Journal of Environmental Biology

Somatic and population growth responses of Ceriodaphnia dubia

and Daphnia pulex (Cladocera) to changes in food

(Chlorella vulgaris) level and temperature

Author Details

Jose Luis Gama-Flores

(Corresponding author)

Biology Career, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Campus Iztacala, Av. de Los Barrios

No.1, C.P. 54090, Los Reyes, Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, Mexico

e-mail: joluga@servidor.unam.mx

Maria Elena Huidobro-Salas

Biology Career, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Campus Iztacala, Av. de Los Barrios

No.1, C.P. 54090, Los Reyes, Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, Mexico

S.S.S. Sarma

Laboratory of Aquatic Zoology, Division of Research and Postgraduate Studies, National Autonomous

University of Mexico, Campus Iztacala Av. de Los Barrios No.1, C.P. 54090, Los Reyes, Tlalnepantla,

State of Mexico, Mexico

S. Nandini

Laboratory of Aquatic Zoology, Division of Research and Postgraduate Studies, National Autonomous

University of Mexico, Campus Iztacala Av. de Los Barrios No.1, C.P. 54090, Los Reyes, Tlalnepantla,

State of Mexico, Mexico

Publication Data

Paper received:

8 March 2010

Revised received:

17 June 2010

Accepted:

23 September 2010

Abstract

We quantified the combined effects of three food levels (0.01 X10⁶, 0.1 X10⁶ and 1.0X10⁶ cells ml^-1) and three temperature levels (15, 20 and 25^oC) on the somatic and the clonal population growth of two cladocerans Ceriodaphnia dubia and Daphnia pulex for 24 to 42 days. The somatic growth data showed that both the cladoceran species began to increase their body size within 3 days and remained stable beyond a week. Food density had a significant effect on the body size of C. dubia while for D. pulex, food level and temperature as well as their interaction had significant effect on the body size. The population growth of both the cladoceran species was affected by temperature. At 15^oC, C. dubia showed little growth at the highest food density, while at low food level, there was some increase in the population abundances, especially after a long lag phase of about 2 weeks. At 15^oC and under the lowest tested food level, the population of D. pulex did not increase beyond the inoculation density. Optimal population growth of D. pulex was observed at intermediate temperature and at 1.0X10⁶ cells ml^-1 of food level while for C. dubia 25^oC and the highest food level yielded highest growth. At low food level and low temperature, the rate of population increase (r) of C. dubia was much lower than that of D. pulex at comparable conditions. On the hand, at higher food levels and temperature regimes, the r of D. pulex was much higher than that of C.dubia. Regardless of the food levels and temperature, the r of C. dubia varied from 0.03 to 0.07 while that of D. pulex varied from 0.01 to 0.08 day^-1.

Key words

Growth response, Cladocerans, Food and temperature effect

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