Studies on Plover Cove Reservoir, Hong Kong

The zooplankton fauna of the Plover Cove Reservoir has been investigated using two sampling series. The first series involving a 3-year investigation using 6-ft vertical hauls at three stations in the reservoir, revealed the presence of two copepod and four cladoceran species with little variation in terms of seasonal peak occurrence and abundance in any of the stations and so no evidence of the horizontal distribution patterns referred to by other authors. In all three stations Diaptomus gracilis was the dominant copepod species and Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum the dominant cladoceran species. The second series, involving a 13-month investigation of vertical sets of water samples collected both day and night at 4-h intervals for 24-h periods, revealed that in terms of seasonal vertical distribution, all six species occurred at all depths during the survey, but with a tendency to be concentrated in the surface waters. In terms of diurnal vertical distribution, differences in the migration pattern occurred from season to season in the case of Diaptomus gracilis. Thus, during spring, summer and autumn, concentrations occurred at the surface at 10.00 and 22.00 hours followed by migration to greater depth, whereas in winter, surface accumulations persisted even into the daylight hours. However, both Cyclops hyalinus and Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum showed surface accumulations at night and a movement away from the surface by day during all seasons. Investigations of the seasonal variation in environmental parameters conducted during both sampling series revealed that, as in the case of similar surveys, water temperature was the major controlling factor governing the seasonal variation in composition of the zooplankton fauna as well as its seasonal vertical distribution since in the case of Diaptomus gracilis and Ceriodaphnia reticulata low water temperatures corresponded with peak seasonal occurrence whereas in the case of the other species high water temperatures corresponded with peak seasonal occurrence, and since Diaptomus gracilis and Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum showed maximum concentration near the surface when surface water temperatures were high, whereas the remaining species showed their maximum concentration near the surface when lower water temperatures prevailed. It would also appear, however, that seasonal changes in zooplankton densities closely followed algal densities since Diaptomus gracilis, Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum and Bosmina longirostris had their maxima in late spring and Cyclops hyalinus in late summer while algal densities in this reservoir were highest in early spring and early summer. With regard to the diurnal vertical distribution of the zooplankton, light appeared to be the only factor alternating by an amount likely to be correlated with such diurnal vertical changes in zooplankton density.     

Temporal and spatial patterns of crustacean zooplankton dynamics in a transitional lagoon ecosystem

Patterns and mechanisms of plankton crustacean seasonal succession in the eutrophic freshwater Curonian lagoon (south-eastern Baltic Sea) were analysed on the basis of four-year (1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999) field sampling results. The seasonal crustacean zooplankton succession in the lagoon appears to be the consistent six-stage sequence of four distinct species complexes. Each stage is characterised by its individual species composition and quantitative characteristics. The uniform and periodic pattern of the limnetic zooplankton crustacean successional stages in the lagoon indicates that the seasonal succession of the limnetic zooplankton is not disturbed by unpredictable environmental fluctuations, such as brackish water inflows. Seasonal zooplankton succession is also comparatively uniform at a spatial scale. Not more than two adjacent successional stages were found across the northern part of the lagoon during each of 11 seasonal surveys. Comparison between monthly water residence time and dominant plankton crustacean species life cycle duration points to a more transitory plankton community in spring while in the summer it is not much influenced by lagoon hydrodynamics. Consequently, the Curonian lagoon crustacean community quite closely follows the Plankton Ecology Group (PEG)-described freshwater lake seasonal succession in summer and turns into a lentic-like system in spring and autumn.     

A Critical Comparison of Two Long-term Zooplankton Time Series from the Central-west North Sea

Long-term changes in relative and absolute zooplankton abundanceand species composition were compared between the Dove MarineLaboratory and Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) time seriesin the central-western North Sea. The two time series employdifferent sampling mechanisms, with the Dove series beng obtainedby net sampling at a fixed station off the Northumberland coast,while the CPR series utilizes a network of fixed towed routes. It was found that there was a significant correlation (r =0.64, P < 0.001) between the relative year-to-year fluctuations of the two series and a significant agreement in the pattern of year-to-year variations in species composition of the dominant taxa (P = 0.01) over the majority of the time period. However, examination of absolute zooplankton abundances found large differences between the two time series. Differences in mesh size and in the sample processing methodologies were not wholly responsible for these. Model-derived catching efficiencies for the two sampling devices suggested that differences in absolute abundances may have been mainly due in some taxa to a greater degree of active avoidance of the CPR sampling device by zooplankton, although it is likely that passive avoidance as a result of hydrodynamic factors has a role.>     

