Enzyme variability in natural populations of Daphnia magna. IV. Ecological differentiation and frequency changes of genotypes at Audley End.

Genotypic frequencies were analysed for two years in a permanent population of the cladoceran crustacean, Daphnia magna, which was polymorphic for an esterase and for malate dehydrogenase. Large temporal changes in genotypic frequencies occurred at both loci. There was no evidence of a seasonal pattern in the frequency changes. In most samples, genotypes at the two enzyme loci were non-randomly associated; these associations showed temporal changes. On some occasions marked spatial heterogeneity in genotypic frequencies existed within the population. Genotypic differences in parthenogenetic and sexual egg production were observed. In a primarily parthenogenetically reproducing population, non-random associations between genotypes of structural and regulatory loci will be the rule. The allozyme variants themselves may or may not be under selection. The relevance of these observations to ecological studies on Daphnia is considered.