oligochaeta: Naididae). Freshwat. Biol. 11: 227–236.
Harper, R. M., Fry, J. C. & Learner, M. A., 1981b. Digestion of bacteria by Nais variabilis (Oligochaeta) as established by auto radiography. Oikos 36: 211–218.
Juget, J., 1976. Les oligochètes du zooperiphyton des herbiers a Trapa natans: ècologie et production. Ann. Hydrobiol. 7: 43–45.
Learner, M. A., 1979. The distribution and ecology of the Naididae (Oligochaeta) which inhabit the filter-beds of sewageworks in Britain. Wat. Res. 13: 1291–1299.
Learner, M. A., Lochhead, G. & Hughes, B. D., 1978. A review of the biology of British Naididae (Oligochaeta) with emphasis on the lotic environment. Freshwat. Biol. 8: 357–375.
Learner, M. A., Williams, R., Harcup, M. & Hughes, B. D., 1971. A survey of the macro-fauna of the R. Cynon, a polluted tributary of the River Taff(South Wales). Freshwat. Biol. 1: 339–367.
Loden, M. S., 1981. Reproductive ecology of Naididae (Oligochaeta). Hydrobiologia 83: 115–123.
Loden, M. S. & Harman, W. J., 1980. Ecophenotypic variation in seta of Naididae (Oligochaeta). In: Brinkhurst, R. O. & Cook, D. G. (eds.) Aquatic oligochaete biology. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 33–39.
McElhone, M. J., 1978. A population study of littoral dwelling Naididae (Oligochaeta) in a shallow mesotrophic lake in N. Wales. J. anim. Ecol. 47: 615–626.
Murphy, P. M., 1980. An ecological study of the macroinvertebrate fauna of the River Ely. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Wales.
Odum, E. P., 1971. Fundamentals of ecology. W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia.
Staples, D. G. & Fry, J. C., 1973. A medium for counting aquatic heterotrophic bacteria in polluted and unpolluted waters. J. appl. Bact. 36: 179–181.
Taylor, W. D., 1980. Observations on the feeding and growth of the predacious oligochaete Chaetogaster langi on ciliated Protozoa. Trans. am. microsc. Soc. 99: 360–367.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lochhead, G., Learner, M.A. The effect of temperature on asexual population growth of three species of Naididae (Oligochaeta). Hydrobiologia 98, 107–112 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185627
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02185627