RESEARCH ARTICLE

Life Cycle of a New Bosminid Cladocera: Bosmina (Bosmina)tripurae (Korinek, Saha, and Bhattacharya, 1999)

Anamika Biswas • Ratan K. Saha •

Anamika Sengupta • Himadri Saha

Received: 23 September 2013 / Revised: 1 December 2013 / Accepted: 15 January 2014

� The National Academy of Sciences, India 2014

Abstract Bosmina tripurae was first reported as a new

species of subgenus Sinobosmina (Cladocera, Bosmina) in

1999 in Tripura, India. However, no further research work

was done on this species. The present investigation has been

carried out to provide the basic knowledge of life history

aspects of B. tripurae on its length increment, instar number,

instar duration, fecundity, hatching success, life span and

embryonic development. The species was cultured in the

laboratory for ten generations. The experiment was con-

ducted under controlled conditions at 20 ± 0.29 �C and

animals were fed with Chlorella sp. (2 9 104 cells ml-1).

Parthenogenetic female showed three preadult and ten adult

instar stages. Female produced around 22 eggs in its total

life span of about 25 days. The length of first instar juvenile

was 261 lm and the last adult instar was 590 lm. Duration

of preadult instars ranged from 1.05 to 1.27 days whereas

adult instars ranged from 1.93 to 2.30 days. Age at first

reproduction was about 3.65 days. The species showed

maximum ten clutches in the present study however, the

sixth clutch produced and released significantly (P \ 0.05)

higher number of both eggs and neonates as compared to

other clutches. In laboratory condition, about 89 % eggs

were hatched out into neonates. The gestation period of the

embryo was around 2.03 days with 12 developmental stages

in the brood pouch of the mother.

Keywords Cladocera � Bosmina tripurae �Length increment � Life span � Egg production �Embryonic development

Introduction

A detailed knowledge of the life history of a species is

important to the ecologists to understand its distribution,

interaction with environmental variables and its role in

ecological food web. The ecological importance of

Cladocera is known to all as they have special role in

energy transfer to the higher trophic levels [1]. They are

excellent food items for fishes, especially fish larvae prefer

these zooplankton as the source of protein. Genus Bosmina

is one of the most important cladocera that is widely dis-

tributed in freshwater bodies of tropical and temperate

regions [2–4]. In ponds and lakes of Tripura, India Bosmina

tripurae is one of the most abundant cladoceran species

found even in very small shallow ponds [5]. The species

was first described by Korinek et al. [6] under the subgenus

Sinobosmina. Further, Taylor et al. [7] suggested that B.

tripurae would be classified under subgenus Bosmina after

analyzing the molecular phylogeny of bosminids. Till date,

the species has been identified and its morphology has been

described [8], but no further work was undertaken on its

life cycle.

The knowledge regarding morphology and life history

aspects of individual species is important as these traits can

change under different abiotic and biotic conditions. Large

amount of literature is available on predation effect, cy-

clomorphosis and morphology of different species of

Bosmina [9–14]. However, the information about the life

cycle parameters and morphology of Bosmina is still lim-

ited. Though, some studies were carried out on growth rate

of B. longispina and B. coregoni [15, 16]. Less information

is also available on the fecundity of B. freyi and B. leideri

[17, 18]. Among bosminids most well studied species is B.

longirostris in terms of growth, reproductive maturity,

fecundity and embryonic development [16, 19–22].

A. Biswas � R. K. Saha (&) � A. Sengupta � H. Saha

Department of Fish Health Environment, College of Fisheries,

Central Agricultural University, Lembucherra,

West Tripura 799 210, Tripura, India

e-mail: ratankumarsaha123@rediffmail.com

123

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci.

DOI 10.1007/s40011-014-0311-1

However, most existing studies on cladoceran life history

were done on Moina, Daphnia and on Chydorus [23–28].

However, until now no information is available on life

span, length increment, instars duration, fecundity and

embryonic development of B. tripurae though it is

numerically important in Tripura and also in Assam as

reported by Sinha [29]. It is essential to understand the

importance of B. tripurae as a live food organism for fishes

and their role in food chain under natural condition. The

goal of the present study was to investigate the basic

information about the life cycle patterns and morphology

of B. tripurae.

