The abundance and distribution of Filinia Terminalis in various types of lakes as related to temperature,oxygen, and food

Although morphologically variable, Filinia terminalis constitutes a well defined ecological unit living below 12–15°C, and forming large maxima up to several thousand ind./l at an oxygen content < 2 mg/l. Field investigations and laboratory experiments indicate facultative anaerobiosis and food sources of chemosynthesizing or plankton decomposing bacteria. On the grounds of these physiological requirements a hypothetical schema is presented attempting to predict the occurrence of the two species, F. terminalis and F. longiseta in oligotrophic, eutrophic, meromictic, and polymictic, shallow lakes.     

Trans-Tasman variation in Australasian Filinia populations

Morphological comparisons of populations of Filinia from New Zealand and Australia established the presence of an undescribed species in Lake Okaro, N.Z. Filinia novaezealandiae n. sp. is described. SEM micrographs of trophi were used to distinguish closely allied Filinia species. Filinia grandis comb. nov. is redescribed from Australia on the basis of trophi differences from F. pejleri. It is suggested that Filinia species may be more restricted than global records indicate; these records reflect the distribution of authoritative taxonomic references, not necessarily the animals they depict.     

Notes taxinomiques sur quelques Rotifères planctoniques

Résumé Les caractères spécifiques des différentes espèces appartenant aux genres Keratella, Polyarthra, Synchaeta, Filinia, Conochiloides, Conochilus sont discutés en fonction des observations effectuées par l'auteur dans les collections d'eau de la région parisienne.

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Summary The specific characters of the different species from the genus Keratella, Polyarthra, Synchaeta, Filinia, Conochiloides, Conochilus are discussed according to the observations made by the author in the water collections of the parisian region.

     

Rotifer vertical distributions in a meromictic basin of Lake Banyoles (Spain)

The vertical distribution of rotifer populations has been analyzed in a meromictic basin (III) of the karstic Lake Banyoles. This basin had, at the time of the study, an anaerobic monimolimnion from around 17 m in summer or 21 in winter to 25 m, its maximum depth. However, below this layer a warmer microaerophilic zone with suspended marls is found in a chimney to a depth of 130 m.The rotifer distributions of several years are compared. The presence of large populations of rotifers at the oxic-anoxic interface is constant through the years, but highly variable regarding the total abundance and relative proportions of the species, depending on the importance of the vertical mixing in winter and the posterior segregation of water layers as a function of production and decomposition processes. Filinia hofmanni, Filinia longiseta longiseta are species with a restricted occurrence at the oxycline and are not present in the other non meromictic basins of the lake. Filinia terminalis, more broadly distributed, also has dense populations in summer at the oxycline in basin III, but disappears from the plankton during this season in the other basins. Other species, such as Polyarthra dolichoptera, Anuraeopsis fissa, Keratella cochlearis and Kellicottia longispina, also showed maxima at the oxycline in summer, as well as other maxima in the metalimnion. Populations at the oxycline are probably different ecotypes adapted to low oxygen conditions, but having the advantage of high food availability.     

Preliminary remarks on the characteristics of the rotifer fauna of Australia (Notogaea)

Unusually large forms of Asplanchna sieboldi, Brachionus plicatilis, B. calycijlorus, Filinia pejleri, Trichocerca similis and Keratella slacki were collected from waters of south-eastern Australia. These giant forms are figured, and brief location and ecological data are given. Although the rotifer fauna of the Murray riversystem contains pan-tropical and pan-subtropical species, there exists a greater degree of endemicity than previously considered.     

A simplified method for preparing rotifer trophi for scanning electron microscopy

A simple, quick technique for the preparation of rotifer trophi for scanning electron microscopy is described. The method permits visual monitoring of the extraction process and does not require critical point drying of the specimens. Micrographs showing fine, structural detail of the hard parts of the mastax of representatives of the following genera are presented:Asplanchna, Conochilus, Filinia, Hexarthra, Keratella, Proalides, Synchaeta, andTrichocerca.     

