| Summary: | The Antarctic copepod Drescheriella glacialis , an inhabitant of sea ice, is the first polar invertebrate metazoan to have been cultured throughout its life cycle. We describe its demographic characteristics on the basis of a laboratory cohort study and correlative field data. When compared to its closest temperate zone relatives, D. glacialis shows temperate compensation of developmental and reproductive rates. A genuine r -strategist in every respect, it does not fit established trends for Antarctic invertebrates but appears well adapted to the peculiar spatio-temporal variability.
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