Relative significance of direct and indirect effects of predation by planktivorous fish on zooplankton

One of the most obvious features of tropical lakes and reservoirs is the small body size of their zooplankton taxa. It is believed that this is the result of high and persistent predation by abundant planktivorous fish, which select large-bodied zooplankton prey thus making them more vulnerable to extinction in tropical as compared to temperate habitats. Do these extinctions result directly from fish predation? Could the high predation-induced mortality alone be responsible for an extermination of the population from a habitat? Or could indirect effects of predation be responsible? Some important indirect effects can be seen at the demographic level; these include reduced reproduction in the population resulting from higher vulnerability of ovigerous females to predation by visually oriented planktivores. Other important indirect effects can be observed at the individual level; these include shifts in behavior (from foraging to predator avoidance) and adjustments in physiology (from high to low feeding rate) in those planktonic animals which detect danger from their predators by sensing either the ‘predator odor’ or an ‘alarm substance’ originating from injured conspecific prey. Although a zooplankton species density may mostly result from the brutal force of direct predator impact on the population (mortality), it is more likely that its distribution in time and space could be attributed to a combination of indirect effects of predation on individual behavior and physiology. An example of periodicity in density and depth distribution patterns of Cahora Bassa zooplankton species and their periodic exterminations seems to confirm the role of indirect effects of predation by planktivorous fish.     

福建中部近海浮游动物数量分布与水团变化的关系

根据2009—2010年在福建中部近海24°55'—25°13'N、119°11'—119°32'E水域冬、春、夏3个季节的调查资料,探讨了该水域浮游动物总丰度与生物量的平面分布、季节变化及其与台湾海峡水团变化的关系。结果表明,调查水域浮游动物的数量在冬、春之交变化较大,而在春、夏季变化较小。浮游动物冬、春两季的平均丰度分别为8.90 个/m³和245.65 个/m³,夏季为236.82 个/m³。冬、春两季,该水域浮游动物的分布特征相近。其数量在近岸较高,向外侧水域逐渐降低。冬季浮游动物的丰度最高为31.56 个/m³,春季最高达到831.67 个/m³。中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)是冬、春季影响总丰度变化最主要的种类。与冬、春季不同,夏季浮游动物的数量在离岸水域较高,丰度最高达1053.13 个/m³,而在近岸较低,最低值仅19.17 个/m³。汉森莹虾(Lucifer hanseni)、双生水母(Diphyes chamissonis)是影响总丰度变化最主要的种类。浮游动物在各季的不同分布特征与台湾海峡的季节性水团变化有关。受季风转换影响,从冬季到夏季,海峡内沿岸流势力逐渐减弱,台湾暖流水势力逐渐增强,并影响到沿岸的水文环境。这导致调查水域内浮游动物的优势种类由暖温种向暖水种演替。由于冬、春季的重要优势种类中华哲水蚤与夏季的汉森莹虾、双生水母具有不同的温度适应性,受不同性质水团的影响,在近岸和离岸水域各自呈现出不同的数量高低。从而进一步影响到各季浮游动物总数量的分布。     

The Horizontal Distribution of Baltic Epi- and Metalimnic Zooplankton Species

The horizontal distribution of epi- and metalimnic zooplankton species in the northern region of the Bothnian Sea was studied in July and August 1975. The distribution was determined by vertical sampling with plankton nets at randomly selected stations in two areas (4 and 8 km²). Most species were clearly nonrandomly distributed in these two sampling areas. Horizontal patchiness within areas of a few km² could be shown by grouping closely adjacent stations according to similarity or difference in average values. At the individual stations, there were only a few cases where any marked deviations from randomness were found. The age distributions of copepods differed in different parts of the areas. This is thought to be an important factor for the creation of patchiness.     

Seasonal strengths of the abiotic and biotic drivers of a zooplankton community

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北部湾北部生态系统结构与功能——浮游动物空间生态位及其分化

根据2006—2007年北部湾北部海域4个航次调查资料,采用K-优势度曲线法对浮游动物种(类)群进行排序分析,运用Levins公式和Pianka指数分析了主要优势种(类)群的生态位宽度值和生态位重叠程度,并通过除趋势典范对应分析(DCCA)研究生态位分化状况。结果表明,该海区浮游动物优势种(类)群按生态位宽度值可划分为广生态位、中生态位和窄生态位三大类型。其中,广生态位的种(类)群如肥胖软箭虫、亚强次真哲水蚤、长尾类幼体等具有较强的生态适应性,生活范围较广;窄生态位的种(类)群,对环境的适应性较差,对海流和水团等环境因素的变化具有指示意义。生态位宽度能够反映种(类)群丰度季节变化,但不能反映具体丰度大小。北部湾北部全年主要优势种(类)群的生态位宽度值介于0.08—0.77之间,并且各优势种(类)群的生态位宽度差异较大,种对间生态位重叠值介于0.02—0.89之间,平均生态位重叠指数为0.45,种(类)群之间利用资源环境的互补性较强,这与海域内生境多样化并且各优势种对环境适应能力的差异存在一定联系。DCCA分析表明,影响浮游动物分布的主要因子是水深、温度和盐度,其次是叶绿素a和溶解氧。     

