抚仙湖底栖软体动物的种类组成与空间分布

2005年6-7月在抚仙湖采集到底栖软体动物7科8属9种,其出现率为70%,分布的最大水深为118 m,平均水深为31 m,分布区内的平均密度为614 ind·m-2,平均生物量为80.64 g·m-2.软体动物主要分布在湖湾,在密度方面,长角涵螺和环棱螺占优势,在生物量方面,河蚬和环棱螺占优势.现存量分布北区大于南区,沿岸区大于湖心区,水草区大于无草区.软体动物密度分布主要受湖底理化性质影响,与表层水体营养水平相关关系不显著.     

新疆塘巴湖水库底栖动物生态学研究

2008年7月(平水期)、10月(枯水期)和2009年5月(丰水期)对新疆塘巴湖水库底栖动物群落进行了调查.共采集到底栖动物7种,主要属于摇蚊类和颤蚓类,其中以羽摇蚊群为优势种.各期底栖动物现存量存在显著差异(P<0.01),以平水期为最大,密度和生物量分别为280 ind/m2±1.12 ind/m2和0.83 g/m2±0.03 g/m2.不同种类的底栖动物密度在各采样期亦差异显著(P<0.01).相似性指数显示平水期和枯水期底栖动物群落结构中等相似.Shannon-Wiener生物多样性指数表明塘巴湖水库水体达中度污染.     

三峡水库蓄水后香溪河库湾底栖动物群落结构的变化

2003年8月到2004年8月对长江三峡水库香溪河库湾的底栖动物进行了定量研究。共采到底栖动物26种,隶属4门6科,总平均密度为276ind./m2,总平均生物量为0.301g/m2,优势种为霍甫水丝蚓和前突摇蚊幼虫。与其他同类型的水库比较香溪河库湾的现存量相对较低。研究结果同时显示随着蓄水时间的延长,底栖动物的现存量在逐渐增加。霍甫水丝蚓和前突摇蚊幼虫等耐污种发展为优势种,表明水质有恶化的趋势,寡毛类的平缓发展说明目前香溪河库湾的沉积情况尚不严重。     

高原深水湖泊抚仙湖大型底栖动物群落结构及多样性

云南抚仙湖是我国典型的高原深水湖泊,20世纪80年代以来,随着人类活动的加剧,其水体营养水平不断提高,生态系统发生了显著变化。为揭示该湖底栖动物的群落特征及其对生态系统变化的响应,2005年正7月对大型底栖动物群落进行了调查。在抚仙湖18个断面110个样点中共采集大型底栖动物19属27种,大型底栖动物出现率为97.3％,平均密度为855ind．／m^2,平均生物量为58．01g／m^2。在密度组成上软体动物（50．3％）〉摇蚊幼虫（32-3％）〉寡毛类（17．4％）,优势种为花纹前突摇蚊（Procladius choreus）、长角涵螺（Alocinma tongicornis）和方形环棱螺（Bellamya quadrata）,三者共占总密度的51．4％。寡毛类和摇蚊幼虫全湖性分布,而软体动物主要分布在沿岸区,各类群优势种均呈聚集分布。底栖动物在沿岸区生物量显著大于湖心区（P〈0．01）,但两者之间密度差异不显著（P〉0．05）;南区和北区之间的密度（P〉0．05）和生物量（P〉0．05）差异均不显著。相关分析表明,表层沉积物总有机碳、底层水体溶解氧是影响底栖动物密度分布的关键理化因子,而底层水体溶解氧是影响底栖动物生物量分布的关键理化因子。抚仙湖大型底栖动物群落的Pielou均匀度指数、Margalef丰富度指数、Simpson优势度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数及改进的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数分别为0．74、2．88、0．87、2．40和20．84。沿岸区底栖动物多样性明显高于湖心区,主要是由于沿岸区分布有各种沉水植物,提高了底栖动物生境的异质性。与1980年调查结果相比,抚仙湖底栖动物多样性呈上升趋势,这与水体营养水平不断提高,沉水植物分布面积扩大有关。     

