Influences of Temperature and Desiccation on Breaking Diapause in the Gemmules ofEunapius fraqilis(Leidy)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Most specimens of Eunapius fraqilis in Gallup Pond (Connecticut) apparently formed gemmules in September and then died. The gemmules were initially in a protracted diapause which was gradually broken during the winter. They germinated in the pond between late March and late April. Gemmules collected during the fall did not germinate during four months when they were kept at 20°C. Other gemmules from the same collections, which were kept at 5°C for several months before they were placed at 20°C, exhibited good germination. Finally, gemmules that did not germinate following a cold treatment could be activated by drying them at 20°C for seven days and then maintaining them in pond water at 20°C. These results suggest that low temperature and desiccation are effective in breaking gemmule diapause of Eunapius fraqilis.