Reproductive strategies of Moina (Cladocera) in relation to their habitat

Abstract

Reproductive strategies of Moina (Cladocera) in relation to their habitatSome Moina species are predominantly found in large ponds and lakes while others are restricted to temporary pools or estuaries. The life history strategies and resistance to starvation of different species of Moina depend on their habitat. We compared the demography and starvation resistance in three species of the genus: Moina macrocopa (isolated from a reservoir), M. cf. micrura (from a small lake) and M. cf. wierzejskii (from a temporary pool). Population growth of the three Moina species was followed for 15 days using Chlorella vulgaris at a density of 1 x 10 6 cells/ml. Daily the females, males and ephippia produced by each cladoceran species were enumerated and transferred to a fresh test medium. We also tested the differences in resistance to starvation of the adults and the neonates by comparing the days until all the unfed individuals had died. Population growth curves of Moina macrocopa, M. cf. micrura and M. cf. wierzejskii showed significantly different trends. Moina macrocopa had higher peak densities (5-6 ind/ml) and higher population growth rates (0.33 per day) than the other two species. However, M. cf. wierzejskii had higher production of both, males and ephippia (0.3-0.4 ind/ ml and 0.7-0.8 ind/ml, respectively) than the rest. Regardless of the species, neonates were less resistant to starvation than adults. We discuss here adaptations of the life history strategies of these taxa in relation to their habitat.

Climate change and niche unfilling tend to favor range expansion of Moina macrocopa Straus 1820, a potentially invasive cladoceran in temporary waters

“…Hence, as dispersal may not limit its spread in invaded areas, bottleneck and/or biotic resistance are more likely to be the most critical factors determining this high unfilling. M. macrocopa has intense propagule recruitment through clonal or resting egg production (Vignatti et al, 2013 ; Sirianni, 2017 ; Nandini & Sarma, 2019 ), and bottlenecks are common in organisms that recruit novel populations from a single propagule. Explicitly, in this case of M. macrocopa , the selective pressures in cultures intended for aquaculture and live-food production could enhance bottlenecks (Fermin, 1991 ; Manklinniam et al, 2018 ).…”

The Effect of Aeration on Male Individual Productivity and Ephippia Moina micrura

“…Moina reproduction consists of asexual reproduction (parthenogenesis) and sexual reproduction. The transition from parthenogenetic reproduction to sexual reproduction in cladocera can be mediated by several induction factors, including temperature [6], photoperiod, population density [7], quality and IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1224/1/012006 2 quantity of feed [8,9], as well as water quality, one of which is dissolved oxygen.…”