不同营养类型水库大型底栖动物的群落结构特征及其水质评价

2006～2007年对湖北省4座不同营养类型水库的大型底栖动物群落结构和多样性进行周年研究,并进行了水质评价.共采集到底栖动物39种,其中寡毛类14种、水生昆虫19种、软体动物6种.以金沙河的底栖动物种类最多,达24种,其次为徐家河19种,道观河和桃园河各10种.4座水库优势种类各异,金沙河为多毛管水蚓(Aulodrilus pluriseta)、隐摇蚊(Cryptochironomus sp.)、多足摇蚊(Polypedilum sp.);徐家河为瑞士水丝蚓(Limnodrilus helveticus)、前突摇蚊(Procladius sp.);桃园河为多毛管水蚓(Aulodrilus pluriseta)、长跗摇蚊(Tanytarsus sp.);水质污染比较严重的道观河水库优势种类为霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)、大红德永摇蚊(Tokunagayusurika akamusi).各库底栖动物年平均密度和生物量分别为:金沙河316 8ind · m-2,1294.3mg · m-2 ;道观河318.2ind · m-2,430.7mg · m-2 ;徐家河330.3ind · m-2,517.4mg · m-2;桃园河209ind · m-2,325 3mg · m-2 .TN、TP、COD平均含量变幅分别为0.392～1.018、0.011～0.042、3.505～9.166mg · L-1;采用理化分析、Goodnight-Whitley指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Margalef指数、Simpson指数、Pielou均匀度指数对水库的水质进行了综合评价,结果表明:金沙河水库属中营养型;徐家河和桃园河属中-富营养型;道观河水库属富营养型.对水库主要的物理化学因子与寡毛类、水生昆虫、软体动物密度,以及各类底栖动物之间进行矩阵分析,发现水生昆虫与水深呈负相关关系,随着水深的增加,其密度和种类下降,水深超过10m,下降的幅度更明显;寡毛类有从属于TN和TP含量的趋势, TP变化对底栖动物的影响更大;寡毛类、水生昆虫、软体动物三者之间无相关性.     

浙江分水江水库大型底栖动物群落结构及水质评价

2008年11月-2009年10月,在浙江桐庐分水江水库设置7个站点对大型底栖动物进行逐月调查.结果表明:调查共采集到37种底栖动物,主要由寡毛纲和摇蚊科物种组成.春、夏、秋季优势种均为霍甫水丝蚓,冬季优势种为羽摇蚊.直接收集者在物种数量、密度和生物量上均占绝对优势.群落年均密度和年均生物量分别为(488.0±48.8) ind·m-2和(1.86±0.49) g·m-2.底栖动物密度在站点间无明显差异但存在显著的季节变化,呈现春季＞夏季＞冬季＞秋季的趋势,生物量在站点、季节间均无显著差异.水温和水深是影响底栖动物时空分布的主要因子.Shannon多样性指数和Goodnight-Whitley指数不适合用于该水库的水质评价,其他指数综合显示分水江水库属于轻度污染.     

中国典型丘陵区人口密集乡村景观的土壤碳氮磷分布特征

基于IKONOS高分辨率(1 m)卫星遥感图,根据生态立地分层分类规则,评价了四川盆地、江南山地和华南山地等典型丘陵区人口密集的乡村景观结构对0～30 cm土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)和全磷(TP)密度及储量的影响.结果表明：SOC密度的面积加权平均值为江南山地丘陵(2.72±0.76 kg·m^-2) > 华南山地丘陵(2.65±0.73 kg·m^-2)>四川盆地丘陵(2.15±0.57 kg·m^-2);TN密度的面积加权平均值为江南山地丘陵(0.28±0.06 kg·m^-2) >四川盆地丘陵(0.27±0.06 kg·m^-2) >华南山地丘陵(0.21±0.06 kg·m^-2);TP密度的面积加权平均值为四川盆地丘陵(0.19±0.04 kg·m^-2) >江南山地丘陵(0.11±0.03 kg·m^-2)>华南山地丘陵(0.08±0.04 kg·m^-2).四川盆地、江南山地和华南山地丘陵SOC、TN和TP储量最高的生态立地类型分别为小规模1年生旱地作物、两季水田和斜坡次生阔叶疏林.SOC和TN密度均以水田或林地最高,而以低覆盖度的挖掘地和山顶旱地最低,TP密度的分布较为复杂.细微尺度的生态立地水平分析可以较好地反映出丘陵区人口密集乡村景观地区的生态结构和SOC、TN、TP的分布情况.     

