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Pregnant Dapnia Magna showing embryo inside sac
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Do you know Daphia Magna can reproduce in two different ways?
They are tiny one eyed planktonic crustaceans that live in a wide range of fresh water environments. This aquatic organism eat small particles of organic debris and tiny organisms like bacteria and algae.
They can be found all over North America and South Africa. The one pictured is a pregnant female you can see the embryos inside her brood sac, they are very good at reproducing. They alternate between asexual and sexual reproduction depending on conditions mostly the season. When they reproduce asexually they essentially clone themselves. They usually develop into females but if the environmental conditions are getting harsh they can develop into males which are smaller.
They can produce up to 100 offspring every 4-6 days this way and generally spend spring and summer filling the water with female clones that live for about 3 months. They have another mode of reproduction for when things are looking grim, generally drying up or winter approaching. They produce “resting eggs” these eggs are produced 2 at a time in a special protective case called an Ephippium. Males fertilize these eggs and when the environment is harsh the embryos inside stop developing and wait, for years if need be. Inside their protective case they wait for better conditions. When they arrive the embryos finish developing and emerge as female Daphnia that start producing clones again.
David Ishee
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