Material and Methods

Live zooplankton were collected using plankton net (65 lm)

from a pond named S-4 (latitude 23�54.3270North and lon-

gitude 91�18.4930East), near the College of Fisheries, CAU,

Lembucherra, West Tripura, India. Adult females of B.

tripurae were isolated in the laboratory of College of Fish-

eries and kept in 1 litre glass beaker containing filtered water

collected from the same pond as culture medium. The cul-

ture medium water was filtered through the quantitative filter

paper (Qualigens 640de, Equivalent paper No. 42, diameter

12.5 cm) to remove filamentous algae and suspended par-

ticles which may cause feeding interference. In the culture

medium Chlorella sp. (2 9 104 cells ml-1) was added as

food for the B. tripurae. The physico-chemical parameters

of the culture medium were pH 6.50 ± 0.02, alkalinity

53.20 ± 0.80 mg l-1, total hardness 90.60 ± 0.01 mg l-1,

dissolved oxygen 6.17 ± 0.73 mg l-1 and ammonia

0.0655 ± 0.001 mg l-1. During the whole experiment room

temperature was maintained at 20.00 ± 0.29 �C. Light

intensity and photoperiods of the growth chamber were

600 lux and 12:12 light and dark hours respectively. Ani-

mals were cultured in the above mentioned laboratory

conditions for around ten generations for acclimatization.

Prior to the experiment, 25 egg bearing females were

isolated and allowed to hatch neonates. Around 24 h old,

forty neonates were placed individually in two sets (Set A,

Set B) of twenty petri dishes (80 9 15 mm) to study the

life history parameters. Experimental medium was same as

mentioned for laboratory culture of the species and petri

dishes were placed in growth chamber with above specified

temperature, light and photoperiod. Petridishes were

observed every 24 h interval under Zoom Stereo Micro-

scope (Olympus, Model No. SZ51) to record the age at first

reproduction, total embryonic duration (days) and post

embryonic(days) developmental stages, total number of

clutches, total number of eggs and offspring per female and

longevity(days) for each organism until natural death

occurred.

To observe instar number, duration and size at birth and

length increment of each instar, 130 neonates were reared

following the same culture method. After each molting ten

individuals were preserved in 4 % neutral buffered for-

malin and observed for their length increment under a

Trinocular Research Microscope built in Digital Camera

(Nikon Model No. ECLIPSE 80i and DS-L1; DS-5M) and

photographs of the individual samples were taken at the

same time. The length of each individual animal was

measured from the base of the mucro to the top of the head

above the complex eye.

Total 90 parthenogenetic females were reared for 2 days

to study the embryonic development of B. tripurae.

Females were killed at every 4 h interval and ten devel-

oping embryos were dissected out and photographs with

the same Trinocular Research Microscope were taken,

measuring the length at the same time. Microphotographs

were analyzed to describe embryonic developmental stages

which were divided on 4 h intervals of observations.

Culture medium was gently rotated twice a day to

resuspend settled particles. In every 3 days interval, 50 % of

the culture medium from all the petridishes was replenished

to avoid accumulation of any toxic substance. After hatch-

ing, all offsprings were counted and subsequently transferred

to new beakers containing a fresh algal supply for main-

taining the stock culture of Bosmina tripurae in the labo-

ratory. Data were examined with one way ANOVA using

the statistical software SPSS 15.0 version and post hoc

analysis was done with the Duncan’s multiple range test at

alpha = 0.05 level (n = 40) to find out the homogeneity

among the means of different clutches.

Results

Bosmina tripurae passed through three preadult instars and

ten adult instars. The mean length of newly hatched juve-

nile was 261.90 ± 1.15 lm. The mean length of the first

adult instar was 397.90 ± 1.43 lm. The adult attained its

maximum length of 590.70 ± 2.58 lm at twelfth instar

and no further length increment was recorded before death

(Table 1).

The total life span of B. tripurae was recorded as

24.65 ± 0.24 days. First clutch was found in fourth instar

with the number of 1.2 (average) eggs. The time required to

reach at maturity (produce first egg) was 3.65 ± 0.12 days.

There was a gradual increase in egg production in each

adult instar and reached its maximum number of 4.4 in

ninth instar. Similarly there was a gradual decline of egg

number after that till the twelfth instar (Table 1).

The rate of length increment was maximum during first

instar stage. It slowed down gradually up to fourth day. But

only a slight difference in the rate of length increment was

A. Biswas et al.

123

observed from fifth day onwards, but the increment was

steady and continuous up to twenty-second day (Fig. 1).

Though the total life span was of 24.65 ± 0.24 days but

length increment was stopped approximately 2 days before

the death.

In the present study maximum of ten clutches were

observed from a female in their total life span. Clutch size

increased gradually with clutches and exhibited higher

number of eggs in sixth clutch (mean 4.40 ± 0.18) and

showed a gradual decline in egg number from seventh

clutch onwards (ANOVA, F = 102.13; P = 0.00) (Fig. 2).

The eggs developed into a form, similar to their adult,

morphologically, prior to get released from the brood

chamber. The number of offsprings that were successfully

hatched out was expressed with the number of eggs pro-

duced per clutch shown in Fig. 2. Up to the third clutch,

100 % eggs were hatched into neonate but the hatching rate

declined in the later clutches with the age of the mother

(Fig. 2). Normally for 1–3 h the brood chamber remained

empty, before the production of a new clutch.

Clutch sizes were significantly similar (P \ 0.05)

among first, eighth, ninth as well as among second and

seventh clutches but there was a significant difference

(P \ 0.05) between third, fourth, fifth, sixth and tenth

clutches. Number of neonates released from first, seventh,

eighth, ninth clutches was significantly similar (P \ 0.05).

But neonate numbers were different significantly

(P \ 0.05) between second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and

tenth clutches (ANOVA, F = 102.96; P = 0.00) (Fig. 2).

The minimum and maximum number of eggs in a brood

ever recorded was 1 and 6 respectively (Fig. 3). Mature

females started to reproduce with clutch size of one egg. In

first clutch, 80 and 20 % females produced clutch sizes of

one egg and two eggs, respectively. Maximum females

showed clutch size of two in second, third and fourth

clutches. But during fifth and sixth clutches four eggs

were observed in 55 and 50 % females, respectively.

Table 1 Instar number, mean, standard error and range of length increment, no of eggs, instar duration of B. tripurae at 20 ± 0.29 �C

Instar number Length (lm) mean ± SE

(range) (n = 10)

Length increment (lm instar-1)

mean ± SE (range) (n = 10)

No. of eggs mean ± SE

(range) (n = 40)

Duration of each instar (days)

mean ± SE (range) (n = 10)

1 261.90 ± 1.15 (257–268) – 1.05 ± 0.02 (0.97–1.18)

2 321.80 ± 1.22 (315–327) 59.90 ± 0.31 (58–61) – 1.19 ± 0.01 (1.12–1.31)

3 365.00 ± 1.69 (356–372) 43.20 ± 0.52 (41–45) – 1.27 ± 0.01 (1.18–1.35)

4 397.90 ± 1.43 (394–410) 32.90 ± 1.16 (29–38) 1.20 ± 0.064 (1–2) 2.06 ± 0.10 (1.77–2.25)

5 420.60 ± 1.82 (411–431) 22.70 ± 0.97 (17–28) 1.90 ± 0.086 (1–3) 2.03 ± 0.03 (1.91–2.19)

6 448.90 ± 1.19 (444–454) 28.30 ± 0.81 (23–33) 2.50 ± 0.124 (1–4) 2.13 ± 0.02 (2.05–2.24)

7 469.90 ± 1.91 (460–480) 21.00 ± 0.81 (16–26) 3.10 ± 0.167 (2–6) 2.00 ± 0.04 (1.78–2.22)

8 490.40 ± 1.88 (481–498) 20.40 ± 0.47 (18–22) 4.00 ± 0.208 (1–6) 1.93 ± 0.01 (1.88–1.99)

9 514.60 ± 1.27 (508–521) 24.20 ± 0.72 (22–29) 4.40 ± 0.178 (2–6) 2.10 ± 0.02 (1.98–2.20)

10 536.50 ± 1.66 (529–544) 21.90 ± 0.48 (20–24) 2.00 ± 0.138 (1–4) 2.00 ± 0.01 (1.92–2.10)

11 563.70 ± 0.63 (560–569) 27.20 ± 0.82 (24–31) 1.50 ± 0.094 (1–3) 2.29 ± 0.01 (2.20–2.37)

12 590.70 ± 2.58 (574–605) 27.00 ± 1.80 (14–36) 1.00 ± 0.080 (0–2) 2.30 ± 0.01 (2.25–2.40)

13 590.70 ± 2.58 (574–605) 0.30 ± 0.073 (0–1) 2.25 ± 0.01 (2.18–2.31)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10111213141516171819202122232425

leng

th (

µm

)

Days

Fig. 1 Length increment of B. tripurae in laboratory at

20.00 ± 0.29 �C fed on Chlorella sp. (2 9 104 cells ml-1)

a s

b tc u

d v

e wf x

a sa s

g y

b s

0

1

2

3

4

5

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

Ave

rage

num

ber

Clutches

EggsNeonates

Fig. 2 Mean number of eggs and mean number of offspring in each

clutch. Error bars are standard errors of the mean. The letters a, b, c,

d, e, f, g indicate means for egg number that differ significantly

(P \ 0.05) between different clutches and letters s, t, u, v, w, x,

y indicate means for neonate differ significantly (P \ 0.05) between

different clutches

Life Cycle of a New Bosminid Cladocera

123

From seventh clutch onwards clutch size was reduced

considerably and 47.50 % females produced two eggs. In

later clutches maximum females produced one egg. But in

the last clutch only 30 % females carried one egg and rest

of the females had no eggs, expressed as 0 egg in Fig. 3.

However, the maximum number of eggs (6) was observed

only in three clutches (fourth, fifth and sixth) out of total

ten clutches.

Embryonic Development

Embryonic developments of parthenogenetic eggs occurred

in the brood pouch and fully developed embryos were the

miniature versions of the adults. Approximately they took

2.03 ± 0.04 days to get released from the brood chamber.

In total 12 embryonic stages could be distinguished in the

present study, which are as follows:

Stage I (4 h) Eggs were oval in shape measuring

145.00 ± 0.49 lm. Eggs were having two embryonic

membranes one was outer thick membrane i.e. egg mem-

brane and inner thin membrane (Fig. 4a). Fat cells were

clearly seen in the central region. A mass of cleaved cells

surrounded the fat cells.

Stage II (8 h) During this stage egg membrane was cast

off and the embryo had slightly elongated in size

(157.00 ± 1.59 lm) from the earlier stage (Fig. 4b).

Stage III (12 h) The size of the embryo had become

larger (179.00 ± 1.48 lm) from the earlier stage. The

cleaved cells moved to dorsal side and extended up to

cephalic region (Fig. 4c).

Stage IV (16 h) There was an invagination at the anterior

portion of the embryo which is the indication of the

cephalic region (Fig. 4d). The length of the embryo was

193.00 ± 1.66 lm at this stage.

Stage V (20 h) The distinct head rudiment was formed

with the rudiment of antennules and slight evidence of the

beginning of legs appeared on the ventral side (Fig. 4e). At

this stage the length of the embryo was 204.00 ± 0.64 lm.

Stage VI (24 h) Head lobe was well formed and sepa-

rated from the post abdominal portion by a depression in

ventral side. In this stage head carried a spot as the evi-

dence of eye. Antennules were well formed than the earlier

stage. The rudiment of legs and second antennae were

clearly seen at this stage (Fig. 4f). There was a vertical

constriction at the posterior end of embryo which was seen

as clear demarcation of future bilateral symmetry. The

length was 211.00 ± 1.00 lm.

Stage VII (28 h) Embryo was 218.00 ± 0.75 lm long at

this stage. First antennae were developed with rostrum and

second antennae were well developed. Clear distinct brown

eye was formed. Five pairs of legs were distinctly observed

with setae and hair on the ventral side. There was a little

constriction on the dorsal side which was the future indi-

cation of head shield and abdominal carapace. Heart lobe

was formed just beneath that constriction. Alimentary canal

started to develop at this stage. Inner membrane was cast

off at this stage (Fig. 4g).

Stage VIII (32 h) During this stage body was covered by

a cuticle, nearly quadrate in shape. Five pairs of legs were

distinctly observed with setae and hair on the ventral side

(Fig. 4h). There was a clear segmentation of second anten-

nae with long setae. Alimentary canal was well developed

with post abdominal claws and slight movement was

observed. The length of embryo was 226.00 ± 0.61 lm at

this stage.

Stage IX (36 h) Body length of embryo was

239.00 ± 0.72 lm. Large eyes were clearly seen with dark

pigmentation. Mucro curved backward with sharp pointed tip

(Fig. 4i). Slight movement of antennules, second antennae,

eye muscle, alimentary canal and legs were observed under

microscope.