天津市团泊水库底栖动物研究与水环境评价

2006年10月对天津市团泊水库进行底栖动物种类区系组成、现存量(密度、生物量)及分布进行了调查研究.结合相似水体研究结果比较并辅以生物指数分析,对调查水域进行了水生态环境质量评价.结果表明,目前该水体明显受到有机污染,水质可初步划定为富营养型.文中同时提出了对该水域环境管理和改善水质的措施和建议.     

厦门港表层水体磷周转的生物学过程Ⅱ：桡足类对浮游植物的摄食压力

为了解桡足类在磷的生物地球化学循环中的作用,于2005年5、8、11月和2006年3月分别在厦门时间序列站（XMTS）采用肠道色素法,研究了桡足类对浮游植物的现场摄食率,同步分析了桡足类的种类组成和数量变化,进而得到桡足类群体对浮游植物的摄食率.结果表明：厦门港桡足类对浮游植物的年平均摄食率为55.53 μg·m^-3·d^-1;其中秋季最高,为108.98 μg·m^-3·d^-1,夏季最低,为7.18 μg·m^-3·d^-1.根据试验数据估算,厦门港桡足类对浮游植物现存量的摄食压力四季平均为1.81%,春、夏、秋、冬分别为3.22%、0.06%、3.52%和0.46%.     

浙江千岛湖桡足类的群落结构

1999年1－12月,研究了贫－中营养型的大型深水湖泊－浙江千岛湖浮游桡足类的群落结构,包括其种类组成、现存量动态及群落多样性。在一年的研究中,共观察到16种桡足类（5种哲水蚤、1种猛水蚤和10种剑水蚤）。根据各种桡足类（桡足幼体＋成体）的年平均密度,哲水蚤的优势种为右突新镖水蚤（Neodiaptomus schmack-eri)和球状许水蚤（Schmackeria forbesi);剑水蚤的优势种为一种中剑水蚤（Mesocyclops notius)和近邻剑水蚤（Cyclops vicinus)。桡足类群落平均密度46.81个／L,生物量0.126mg/L,物种多样性指数1.54。桡足类现存量的季节变化为夏＞秋＞冬＞春,8月份密度达98.50个／L,生物量0.333mg/L;5月份密度仅10.70个／L,生物量0.017mg/L。水平变化以Ⅱ号站现存量为最高,密度达80.10个／L,生物量0.289mg/L;V号站的密度最低,仅29.80个／L;Ⅳ号站生物量最低,0.066mg/L。多样性指数以I站为最高3.21,Ⅸ站最低,仅0.85。桡足类群落多样性随着水体透明度的增大呈下降的趋势。     

Spatial distribution and short-term changes of benthic macrofauna in Lake Balaton (Hungary)

Spatial and short-term changes in the composition and density of the macrobenthic fauna were studied in Lake Balaton, a large shallow lake in Central Europe (Hungary). Spatial differences were examined along five transects and short-term changes at two stations of different trophic state. The macrobenthos consisted almost exclusively of Tubificidae and Chironomidae of the species Chironomus gr. plumosus, Procladius choreus, Tanypus punctipennis, Microchironomus tener and Cladotanytarsus sp. The Oligochaeta biomass showed a significant short-term decrease from 1995 to 1998, and their average biomass proved to be 0.86 and 0.79 g WFW (wet formalin weight) m-2 in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Chironomidae showed significant spatial and short-term differences following variations in primary production. Higher primary production resulted in higher biomass (up to 153.4 g WFW m-2 and 9785 ind. m-2 in 1995) of Chironomus-Procladius community, while lower primary production resulted in a very low biomass and abundance of the predatory Procladius-Tanypus-Microchironomus community (average: 3.16 g WFW m-2 and 1311 ind. m-2 in 1997). As compared to other lakes of similar climatic conditions, the total production of oligohaetes and chironomids proved to be very low in 1996 and 1997 (49.2 and 54.1 KJ m-2 yr-1, respectively). The 90% of the average chironomid production of Lake Balaton in 1996 and 1997 belonged to Ch. gr. plumosus (5.63 and 5.13 g m-2 yr-1), P. choreus (4.3 and 3.47 g m-2 yr-1) and T. punctipennis (0.27 and 2.21 g m-2 yr-1). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The benthic macroinvertebrate community in a coastal sand dune lake relative to habitat and changing lake levels

