Reproductive and life cycle strategies in egg-carrying cyclopoid and free-spawning calanoid copepods

Abstract

Egg-carrying cyclopoid copepods have lower fecundity and feeding rates, and longer egg hatching times, than free-spawning calanoid copepods. Simple demographic considerations suggest . that the lower feeding and fecundity of egg-carrying cyclopoids are adaptations to the potentially elevated mortality of ovigerous females, while the shorter egg hatching time and higher feeding and fecundity rates found in free-spawning calanoid copepods represent adaptations to the very high mortality rates experienced by suspended eggs.