Copepod life history traits in subtemperate regions

A review of the life history traits of subtemperate copepod genera indicates a number of common features. Most dominant species are continuous spawners with maximum levels of egg production reached at 15–20°C, depending on the species. Egg development times are quite rapid, about 24–72 h, within a temperature range of 15–30°C, and are largely temperature dependent. The potential fecundity seems to range widely among species; the most fecund species belong to the genera Centropages whereas the least fecund are those bearing egg sacs. The factors affecting production levels are both food quantity and food quality dependent but may also be regulated by metabolic processes that are in turn temperature dependent. Also potential egg viability seems to range widely during the year, from 0 to 60% in most cases, indicating that recruitment to the adult population may largely be controlled by physiological mortality rather than to predation or advective processes. There are probably several causes leading to reduced hatching success including an absence of remating, poor food conditions and/or the presence feeding deterrents such as the recently described inhibitory compounds blocking normal copepod embryogenesis. Another common feature of subtemperate species is that they show relatively constant development times from egg to adult, ranging generally from 18 to 25 d, depending on temperature and food conditions. Adult longevity then ranges from 2 to 3 months for adult females maintained in the laboratory which is much shorter than the 1 yr lifespan reported for north-temperate to boreal species.