Salinity and the distribution of rotifers in the Lagos Harbour — Badagry Creek system,Nigeria

The waters of Lagos Harbour have a salinity variation of 30, as a consequence of the annual rainfall regime and of the influx of Atlantic Ocean waters. We made monthly plankton hauls at 10 stations for 11 months starting in October 1986, and found 51 species of rotifers, with Brachionus baylyi Sudzuki & Timms, Keratella hispida Lauterborn, Colurella obtusa Gosse, and Filinia pejleri Hutchinson recorded for the first time in Nigeria. In distribution, species numbers decreased with increasing salinity. Brachionus plicatilis, B. rubens, Hexarthra intermedia, Keratella americana, K. cochlearis and K. tropica were classed as euryhaline. Stenohaline species were Anuraeopsis fissa, Ascomorpha ovalis, Filinia longiseta, F. opoliensis, Gastropus sp., Lecane curvicornis and Monostyla stenroosi. All other monogononts were restricted to waters of salinity below 1.     

Problems in taxonomy of rotifers,exemplified by the Filinia longiseta - terminalis complex

The validity of taxonomical categories in parthenogenic groups is discussed. Special problems of rotifer taxonomy are caused by: facultative or obligatory parthenogenic reproduction, high morphological and genetic variability and paucity of morphological characteristics.Examples of these problems are provided by the Filinia terminalis-longiseta group. The different ecological properties of various populations belonging to this group are emphasized. Suggestions concerning the creation of new taxa are made; in particular, the importance of using ecological data is stressed.Biological Station of the Austrian Academy of Science     

The species composition of rotifers in the water reservoirs of Central Vietnam

The rotifer fauna has been studied in four water reservoirs in the Khanh Hoa Province, Central Vietnam. A total of 65 species and subspecies and 22 genera representing 15 families have been found; 25 species and subspecies are identified as new to Vietnam. Morphometric characteristics are given for Filinia camascela Myers, Brachionus donneri Brehm, and B. dichotomus reductus Koste et Shiel. The rotifer fauna of Central Vietnam and those of other countries of Southeast Asia are compared. Some of the tropical and subtropical species recorded have been repeatedly reported from Russia.     

A Mathematical Submodel for the Planktonic Rotatoria in the Ecosystem of the Barther Bodden (Southern Baltic Sea)

Of the rotifers inhabiting the shallow eutrophic Barther Bodden, the pelagic species feeding on fresh detritus comprising dead diatoms and green algae are of particular importance in terms of biological production. The submodel presented here refers only to this functional group (Filinia longiseta, Brachionus quadridentatus and Keratella cochlearis). The biological situation, the working hypotheses, the equation system, the measured values and coefficients used and the wiring diagram are given. The curves obtained with the model are shown in detail and tested against various criteria. Agreement between the model curves and the measured data is good.     

Feeding responses of Asplanchna brightwelli (rotifera): laboratory and field studies

Laboratory-reared A. brightwelli were offered 16 different prey rotifer species from the genera Anuraeopsis, Brachionus, Epiphanes, Filinia, Hexarthra, Lecane, Lepadella, Pompholyx, Proalides and Trichocerca. Feeding responses (prey encounter, escape, capture, rejection and ingestion) were recorded. In general, the predator's ingestion time was positively correlated with prey length. B. falcatus and H. intermedia were never captured. Once captured, smaller rotifer species were ingested. Gut contents of field-collected A. brightwelli revealed increased occurrence of prey numbers when concentrated plankton samples were preserved after some delay.     

Temporal and vertical distribution of planktonic rotifers in a meromictic crater lake,Lake Nyahirya (Western Uganda)

Quantitative zooplankton sampling was carried out biweekly during 16 months in Lake Nyahirya, a Western Uganda crater lake. Six out of 24 rotifer species recorded from the lake were quantitatively important (Horaella brehmi, Brachionus angularis, B. caudatus, Keratella tropica, Filinia longiseta and F. opoliensis, and three others were common (Brachionus falcatus, Asplanchna sieboldi and Conochiloides natans). Rotifer peaks were correlated with rainy periods and relatively clear water, which coincide with the European spring and autumn. All species were able to deal with hypoxic conditions. A clear niche separation can be observed between different genera and between species of the same genus. The population dynamics of the rotifers seem to be ruled by repeated irregular environmental fluctuations. Rainfall appears to be a primary steering factor.     