Lack of seasonal changes in mitochondrial DNA variability of a Drosophila subobscura population

Restriction site analysis of mtDNA of 550 isofemale lines corresponding to different seasonal samples of a single geographic population of Drosophila subobscura was carried out. The distribution pattern of haplotypes was similar to that observed for the entire range of the species on the European continent: two haplotypes were equally and highly frequent, and a set of sporadic haplotypes were almost never present in more than one seasonal sampling. No statistically significant evidence was found for between-population heterogeneity across time, and the mean within-population variation was similar to other mtDNA restriction site analyses previously reported for D. subobscura populations. These observations could be interpreted in terms of the neutral mutation hypothesis where the entire population has not yet reached an equilibrium. The causes of this non-equilibrium are most likely periodic winter bottlenecks, phenomena that particularly affect the distribution of mtDNA haplotypes across time.     

Structure of the zooplankton community in a subtropical shallow lake (Itapeva Lake – South of Brazil) and its relationship to hydrodynamic aspects

The structure of the zooplankton community in Itapeva Lake was formed by four groups and more than 127 zooplankton species, in which microplankton was the predominant size structure. The largest richness recorded was of the protists group and in autumn seasonal campaign. Protists were characteristic of the lake, regarding density, except during spring at the Center point (copepods) and autumn at the South point (rotifers). The seasonal distribution revealed that during summer, mean density increased in the zooplankton community, exactly the opposite of phytoplankton (that blooms during the cold season). However, the maximum density was recorded during autumn. High density was recorded for the ciliate Codonella sp. at all points and during all seasons. The abundance of the tecamoeba Difflugia tuberculata was strongly associated with the maximum effects of fetch in the lake. Rotifers were generally the second most representative groups in terms of density. Rotifers and Cladocera were more abundant in summer, whereas copepods were in spring and winter/98. The Shannon–Wiener index showed that the smallest zooplankton diversity average occurred during the winter/98 (H=1.44), while in autumn the largest zooplankton diversity average (H=2.36) was observed. Correlations (r-Pearson, p<0.05) with wind velocity were significant for zooplankton density (groups and/or abundant species), diversity, and richness. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a seasonally significant spatial-temporal variation for the factors sampling point, day and shift (p<0.01). Temporal alterations in density, diversity and richness were closely dependent on the hydrodynamic action induced by the wind on the spatial distribution of the zooplankton community in the Itapeva Lake.     

Emergence of Holling type III zooplankton functional response: Bringing together field evidence and mathematical modelling

Food-web population models are rather sensitive to parameterization of functional response in predation terms. Theoretical studies predict enhancing of ecosystems’ stability for a functional response of sigmoid type (Holling type III). The choice of a correct type of response is especially important for modelling outcome of grazing control of algal blooms by zooplankton in nutrient-rich ecosystems. Extensive experiments on zooplankton feeding in laboratories show non-sigmoid nature of response for most herbivorous zooplankton species. As a consequence, there is a strong opinion in literature that the implementation of Holling III type grazing in plankton models is biologically meaningless. I argue, however, that such an ‘evident’ claim might be wrong and sigmoid functional responses in real plankton communities would emerge more often than was suggested earlier. Especially, this concerns plankton models without vertical resolution, which ignore heterogeneity in vertical distribution of species. Having conducted extensive literature search of data on zooplankton feeding in situ, I show that vertical heterogeneity in food distribution as well as active food searching behaviour of zooplankton can modify the type of functional response. In particular, the rate of food intake by the whole zooplankton population in the column, as a function of total amount of food, often exhibits a sigmoid behaviour, instead of a non-sigmoid one postulated previously based on laboratory experiments. This conceptual discrepancy is due to the ability of zooplankton to feed mostly in layers with high algal density. I propose a generic model explaining the observed alteration of type between overall and local functional responses. I show that emergence of Holling type III in plankton systems is due to mechanisms different from those well known in the ecological literature (e.g. food search learning, existence of alternative food, refuge for prey).     

