Relation Between Filtering Rate, Temperature, and Body Size in Four Species of Daphnia

Filtering rates of four species of Daphnia were measured at 15, 20, and 25C. Maximum filtering rate increased with increasing temperature and increasing body size of the animal in all species, but a general equation relating filtering rate to body length could not be derived. When filtering rates were expressed on a unit body weight basis, the species differed. Filtering rates of adult D. schødleri and D. pulex were similar and at 20C were slightly higher than their rates at 15 and 25C. In contrast, filtering rates of D. magna and D. galeata mendotae increased with increasing temperature and at 20 and 25C were more than twice their rates at 15C.