title: Habitat-Specific variation in eyespot size of a benthic cladoceran.
abstract: Pigmented eyespot size of the benthic cladoceran Simocephalus exspinosus was measured in individuals sampled from four freshwater ponds that differed in the extent of visually-oriented predation. In ponds with such predation (from fish, salamander larvae, and dragonfly nymphs), eyespot size was found to be significantly smaller, relative to body size, than in a pond without visually-oriented predation. Reduction in pigmented eyespot size may represent an adaptation to reduce vulnerability to predation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Konecny
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Carmine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lanciani
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Charles P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: White