Effects of algal food quality on fecundity and population growth rates of Daphnia

  1. SUSAN KILHAM1,
  2. DANIEL KREEGER2,
  3. CLYDE GOULDEN2,
  4. SCOTT LYNN1

Article first published online: 18 NOV 2003

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2427.1997.00232.x

Issue

Freshwater Biology

Freshwater Biology

Volume 38, Issue 3, pages 639–647, December 1997

Additional Information

How to Cite

KILHAM, S., KREEGER, D., GOULDEN, C. and LYNN, S. (1997), Effects of algal food quality on fecundity and population growth rates of Daphnia. Freshwater Biology, 38: 639–647. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2427.1997.00232.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 32nd and Chestnut St., Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19014, U.S.A.,

  2. 2

    Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th and The Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103, U.S.A.

* SUSAN S. KILHAM Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, 32nd and Chestnut St., Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19014, U.S.A.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 NOV 2003
  2. Article first published online: 18 NOV 2003

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1. Food quality was at least as important as food quantity for both fecundity and population growth responses of the cladoceran Daphnia pulicaria fed the green alga Ankistrodesmus falcatus grown under N limitation, P limitation, or non-limited condition.

2. The fecundity of D. pulicaria was reduced under conditions of low food quality (low N or low P) compared with that for animals fed control non-limited algae regardless of ration size. The reduced fecundity of D. pulicaria fed P-limited food could be partially alleviated by increasing the ration (hence, compensation), but such was not the case for animals fed N-limited food.

3. Population growth rates of D. pulicaria (rmax) were significantly reduced under conditions of low-quality food for both N-limited and P-limited algae. Population growth rates were unaffected by ration size, indicating no compensation.

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