Temperature and light timing effects on diapause progression in \(\textit {Daphnia magna}\)

1. Diapause is a survival strategy for freshwater crustaceans in the genus \(\it Daphnia\) that involves a genetically encoded inhibition of organism growth, development and reproduction. While the environmental triggers for \(\it Daphnia\) to produce diapause-destined embryos and those that induce hatching are well documented, the influence of environmental challenges during different diapause sub-phases remains unexplored. 2. In this study, we exposed diapause-destined embryos of \(\textit {Daphnia magna}\) to different temperatures and light conditions during designated diapause sub-phases. 3. Our results underscore the importance of the maternal environment for the embryos that are in preparation for diapause. Moreover, we demonstrate a period of obligate developmental arrest during which reinitiation of development cannot be triggered. Additionally, we illustrate the embryos' ability to adjust hatching in response to environmental changes during the hatching process. 4. This study reveals the inherent developmental pattern in \(\it Daphnia\) embryos as they progress through diapause and their adaptability to environmental changes.