Rotifers as indicators of lake types in Estonia

Data on the pelagic rotifer fauna in 10 Estonian lakes accumulated for 20 years, as well as published data are analysed. It is possible to distinguish three main indicator groups among rotifers: (1) for oligo- and mesotrophic lakes (Ploesoma hudsoni, Keratella serrulata, Synchaeta grandis, Asplanchna herricki, Ascomorpha ovalis, Gastropus stylifer, Conochilus hippocrepsis); (2) for meso-and eutrophic lakes (Trichocerca capucina, Filinia longiseta, F. limnetica, Keratella quadrata, K. cochlearis tecta, K.c. hispida, Polyarthra euryptera, Keratella hiemalis, Trichocerca porcellus, T. pusilla); (3) for eutrophic lakes (Brachionus spp., Anuraeopsis fissa, Pompholyx sulcata, P. complanata, Trichocerca cylindrica, Hexarthra mira).     

Population dynamics of oxiclinal species in lake Arcas-2 (Spain)

Oxiclinal rotifer species show high concentrations just above the oxic-anoxic interface in the hypolimnion of some lakes. The stratification of their populations is best shown by sampling at close depth intervals and quantifying their densities by the Utermöhl technique. With this technique we were able to count males which otherwise pass through filters and more accurately count egg production. We evaluated female, male and egg numbers of the two main oxiclinal species of lake Arcas-2: Filinia hofmanni and Anuraeopsis fissa, during two annual cycles (1990–91). F. hofmanni was an exclusive oxiclinal species. It had an exponential growth phase at the onset of stratification giving a distinct spring peak. The population then maintained a high density during summer, but was almost absent the rest of the year. This cycle is repeated annually but population density can vary among years, depending on winter-spring circulation. Sexuality was always observed when the animal was present in the samples, with a maximum of males and resting eggs at the peak of the population. Resting eggs were always inside females. The annual cycle of A. fissa is displaced with respect to that of F. hofmanni: A. fissa attained greatest densities during summer, until the autumn overturn. Mixis in A. fissa was restricted to the end of the stratification period. Moreover, A. fissa occured throughout the vertical profile and secondarily occupied the oxicline.     

Seasonal changes in the abundance and distribution of planktonic rotifers in Grasmere (English Lake District)

SUMMARY. The planktonic rotifers of Grasmere, a small lake in the English Lake District, were studied from August 1969 to December 1972. Twenty-four species were recorded but five were very rare. The remaining species were divided into three groups according to their seasonal occurrence: spring to autumn species ( Keratella quadrata. K. cochlearis, Gastropus stylifer, Asplauduia priodonta. Kellicottia Umgispina, Conochilus hippocrepis )., spring to early summer species ( Polyarthra dolichoptera, Synchaeta tremula, S. pectinata, S. stylata, S. oblonga, C. unicornis ), summer to autumn species ( Polyarthra vulgaris, P. major. Filinia terminalis, S. grandis, Ploesoma hudsoni, Trichocerca capucina, T. similis ). The months in which each species was abundant are given.
Keratella quadrata and Filinia terminalis were most abundant in the deepest stratum, Kellicottia longispina and Conochilus spp. were most abundant in the upper and middle strata. Trichocerca spp. showed no pronounced vertical distribution, and all the remaining species were most abundant in the upper stratum. Keratella cochlearis and Kellicottia longispina attained their highest densities over a wide range of temperature and oxygen concentration. Filinia terminalis, Conchihis spp., Asplanchna priodonta. K. quadrata , and Polyarthra spp., attained their highest densities within a narrow range of temperature and oxygen concentration. Optimum ranges are given for each species.
Major changes occurred between 1971 and 1972 when Asplanchna priodonta. Kellicottia longispina, Conochilus unicornis and Filinia terminalis increased in abundance, whilst Keratella quadrata. Gastropus stylifer, C. hippocrepis, Polyarthra spp., Synchaeta spp. and Ploesoma hudsoni decreased in abundance. These changes are discussed in relation to the temperature and oxygen requirements of each species and also to the probable enrichment of the lake after the opening of a new sewage works in June 1971.     

