Temperature effects on life history traits of two sympatric branchiopods from an ephemeral wetland

Temperature effects on organisms are of multiple scientific interests, such as for their life history performance and for the study of evolutionary strategies. We have cultured two sympatric branchiopod species from an ephemeral pond in northern Taiwan, Branchinella kugenumaensis and Eulimnadia braueriana, and compared their hatching rate, maturation time, sex ratio, growth of body length, survivorship, clutch size, net reproductive rate R(0), generation time T(G), and intrinsic rate of natural increase r in relation to temperature (15, 20, 25 and 30°C). We found that E. braueriana had a significantly higher temperature-dependent fecundity and intrinsic population growth pattern (R(0) and r). In contrast, B. kugenumaensis reproduced much slower than E. braueriana with much lower R(0) (90–100 folds less) and r (about 10 folds less) at 15, 20 and 25°C and with a double as long T(G) at 20 and 25°C. In addition, E. braueriana increased its chance of hermaphroditic sexual reproductive mode at higher temperature because of a significantly delayed maturation of males from hermaphrodites. In contrast, B. kugenumaensis showed no significant change in reproductive mode with temperature. This is the first study indicating a significant differentiation in life history parameters of two sympatric branchiopods mediated by temperature.