Temperature dependence of food intake, ammonia excretion and respiration in Ceriodaphnia reticulata (Jurine) (Lake Kinneret, Israel)*

Summary The abundance of Ceriodaphnia reticulata (Jurine) in Lake Kinneret is restricted every year to the period March to June with a peak in May. The most constant parameter accompanying the peak is temperature with a range of 20–22° C. An attempt was made to clarify whether the estival high average temperatures observed in the epilimnion of this lake (27–28° C) could explain the decrease of the Ceriodaphnia population. Three physiological parameters: food intake, ammonia excretion and respiration rates, were measured experimentally at three temperatures (15, 22 and 27° C). The dry weight of individuals of the winter and summer populations were measured, and the percentages of egg-bearing females in the populations were calculated. It was found that temperature increase accelerates the rates of ammonia excretion and food ingestion. The acceleration was greater in the lower temperature range (15–22° C) than in the higher one (22–27° C). Conversely, the enhancing of respiration rate is higher in the upper temperature range. The resulting deficit of energy at high temperatures causes a reduction in body size and a significant diminution of egg production, which leads to a progressive decline of the population.