The Ecology of Intertidal Amphipods in the Oslofjord. The Life Cycles of Chaetogammarus marinus and C. stoerensis |
| |
| Authors: | Arnfinn Skadsheim |
| |
| Institution: | Inst, for marin biologi og limnologi, Avd. marin zoologi og marin kjemi. P. O. Box 1064 Blindern, Oslo 3, Norway.;Inst, of Ecology and Genetics, Univ. of Aarhus, Ny Munkegade, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract. In the Oslofjord two species of the amphipod genus Chaetogammarus, C. marinus (LEACH, 1815) and C. stoerensis (REID, 1938) were found to be annual species with similar life cycles. No differences in life cycle traits were found between two C. stoerensis populations where one occupied a freshwater influenced beach and the other a fully marine beach. The breeding period of both species was short and lasted from April to the end of May or early June. Frost prohibited embryonic development in the first part of April so few juveniles were released before the middle of May. In late May and early June all specimens which survived the winter died. The sex ratio was skewed in favour of females, and females produce two to three broods during lifetime. Between 16 and 31 % of the newly laid eggs failed to complete their development. The life cycle of populations of the two species from other geographical areas are compared with the Oslofjord data. |
| |
| Keywords: | Life cycles regulation of breeding periods brood production and mortality |
|
|
