Estimating Competition in Cladocerans Using Data on Dynamics of Clutch Size and Population Density

Abstract
Negative correlations between clutch size and population density are proposed to be considered as indices of intra‐ and interspecific competition in cladocerans if they are revealed while analyzing population dynamics and clutch size and time lags are taken into account. The proper correlation analysis of summer populations of Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Bosmina coregoni, Daphnia cucullata and D. galeata from mesotrophic Lake Glubokoye (Moscow Region) in 1975, 1978, and 1979 indicates the important role of competition of both types for the community studied. High niche overlap in food and space in the four populations was also observed.