Prediction of Egg Development Times of Freshwater Copepods

Abstract

Available literature data on the relationship between freshwater copepod egg development time and temperature were summarized and fitted where possible to Bělehrádek's temperature function[Formula: see text]where D is development time, T is temperature, a, b, and α are fitted constants. In the calanoids, and to a lesser extent cyclopoids, a and α were predictably related as were α and in situ egg hatching temperature (TH) when b was assumed to be constant for all copepods. This information was used to describe a simple procedure whereby a curve relating egg development and temperature could be constructed by only knowing TH and applying it to Bělehrádek's temperature function. Key words: Calanoidea, Cyclopoidea, zooplankton, temperature, production assessment