Population growth of a copepod <i>Gladioferens imparipes</i> Thomson

Abstract

The intrinsic rate of increase of an animal population can be calculated from data on longevity, sex ratio, maturation rate and fecundity and can be expressed as r in the population growth equation Nt = N0ert. Laboratory and field data are used to calculate the value of r per day for the copepod Gladioferens imparipes Thomson. The r values obtained, 0.146 per day at 15º C and 0.293 per day at 25º C, are both high. This high population growth potential is interpreted as an adaptation to the estuarine habitat.