LIFE-HISTORY CHARACTERISTICS OF DAPHNIA-MAGNA CLONES DIFFERING IN PHOTOTACTIC BEHAVIOR

In an analysis of a life table experiment involving positively, intermediately and negatively phototactic Daphnia magna clones, life history traits such as the average duration of the adult instar, neonate and adult body size were found to be correlated with phototactic behaviour. The size of the eggs and neonates was positively correlated with adult body size, and with egg development time. Adult body size was positively correlated with the size of the second and subsequent clutches. I argue that the intrinsic positive correlation between offspring size and egg development time is a key factor structuring the differences in life history patterns observed between the positively and intermediately phototactic Daphnia genotypes, and that the two life history patterns are to be considered alternatives suited for different environmental conditions (e.g. habitats with and without strong predation pressure on adults).