Cannibalistic behaviour of rock-pool copepods: An experimental approach for space, food and kinship

摘要: Studies on cannibalism in harpacticoid copepods are restricted to predation naupliar larvae rock-pool harpacticoids of the genus Tigriopus. An earlier experimental study Mediterranean copepod Tigriopus fulvus indicated that females recognized their own and preferentially preyed nauplii other than own. In a series laboratory experiments, we tested if there were differences as function crowding, food level sex brevicornis T. fulvus. Results show was first larval stages (N1 N2). Both availability adult density significantly affected rate. Contrary suggestions, males also nauplii. We found no evidence adults spare offspring, for neither nor brevicornis.This is accordance with what one would expect species having life history characteristics Tigriopus, i.e.: multiple broods large number offspring. Earlier results indicating parental care must be taken caution.