Fitness response variation within and among consumer species can be co-mediated by food quantity and biochemical quality.

ABSTRACT: In natural heterogeneous environments, the fitness of animals is strongly influenced by the availability and composition of food. Food quantity and biochemical quality constraints may affect individual traits of consumers differently, mediating fitness response variation within and among species. Using a multifactorial experimental approach, we assessed population growth rate, fecundity, and survival of six strains of the two closely related freshwater rotifer species Brachionus calyciflorus sensu stricto and Brachionus fernandoi. Therefore, rotifers fed low and high concentrations of three algal species differing in their biochemical food quality. Additionally, we explored the potential of a single limiting biochemical nutrient to mediate variations in population growth response. Therefor

SUBMITTER: Schalicke S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6834596 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature