Laterally biased diffusion of males of the water flea Daphnia magna

Abstract

The water flea Daphnia magna is a representative example of zooplankton living in freshwater environments. They primarily propagate via asexual reproduction under normal and healthy environmental conditions. Environmental stimuli that signal a shift to disadvantageous conditions induce D. magna to change their mode of reproduction from asexual to sexual reproduction. During the sexual reproduction phase, they produce special tough eggs (resting eggs), which can survive severe environmental conditions. Despite our increased understanding of their mating behaviours, the sex-specific characteristics of swimming behaviours among daphnid species are poorly understood. In this study, we analysed the swimming patterns and dynamics of female and male adult D. magna. First, we found laterally biased diffusion of males in contrast to the homogeneous, nondirectional diffusion of females. Second, computer modelling analysis using a discrete-time Markov chain simulation, in which the frequencies of turning behaviour were evaluated as probability distributions, explained the greater diffusion of males in the horizontal direction. Under the presumption that high diffusion in the horizontal direction increases the probability of encountering a distant mate, these findings led us to hypothesise that male D. magna increase genotype heterogeneity by effectively selecting the probability distributions of certain motion parameters. Summary statementsWe analysed the swimming behaviours of adult water flea Daphnia magna, and found apparent sexual differences: laterally biased diffusion of males in contrast to the nondirectional diffusion of females.