DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH AND EGG-PRODUCTION OF THE 2 COPEPOD SPECIES CENTROPAGES-HAMATUS AND CENTROPAGES-TYPICUS IN THE LABORATORY

Laboratory experiments were set up in order to determine and compare developmental rates, growth rates, generation times and egg production rates for the two calanoid copepod species Centropages typicus and Centropages hamatus. The nauplii showed a higher developmental rate than the copepodites for both species with quite different individual stage durations, which gave no indication of isochronal development. For C.typicus equiproportional development was found. The growth rates were exponential and highest for the largest species C. typicus, and for both species the juvenile growth rates were very similar to the egg production rates of the adults.