Copepod Life Cycle

By: Joseph Aminov

What Are They????What Are They????

• Copepods are microscopic org..  

• Free-living..

Where does the Name Refer To?Where does the Name Refer To?

• The name copepod refers to "oar foot" because some of the planktonic species have tails that flare out like a paddle

Where Are They In The Chain?Where Are They In The Chain?

• Crucial link in the food chain and are often assigned the role of "primary consumers."

• Generally herbivores,

• One of the dominant forms of animal plankton,

CharacteristicsCharacteristics• Copepods

– No asexual reproduction– Fertilized egg hatches into a larva called a nauplius– Nauplius undergoes a series of molts (6) before changing into a

form that looks like an adult (copepodid)– Copepodid undergoes 6 further molts before becoming an adult

(sexually mature)– Males and females look similar, but males have clasper– Generation time: months to one year

Copepod Life CycleCopepod Life Cycle

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Copepods– Some are passive filter

feeders, but most go after individual particles

– Take algae and small invertebrates

– Adults range from 0.5 mm to 5 mm

– Calanoid & cyclopoid common in plankton

Calanoid Cyclopoid

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• Copepods– Small invertebrate

arthropods– Multicellular,

heterotrophic, eukaryotic

– Use jointed appendages for swimming and feeding

– Found in freshwater, estuaries and the ocean

– Very characteristic of marine zooplankton

A calanoid copepodA calanoid copepod

Cyclopoid copepodsCyclopoid copepods

Order Cyclopodia

250 planktonic species

Difference B/w Calanoid & Difference B/w Calanoid & CyclopoidCyclopoid

• Cyclopoids near aquarium…

• calanoids water surface where they were better visible..

Why are they so Important?Why are they so Important?

• They are very important sources of food because of their large numbers and high nutritional value. in marine environments they are the predominant source of food for organisms like jellyfish, basking sharks, and whales (Davis 1955).

Temperatures effect on Temperatures effect on copepods??copepods??

• Temperature seems to affect the distribution and activity of copepods. Some species are more apt to be found in colder, deeper lakes whereas some are only found in warmer lakes.

Continuation….Continuation….

• Byron (1982) supported this in his investigation in which he concluded that much of the variation of pigmentation is due to environmental conditions along with metabolic stimulation. However, many of the variations can be explained just by observing the difference in water temperatures. He stated that copepods had the darkest pigmentation in colder water.

Collecting PlanktonCollecting Plankton

Cited websCited webs

• Plant http://science.jrank.org/pages/1774/Copepods-Place-in-food-chain.html#ixzz18caOvo1t

• http://academics.smcvt.edu/dfacey/AquaticBiology/Freshwater%20Pages/Copepods.html