Effects of temperature (20 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 30 degrees C) and food concentration (1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0 x 10(6) cells x ml(-1)) on the population dynamics of Brachionus calyciflorus of Qingdao, Wuhu and Guangzhou strains were studied by means of individual culture. The result showed that the temperature was an important factor affecting generation time and intrinsic rate of population increase. With rising of temperature, the intrinsic rate of population increase increased, but generation time decreased. There were significant effects of food concentration on life expectancy and average lifespan. The effect of strain on net reproductive rate, generation time, life expectancy and average lifespan was also significant. Net reproductive rate, generation time, life expectancy, and average lifespan of Guangzhou strain was all the maximum, and that of Wuhu strain minimum among the three strains. The rotifers fed on the algae at the concentration of 3.0 x 10(6) cells x ml(-1) had the longest life expectancy and average lifespan, but those at 9.0 x 10(6) cells x ml(-1) had the shortest. Net reproductive rate, generation time, gross reproductive rate, life expectancy, and average lifespan of the three strains decreased linearly with the rise of temperature, except for the net reproductive rate of Guangzhou strain, while the intrinsic rate of population increase of all the three strains and gross reproductive rate of Guangzhou strain increased linearly with the rise of temperature. The relationships between all the life history parameters of Qingdao and Guangzhou strains and food concentration were all curvilinear, however, those between generation time, average lifespan, and life expectancy of Wuhu strain and food concentration could all be described by linear regression.