兴化湾浮游动物群落季节变化和水平分布

兴化湾为福建北部最大的海湾,于2006年对该海湾浮游动物群落进行了四季9个站位的调查。共检出浮游动物及幼虫124种,其中春季42种,夏季89种,秋季71种,冬季20种;分属近岸暖温、近岸暖水和广布外海3个生态类群;优势种15种,春季以水母和桡足类占优势,夏季以水母占优势,秋季以水母、桡足类和箭虫占优势,冬季则以桡足类占优势。不同季节兴化湾浮游动物生物量湿重和丰度水平分布特征变化明显,并与温度和盐度呈显著相关。聚类分析显示兴化湾浮游动物群落夏季类群和秋季类群相似度较高;各季节水平分布基本可分为湾口区和湾内区两大类群。与20世纪80年代相比,尽管本次调查浮游动物群落没有表现出显著差异,但随着电厂等大规模工程的投产,兴化湾海域生态系统健康面临着极大威胁,其环境压力需引起持续关注。     

渤海浮游动物群落生态特点 Ⅱ.桡足类数量分布及变动

用1959年全国海洋普查浮游动物中网样品分析渤海浮游动物。尤其是中小型浮游动物的数量分布及变动特点。结果表明,渤海浮游动物全年平均丰度为3841ind／m^3,最大33756ind/m^3,最小6．5ind／m^3。其中桡足类年平均密度为3413ind／m^3,是数量的主要构成者。渤海浮游动物主要的高峰期出现在夏季,此外春、秋两季各自有一个小的高峰。春季峰主要是由双毛纺锤水蚤(Acartia bifilosa)的大量繁殖造成,秋季峰主要是由拟长腹剑水蚤(Oithona similis)构成。夏季峰是由于小拟哲水蚤(Paraclanus parvus)、强额拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus crassirostris)、拟长腹剑水蚤等多种桡足类和一些幼虫大量繁殖造成。渤海浮游动物季节演替比较明显。双毛纺锤水蚤、墨氏胸刺水蚤(Centropages mcmmurrichi)和中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)是春季的优势种;小拟哲水蚤、拟长腹剑水蚤、近缘大眼剑水蚤(Corycaeus affinis)和太平洋纺锤水蚤（Acartia pacifica)是夏季的优势种;拟长腹剑水蚤、真刺唇角水蚤（Lubidocera euchaeta)等是秋季的优势种。数量的水平分布同温度的水平分布趋势基本一致。同盐度趋势相反。     

黄茅海河口虎跳门和崖门浮游动物群落的比较

于2006年11月～2007年8月对珠江口西部的黄茅海河口区浮游动物进行了四个航次的生态调查,分别在入海口处虎跳门和崖门各设置1个采样断面,分析了两口门的水文特征和水体理化因子特点及其两者之间的差异显著性,调查研究了浮游动物的种类组成、密度、生物量和多样性指数等分布特征。共检出浮游动物50种,桡足类占优势,24种,其次为轮虫类,为12种,枝角类和原生动物分别各为5种,多毛类、异足类、糠虾类和螺类各1种,此外,还有桡足类幼虫以及未知种类2种。分析得出,在调查周期内,虎跳门和崖门浮游动物的密度、生物量及多样性指数值的差异不显著,这可能与两口门的水体理化因子及浮游植物群落构成没有显著性差异有着直接的原因,而受两口门水动力条件不同的影响较小。由聚类分析结果可知,四个季节可分为两大组,虎跳门和崖门秋、冬两季浮游动物群落结构较为相近,春、夏两季浮游动物群落结构较为相近。     

