How do daphnia obtain energy?

Daphnia are typically filter feeders, ingesting mainly unicellular algae and various sorts of organic detritus including protists and bacteria Beating of the legs produces a constant current through the carapace which brings such material into the digestive tract. read more

When daphnia are born they are very small. The juveniles grow for about 8 days. After 8 days of rapid growth daphnia start to reproduce. When the daphnia starts to reproduce almost 70% of its energy goes into making more daphnia. If all conditions are perfect, daphnia live approximately 50 days. If there isn't enough food the daphnia don't live as long. read more