Even/odd frequency in clutch size of three cladoceran species from a neotropical reservoir (Socuy Reservoir, Venezuela)

Abstract

In order to test the even/odd clutch size hypothesis in cladoceran species different from Daphnia, we analyzed a data set of 2,322 clutches from populations of Moina micrura KURZ, Ceriodaphnia cornuta SARS and Bosmina tubicen BREHM, from a reservoir in western Ve nezuela. The studied populations exhibited low fecundity, and no significant differences were found between the frequency of even and odd clutch sizes. Thus, our results do not support the hypothesis that even clutch sizes are more fre quent than odd clutch sizes in cladoceran populations with typically low fecundity.