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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