ABSTRACT
In diecdysic crustaceans, every molt may not be followed by spawning and brooding, as a consequence of considerable energy drained on oogenesis and spawning. The release of neonates/offspring is well synchronized with favorable environmental conditions. When conditions are not favorable, entomostracans produce cysts, but malacastracans undergo a resting phase. Besides providing an opportunity for recombination, cysts serve as a ‘seed pool’ rendering survival of a population in periodically stressful or unpredictable environments.