The benthic macroinvertebrate community (BMI) in a freshwater coastal dune lake without a surface outlet was investigated in May and October, 1986. Fifty-three invertebrate taxa were identified from Carter Lake, including three euryhaline crustacean species (Corophium spinicorne, Gnorimosphaeroma oregonensis lutea, and Acanthomysis awatchensis). Corophium spinicorne dominated the BMI communities of the littoral zones and sphaeriid clams dominated the deepwater community.The lake level dropped about 2.5 m between April and October. Based upon this decline, the lake bottom was divided into four major habitats: a sandy temporarily submerged littoral zone (A); a sandy submerged littoral zone (B); and mid-depth zone of mixed mud and sand and the macrophyte, Nitella (C); and a deep zone (D) with soft mud. The average density of BMI was highest in the littoral zones (A and B) in May and in zone B in October (zone A was dry). The lowest density occurred in zone D. In May, BMI biomass was highest in the littoral zones, but the biomass was highest in the mid-depth zone in October. The mid-depth zone in October. The mid-depth zone had the most diverse community.The two most abundant species in the temporarily submerged area, Corophium spinicorne and Juga plicifera, were found in greater numbers deeper in the lake after the water level dropped, suggesting migration by these species in response to changing water levels.     

牛山湖两种不同生境小型鱼类的种类组成、多样性和密度

研究了2003年春季浅水草型湖泊牛山湖小型鱼类空间分布（种类组成、多样性和密度等）与生境异质性之间的关系.根据水生植被状况、离岸距离和水深,选择了两种差异较大且有代表性的生境类型,即近岸沉水植物茂密的生境A和远岸沉水植物稀疏的生境B.使用围网（180 m²）在这两种生境中进行小型鱼类的采样,采用多次标志回捕法和Zippin去除法估算了围网内小型鱼类的密度.结果表明,两种不同生境中小型鱼类的种类组成、多样性度量值和密度估算值均存在一定程度的差异：1）生境A中的渔获物由5科14种小型鱼类组成,优势种类为生活在中、下水层的高体鳑鲏、彩副鱊和麦穗鱼;生境B中的渔获物由3科9种小型鱼类组成,优势种类为生活在湖底的子陵吻鰕虎鱼和小黄黝鱼.2）生境A和生境B小型鱼类群落间的Bray-Curtis指数为0.222,结构相似性较低;但二者的物种等级丰度分布则无显著差异,均属于对数级数分布.3）生境A中高体鳑鲏、彩副鱊、麦穗鱼等9种小型鱼类的总密度值为8.71 ind·m^-2,生境B中子陵吻鰕虎鱼、小黄黝鱼等5种小型鱼类的总密度值只有3.54 ind·m^-2.小型鱼类在这两种不同生境中的空间分布差异可能与其逃避捕食、觅食和繁殖等生态习性的生境需求有关,因此,水生植被生境对小型鱼类资源合理开发和多样性保护具有重要意义.     

