Successional Changes, Variations in Population Densities, and Reproductive Strategies of Cladocera in Two Temporary Ponds in North Alabama

Eight species of Cladocera were collected in two temporary ponds in north Alabama. They were either opportunistic species or species specialized to inhabit littoral zones. Daphnia pulex was common in both ponds and persisted for the period the ponds were filled with water. Initially D. pulex coexisted with D. magna in S & J Pond and with Ceviodaphnia megalops in WEUP Pond. These two larger species were eliminated and replaced with the smaller C. latieaudata in the former pond and Dadaya maarops in the latter. Daphnia pulex then coexisted with each of the above species until the ponds dried. The dynamics of each species was examined and an hypothetical adaptive strategy using D. pulex is proposed that allows certain cladoceran populations to persist through periods of drastic environmental change.