Life History Strategies of Rotifers

Abstract

Life history strategy depends on the conflict between different metabolic demands of the organism and the biotic and abiotic conditions of the environment. Abiotic situations often change very quickly and hinder the stable adjustment of steady-state phases (Chap. 7.2). The influence of only three, but among the most important abiotic parameters is studied here. The relationship of organisms to biotic parameters can be better predicted. Organisms with low energetic demands have advantages in environments with low food concentrations. On the other hand, they easily come under the control of a predator (“top-down” control in the well-known energy pyramid). Other organisms with a higher energetic metabolism require a larger food supply and are outcompeted at lower concentrations. They are easily controlled by “bottom-up” factors. On the other hand, they are able to avoid “top-down” controls by predators by their high kinetic features of their metabolism. Both types represent the extremes of different strategies selected to high r_max or low K_s metabolic characteristics (Sect. 6.3.7). An excellent introduction to basic rotifer ecology was given by Wallace and Snell (1991).