We studied population dynamics, phosphorus balance, and individual growth to evaluate limitation of Daphnia cucullata by dietary phosphorus (P) in three interconnected, hypereutrophic Dutch lakes. Consistent with the P‐limitation hypothesis, declines in egg production and population density coincided with seasonal increases in the seston C: P ratio from 300 to 400–500 (molar) in all three lakes. Adult Daphnia collected from La...

The Loosdrecht Lakes comprise three shallow, hypereutrophic lakes in The Netherlands. Research conducted over the past two decades suggests that absence of large‐bodied Daphnia from these lakes can be explained by size‐specific effects of both poor food quality and predatory mortality. The phytoplankton is dominated by filamentous cyanobacteria, which interfere with the feeding of large‐bodied Daphnia . Moreover, dense populat...