Attwood, C.G. & W.T. Peterson. (1989). Reduction in fecundity and lipids of the copepod Calanus australis (Brodskii) by strongly pulsed upwelling. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 129(2):121-132.

74356

10.1016/0022-0981(89)90051-8 [view]

Attwood, C.G. & W.T. Peterson

1989

129(2):121-132.

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Gravid female Calanus australis (Brodskii) were starved for varying periods in the laboratory to test the hypothesis that the relatively low Zooplankton biomass in the southern Benguela is caused by a discontinuous, albeit rich, food supply. Egg-production rates and lipid content were monitored for groups of copepods which were starved, fed subsequent to starvation and fed continuously. Average egg production for unstarved females was 27.6 eggs-day−1. Starvation was found to inhibit egg production after 24 h. Cumulative egg production during 5 days of feeding was significantly reduced if starvation was experienced immediately before feeding, being even lower for extended lengths of starvation. The total lipid content of ≈ 17 % of dry mass was reduced to < 4 % following starvation for 9 days. Given a mean dry mass of 184.4 μg, this animal expends 6.4 μg lipid · day−1. It would appear that fecundity is related not only to feeding rate as has been demonstrated but to feeding history also. Phytoplankton blooms in the southern Benguela, usually lasting only 5 days, are interrupted by advection of chlorophyll-free upwelled water. These results support the hypothesis that, although on average food is abundant, starvation experienced during episodic upwelling events may retard the establishment of a large herbivore community.

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