福建北部近海浮游动物数量分布与水团季节变化的关系

根据2015—2016年在福建北部近海水域(120.10°E—120.65°E, 26.35°N—27.07°N)夏、秋、冬、春4个季节的海洋生态调查资料, 探讨了该水域浮游动物的数量分布、季节变化及其与水团变化的关系。结果表明, 调查水域浮游动物的平均生物量依次是: 夏季(479.51 mg/m3)>秋季(257.37 mg/m3)>春季(241.86 mg/m3)>冬季(84.05 mg/m3), 平均丰度依次是: 夏季(156.36 ind./m3)>春季(91.57 ind./m3)>秋季(40.34 ind./m3)>冬季(21.82 ind./m3), 生物量和丰度均值都呈现出夏季、秋季到冬季依次减少, 春季增多的趋势, 不同的是秋季生物量均值高于春季, 而丰度均值低于春季。在夏、冬和春三季, 浮游动物的总生物量和总丰度的分布总体较为一致; 而在秋季, 浮游动物的总生物量和总丰度的分布几乎相反。百陶箭虫(Sagitta bedoti)和微剌哲水蚤(Canthocalanus pauper)是影响夏季总丰度分布最主要的种类; 链钟水母(Desmophyes annectens)是影响秋季总丰度分布最主要的种类; 驼背隆哲水蚤(Acrocalanus gibber)、亚强真哲水蚤(Eucalanus subcrassus)和百陶箭虫对冬季总丰度的分布起到了重要影响; 五角水母(Muggiaea atlantica)和微剌哲水蚤是春季占总丰度比例较高的种类。浮游动物数量各季不同分布模式的根本原因是台湾暖流和浙闽沿岸流水团的季节性变化所致。研究结果不仅对了解与评价区域海洋生态系统动态和生物多样性变化具有重要的理论意义, 而且还可以丰富我国近海水域浮游动物的生态特征与水团变化之间的关系。     

Coexistence of cryptic rotifer species: ecological and genetic characterisation of Brachionus plicatilis

1. The coexistence of five cryptic species of the rotifer species complex Brachionus plicatilis was investigated in four coastal Mediterranean ponds. Monthly sampling was undertaken for 15 months and species were characterised using allozyme electrophoresis. 2. We describe species‐diagnostic allozyme loci that can be used for rapid identification of these species. 3. The five species overlapped to some extent in their temporal use of the ponds, although some seasonal segregation was observed. 4. The match between temporal and spatial distribution and limnological conditions suggested ecological specialisation in some cases, although we found striking examples of extensive seasonal overlap. 5. Our results indicate that sympatry of cryptic rotifer species is largely because of seasonal ecological specialisation, which allows seasonal succession and partitioning of resources. The processes that might be involved in the long periods of overlapping seasonal distributions of species which are potentially competitors are discussed. This example illustrates that the ‘paradox of the plankton’ is more the rule than the exception.     

Interannual variability in species composition explained as seasonally entrained chaos

The species composition of plankton, insect and annual plant communities may vary markedly from year to year. Such interannual variability is usually thought to be driven by year-to-year variation in weather conditions. Here we examine an alternative explanation. We studied the effects of regular seasonal forcing on a multi-species predator–prey model consisting of phytoplankton and zooplankton species. The model predicts that interannual variability in species composition can easily arise without interannual variability in external conditions. Seasonal forcing increased the probability of chaos in our model communities, but squeezed these irregular species dynamics within the seasonal cycle. As a result, the population dynamics had a peculiar character. Consistent with long-term time series of natural plankton communities, seasonal variation led to a distinct seasonal succession of species, yet the species composition varied from year to year in an irregular fashion. Our results suggest that interannual variability in species composition is an intrinsic property of multi-species communities in seasonal environments.     

Zooplankton spatial patterns in two lakes with contrasting fish community structure

Horizontal and temporal patterns in crustacean zooplankton communities were analyzed in two small, oligotrophic lakes which were morphologically and chemically similar, but had contrasting fish communities. Ranger Lake was dominated by two bass species and the planktivores numbered < 25 ind. ha^–1. Mouse Lake had no large piscivores and planktivores numbered > 1200 ind. ha^–1. There were significant differences in the distribution of zooplankton taxa and size classes between sampling stations. In Ranger Lake, the smallest size classes were more abundant at the deeper stations and the larger individuals were more abundant at the shallower stations. In Mouse Lake, the smaller individuals were more common at the shallow stations and the larger individuals were more common at the deeper stations. These differences suggest medium scale patterns induced by vectorial forces, but modified by species specific migration patterns. We tested the hypothesis that horizontal heterogeneity should be influenced by planktivore density and found that none of the taxa showed significant between-lake differences in the variance-mean regressions. We also tested the hypothesis that larger taxa should be more heterogeneous and we found that cladocerans were more heterogeneous than copepods and nauplii. In terms of sampling methodology our data suggest that the between-station variability was so high that a single mid-lake sample would certainly lead to completely unacceptable errors in the estimation of population densities and biomasses.     

Seasonal variations in the metabolic rates of zooplankton populations in a Thames Valley reservoir

Measurements of metabolic rates of natural populations of zooplankton were made using a closed bottle technique in situ. Results showed a marked seasonality inexplicable in terms of simple temperature functions. For this cladoceran dominated zooplankton, seasonal variations in metabolic response are attributed to a degree of temperature acclimation, to changes in the size structure and species composition of the populations and seasonal variations in food sources.