Temperature-dependent effect of food size on the reproductive performances of the small-sized cladoceran Moina micrura

• Development to maturity of Moina was significantly promoted at high temperature.
• Reproductive performances of Moina fed on unicells were promoted at high temperature.
• Reproduction of Moina fed on unicells was higher than those fed on colonies at 30 °C.
• Effect of food size on reproduction of Moina was dependent on temperature.

To determine the combined effects of temperature and minimal change in food size on small-sized cladocerans, we fed Moina micrura with unicells and small colonies of Scenedesmus obliquus at different temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C) and evaluated the parameters related to development and reproduction. Results showed that development to maturity was not affected by food sizes but significantly promoted by increasing temperature. The number of broods and total offspring significantly increased at 30 °C when M. micrura fed on unicellular S. obliquus but was not significantly different among the three temperatures when fed on colonial S. obliquus, i.e. only at 30 °C, the reproductive performance of M. micrura fed on unicellular S. obliquus was significantly higher than those fed on colonial S. obliquus, indicating that the effect of food size on the reproductive performances of M. micrura is dependent on temperature.