Stage X (40 h) Antennules and second antennae were

well formed (Fig. 4j). Post abdominal claws were well

developed. Alimentary canal and heart were fully devel-

oped (248.00 ± 1.10 lm).

Stage XI (44 h) Embryo was 254.00 ± 0.42 lm long at

this stage. Antennules and second antennae were com-

pletely formed; small denticles were clearly seen on the

rostrum (Fig. 4k). Slightly brownish colour surrounded the

black eye. Legs developed completely with hair.

Stage XII (48 h) Black and round eye developed com-

pletely. Mucro with pointed tips was slightly curved back-

ward. This stage was the miniature (261.00 ± 1.15 lm) of

the adult form of B. tripurae (Fig. 4l).

Discussion

B. tripurae is commonly distributed in lakes and ponds of

India [5, 6, 29]. In the present study, life history parameters

like instar number, length increment, fecundity, number of

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

Ove

rall

perc

enta

ge

Clutches

0 egg 1 egg 2 eggs 3 eggs4 eggs 5 eggs 6 eggs

Fig. 3 Percentage of females that produce 0–6 clutch sizes at

different clutches

A. Biswas et al.

123

clutches and embryonic duration of B. tripurae were

observed. However, only instar duration, hatching success

and embryonic development of the species are compared

with those of non-bosminids. The present study is the first

attempt to provide information on life history parameters of

the species. At 20.00 ± 0.29 �C B. tripurae underwent

thirteen instars, three preadult instars and ten adult instars.

The field study observation on B. longirostris showed two

preadult instars [21]. This difference is probably because

the number of preadult instars is constant for a particular

species, but it can vary between species [30]. In the present

observations, mean length of the first adult instar was

397.00 ± 1.43 lm, almost similar to that of B. longirostris

observed in lake Michigan, where maximum percentage of

females become adult when they attained 0.4 mm body

length [21]. Laboratory observation showed that the mean

length of the first adult instar of B. coregoni and B. lon-

girostris at 20 �C were 0.43 ± 0.02 and 0.34 ± 0.02 mm

Fig. 4 a The oval egg was enclosed in two membranes. b Outer

membrane was cast off. c Cleaved cells were found in the dorsal

region. d Demarcation of cephalic region. e Distinct head rudiment

(white arrow) and beginning of abdominal appendages (black arrow).

f Further development of antennules (indicated by black arrow) and

beginning of bilateral symmetrical plan (white arrow). g Brown eye

spot (white arrow) and formation of heart lobe (black arrow).

h Distinct constriction of head shield and abdominal carapace.

i Mucro curved backward with sharp pointed tip. j Fully developed

alimentary canal with post abdominal claws. k Small denticles on the

rostrum. l Completely developed embryo with black eye

Life Cycle of a New Bosminid Cladocera

123

respectively [16]. Length increment at each instar did not

follow any definite pattern. However, the rate of length

increment was high (Fig. 1) when the animal was pre-

mature like other cladocera. Vijverberg [16] studied the

growth rate of eight species of Cladocera including B.

coregoni and B. longirostris and in all the cases he

observed high initial growth rate in juvenile instars and

slow growth rate in the older adult instars.

Present observations showed that duration of adult

instars was almost double than that of preadult instars. This

finding is supported by other groups of cladocerans like

Daphnia carinata and Simocephalus vetulus [24, 31].

However, Moina micrura has constant (24 h) preadult and

adult instar duration [23].

Total life span of studied species was 24.60 ± 0.23 days

which is quite similar with Daphnia carinata that showed

24 days life span [24]. D. barbata had 27.22 days of life

span at 22 ± 1 �C whereas D. pulex had a much longer

survival time of 66.56 days [25]. Several authors showed

strong influence of temperature and quality of food on life

span of different species of Cladocera. Bottrell [30] studied

eight cladoceran species from river Thames and observed

that length of life decreased with the increased tempera-

ture. Acroperus harpae showed 74 days longevity at 20 �C

while at 25 �C it exhibited only 9.79 days life span [30,

32]. In Bosmina sp. survivorship was reduced by 12 %

when treated with very low phosphorus contained diet

(C:P = 1,600:1) [18].

