Predictions of seasonal natural mortality rates in a copepod population using life-history theory

Abstract

We use inverse optimization techniques and data from Landry (1978)to predict natural mortality rates in a population of the marine,planktonic copepod Acartia clausii. Predicted mortality rates arethose that make the observed seasonal pattern of life-history characteristicsevolutionarily stable. Our predictions closely approximate the ratesobserved by Landry. The results imply (1) that the inverse relationshipbetween adult body size and temperature in A. clausii (also widelyobserved in other copepods and poikilotherms) is consistent withthe hypothesis that it is an evolutionary adaptation to a seasonalenvironment, and (2) that demographic parameters, such as naturalmortality rates, can be usefully estimated from life-history theory.