Light Induced Hatching of Daphnia Resting Eggs

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Abstract
Ephippial eggs of the waterflea,Daphnia pulex, from two strains, were immersed in a synthetic pond medium and incubated under low intensity fluorescent light. Ephippia, were also desiccated or soaked in 1.0% solution of sodium hypochlorite preliminary to incubation. When incubated with light for a period of 100 days, 40.0 or 50.0% of the eggs hatched as compared to a range of 0.0 to 2.0% hatch in the dark. Ephippia cultured in the laboratory required several weeks of storage at room temperatures before enclosed eggs responded to light. A preliminary soaking in hypochlorite abbreviated the storage requirement. Desiccation reduced the hatching rate. Response of the ephippial eggs collected from a lake suggested a need for additional storage or another stimulus before becoming sensitive to light. Ephippia fromD. ambigua also responded to light.

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