The present study shows that B. tripurae produced

21.90 ± 0.44 eggs in 24.60 ± 0.23 days of their total life

span. At 25 �C, B. freyi produced average 25 eggs per

individual [17]. However, production of egg in B. freyi

varied significantly (P \ 0.001) with food treatment of

Scenedesmus sp. in river Seston. In B. tripurae maximum

six eggs were recorded in a clutch. The number was less

than that of B. longispina which showed maximum of eight

eggs in a clutch [15]. Under low food conditions B. lon-

girostris produces fewer eggs per clutch in comparison to

well fed conditions [33]. B. tripurae had ten clutches and

maximum number of eggs was found in sixth clutch which

is similar to that of B. freyi. It produced ten clutches that

feed on Scenedesmus sp. but they stop producing eggs

earlier (approximately at eighth clutch) [17]. Clutch size of

a parthenogenetic female B. tripurae is low at the onset of

the maturity, and then reached a peak in the middle clutch

followed by a decline towards the end of life. B. freyi with

Scenedesmus treatment showed almost similar pattern of

clutches (other than third clutch). Temperature is another

important factor that directly influences the egg production

in Cladocera [16]. Fecundity and life span of B. tripurae

might vary in lower or higher temperature than the tem-

perature (20 �C) in the present investigation. Further

studies need to be undertaken to evaluate the effect of

different temperature and food quality on the fecundity of

the B. tripurae population.

The present study shows that the number of offsprings

hatched out from egg batch was decreased gradually

(Fig. 2) with age and may be influenced by the energy

resources of the mother. Hatching success was recorded as

89.90 % in case of B. tripurae which is more than that of

D. barbata (75 %) and less than that of D. pulex (99 %)

[25].

The duration of embryonic development of B. tripurae

was 1.87–2.25 days (mean 2.03 ± 0.03 days) at 20 �C. At

15 �C embryonic duration was 3 days for B. longispina

[33]. B. fatalis took 1.42 days at 25 �C as studied by Lewis

[34] in lake Lanao, Philippines. However, embryonic

duration in cladocerans might be longer in low temperature

and in poor food supply [35]. At different temperature

ranges the duration of embryonic development varies

greatly in case of B. longirostris as it took 3–4 days at

21 �C, 8–9 days at 11 �C and 18–19 days at 6 �C [20].

In B. tripurae, twelve embryonic developmental stages

were recorded on the basis of the observations of 4 h

intervals. On the basis of morphological changes the

embryo of M. micrura is divided into five stages [23]. In D.

carinata and in D. magna embryonic development is

divided into eight stages [27, 36]. Parthenogenetic eggs of

B. tripurae were oval in shape and two embryonic mem-

branes were present in the first stage which is similar to that

of some members of Daphnidae [27, 37]. During second

stage the embryo became elongated in shape as in S.

acutirostratus and in M. micrura [23, 37].

In the present study, rudiments of head and legs

appeared on fifth stage in B. tripurae like that of M.

micrura [23]. In B. tripurae eye, rostrum, legs and mucron

were clearly distinguished in seventh stage. Black eye,

antennules with setae and alimentary spine were distinctly

formed in stage nine in B. tripurae whereas in M. micrura

these were formed in fifth stage [23]. In ninth and tenth

stages mucro with sharp tip and strong antennule were well

formed in the present investigation. However, morphology

of appendages especially mucro and antennule are associ-

ated with predation effect in Bosmina sp. [38, 39].

According to Hellsten et al. [40] and Chang and Hanazato

[41] increased body, antennule and mucro length decrease

the invertebrate predation pressure in bosminids. In the

present study all the internal systems like heart, alimentary

canal were fully developed in the eleventh stage of

embryonic development.

Conclusion

To date, this is the first investigation performed on life

history traits of B. tripurae that are found in Tripura, India.

A. Biswas et al.

123

It can be concluded that the life cycle parameters of B.

tripurae have similarities with other species of Bosmina

though they were studied in differential conditions. Further

research should be done to study the effect of temperature,

food and predators on the life history traits of B. tripurae.

Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to Dr. S. N. Puri,

Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, CAU, Dr. J. R. Dhanze, Dean, College of

Fisheries, CAU, Lembucherra, Tripura and Professor U. C. Goswami,

Department Zoology, Guwahati University. This research was sup-

ported by Department of Science & Technology (DST), GOI under

SERC Grant No. SR/SO/AS-08/2004.

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