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

We use inverse optimization techniques and data from Predicted mortality rates are those that make the observed seasonal pattern of life-history characteristics evolutionarily stable. Our predictions closely approximate the rates observed by Landry. The results imply (1) that the inverse relationship between adult body size and temperature in A. clausii (also widely observed in other copepods and poikilotherms) is consistent with the hypothesis that it is an evolutionary adaptation to a seasonal environment, and (2) that demographic parameters, such as natural mortality rates, can be usefully estimated from life-history theory.