Influence of food resources on body size of Keratella cochlearis (Gosse) in a small Andean lake

DIÉGUEZ, M.C., B.E. MODENUTTI & C.P. QUEIMALINOS

HYDROBIOLOGIA

Kluwer

Año: 1999 vol. 387 p. 289 - 294

0018-8158

AbstractMorphological variation of Keratella cochlearis was studied during a spring-summer period in a small Andeanlake.Morphometry was studied in relation to temperature, food resources, cladoceran competitors and invertebratepredators. Three different morphs were recorded. We observed lack of allometric growth of the posterior spine.Absence of allometric growth could be related with the low density of a predaceous water mite and the smallsize of the cladocerans present in the lake. Fluctuations in lorica length and width were negatively correlated withtemperature and algal biovolume. We discuss the benefits of this morphological response of Keratella in relationto environmental conditions.