Vertical distribution and rotifer concentrations in the chemocline of meromictic lakes

The vertical distribution of planktonic rotifers has been analysed in relation to season in several meromictic lakes; a coastal lagoon with sea-water intrusion and three dissolution lakes from two karstic systems. Two species, Filinia hofmanni and a form of Anuraeopsis fissa have been found to be more or less restricted to the chemocline or adjacent strata any time they occurred. Many species common in the upper water layers developed large populations near or in the chemocline and more strikingly in summer. Some species had two vertical maxima (one in the surface or the thermocline and another near the chemocline), while others successively shifted their maxima between the upper layers and the chemocline. It is hypothetized that these rotifers are either very versatile or are differentiated as ecotypes, one of them adapted to the chemocline environment. This distribution in a peculiar fluctuating, anoxic, H₂S-rich environment poses questions about the biology of those rotifers which there develop extraordinary populations.     

Freshwater Rotifera from plankton of the Kerguelen Islands (Subantarctica)

During the austral summer 1997/98, a survey was made of a series of freshwater bodies on the Kerguelen Islands, Subantarctica (49° S–69° E), in the area of Port-aux- Français and Val Studer. The rotifer fauna from plankton of 17 lentic freshwaters is listed and commented upon. Species richness (39 taxa) and species diversity are fairly low. Only 6 taxa are euplanktic, the others are facultative plankters or littoral/benthic species. Three of the true plankters found are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere, whereas the rest of the rotifers (apart from two unidentified monogononts) shows a wide-spread or cosmopolitan distribution. Thirty-three taxa are new to the Kerguelen archipelago. A comparison is made with the rotifer assemblages observed on other Subantarctic islands. Taxonomic notes on little known species are added. The validity of Cephalodella gibba microdactyla as separate subspecies is rejected, and Filinia terminalis kergueleniensisis recognized as junior synonym of F. pejleri.     

Vertical and seasonal distributions of micro-organisms,zooplankton and phytoplankton in a eutrophic lake

The vertical distributions of bacteria, picoalgae,protozoan and metazoan zooplankton, and phytoplanktonin the highly eutrophic Lake Köyliönjärvi(SW Finland) were studied monthly during the period ofice-cover in January-April 1996. For comparison, wealso provide some data on the distributions of theplankton during the summer. The whole watercolumn remained oxic during the ice-covered period,although the near-bottom oxygen concentrations werealways very low. The heterotrophic nanoflagellateswere more abundant in winter than in summer, butciliates, picoalgae and bacteria were more numerous insummer. In general both zooplankton and phytoplanktonhad low biomass during the ice-covered period.However, the biomass of the diatom Aulacoseiraislandica ssp. islandica was high under the icein April. The calanoid copepod Eudiaptomusgraciloides was the dominant zooplankton species fromJanuary to March, but had almost disappeared by thebeginning of April and did not increase again until inJune. The dominant rotifer species in winterwere Keratella cochlearis, Filinia terminalis,and Filinia longiseta in the surface water andRotaria neptunia near the bottom.     

The effect of temperature on morphology, life history and growth rate of Filinia terminalis (Plate) and Filinia cf. pejleri Hutchinson in culture

• 1 Experiments on the influence of temperature (5–25°C) on morphology, life history and growth rate of Filinia terminalis and F. cf. pejleri were performed in replicated individual cultures with Oocystis sp. as food.
• 2 Some morphological characteristics previously used for the identification of both species were found to be affected by temperature and also by life cycle stage. However, numbers of unci teeth were not affected.
• 3 Body and setal lengths, life spans, all stages of development, and growth rates of both species decreased with increasing temperature.
• 4 Offspring number per female of both rotifers was highest at 20°C. Maximum growth rate of F. terminalis was at 25°C, whereas that of F. cf. pejleri was at 20°C.