Growth and longevity of Exosphaeroma hylocoetes (Isopoda) under varying conditions of salinity and temperature

The effect of temperature (15 and 25°C) and salinity (15 and 35 practical salinity units) combinations on the growth and longevity of the South African estuarine isopod Exosphaeromahylocoetes was investigated and data analysed using the logistic growth model. No significantdifferences (P = 0.43 to 0.54) were obtained for the growth rates of male and female E. hylocoetes under the suite of temperature/salinity combinations. Among the variables considered, temperature was identified as the most important in influencing the growth ratesof the isopod. Elevated temperatures promoted faster initial growth in both males and females.Salinity had no significant influence on the growth rates of males and females. Males (25.77 ±3.40 weeks) lived significantly longer (PAfrican Zoology 45(1): 41–51 (April 2010)