Chironomid stratigraphy in the shallow and eutrophic Lake Søbygaard, Denmark: chironomid–macrophyte co-occurrence

1. A sediment core from the shallow, hypertrophic Lake Søbygaard (mean depth ∼1 m; [TP] 310 μg P L⁻¹) was analysed for subfossil remains to reconstruct chironomid community changes in relation to the succession and disappearance of aquatic macrophytes. 2. Species composition in the 1.10 m core indicates a succession from a 'naturally' eutrophic state to a hypertrophic state during recent centuries. Radiometric dating (²¹⁰Pb) of the uppermost 20 cm of the sediment core (∼1932–93) indicates that sediment accumulation rate had doubled in recent decades. 3. Changes in chironomid assemblages were in close agreement with changes in both diatoms and macrophyte remains in the same core. Distinct changes in chironomid communities reflect the eutrophication process and macrophyte succession through Chara , Ceratophyllum and Potamogeton dominance to the present state, with complete loss of submerged vegetation and dominance by phytoplankton. 4. The co-occurrence and relationship between aquatic macrophyte diversity and recent subfossil chironomid assemblages were assessed from an additional 25 Danish lakes. There was good agreement between the macrophyte and chironomid-based lake groupings. Overall, a significant difference ( P <0.001) was found in chironomid assemblages among lakes in different macrophyte classes. In a pair-wise comparison, the poorly buffered mesotrophic lakes and the alkaline eutrophic lakes had significantly different chironomid assemblages. 5. Chironomid taxa commonly reported to be associated with macrophytes ( Cricotopus , Endochironomus and Glyptotendipes ) were shown also to be indicators of highly productive lakes lacking abundant submerged vegetation.     

牛山湖两种优势小型鱼类空间分布与沉水植被的关系

运用8种网目规格的成套浮性刺网作为鱼类采样工具,于2005年夏季在长江中游浅水草型湖泊牛山湖进行鱼类定量采样,通过比较不同茂密程度黄丝草生境中的小型鱼类组成、数量和大小结构,探讨此类湖泊小型鱼类的空间分布特征及其与沉水植被的关系.采样期间共捕获13种1124尾鱼,依据其等级丰度和出现频次,鳖和红鳍原鲌为该湖优势上层小型鱼类.在调查的沉水植物生物量范围内,鱼类物种丰富度和Shannon多样性指数与沉水植物生物量之间呈现倒抛物线关系;两种优势小型鱼类的种群丰度均与沉水植物生物量有着显著的线性正相关关系,且其平均个体大小在裸地生境较高、沉水植被茂密区较低,幼鱼更倾向群聚于厚密的黄丝草生境中;其他生境因子(水深和离岸距离)对鳖和红鳍原鲐空间分布的影响不显著.黄丝草植被生境是牛山湖两种优势小型鱼类的重要保护生境,应加强对黄丝草等沉水植被的保护及恢复.     

西太湖水生植物时空变化

水生植物在浅水湖泊生态系统中具有十分重要的作用。根据中国科学院太湖湖泊生态系统研究站1989年以来的常规监测资料,将西太湖（除东太湖以外的湖区）划分为9个区,采用点截法（point intercept method）,于2002～2005年对各区水生植物的种类、生物量和空间分布情况进行了6次调查。结果表明：西太湖现有水生植物16种,分属于11科12属;水生植物总面积约10220hm^2,其中沉水植物分布面积约占64．58％;挺水植物约占0．29％;漂浮植物约占38．16％。各个种之间生物量差异显著,马来眼子菜、荇菜、芦苇的生物量在所有水生植物中居前3位。多样性分析表明,水生植物种类4a来未发生明显变化,但种类和生物量季节性差异较大。水生植物呈环状分布在距湖岸5km以内的水域和部分岛屿周围,东岸和南岸为水生植物的主要集中分布区域,分布区连续性好,且水草种类齐全。挺水植物种类单一,仅有芦苇（Phragmites communis）一种,分布区域多限于水深小于1．6m的湖岸;沉水植物共有8种,为水生植物的主要组成部分,马来眼子菜（Potamogeton malaianus）的分布频度最高,在西山岛周围水域逐年扩张,成为该区域的先锋种;漂浮植物3种,主要以荇菜（Nymphoides peltata）为主,在七都水域有逐渐扩张的趋势。马来眼子菜、芦苇、荇菜表现出对水环境较强的适应能力,目前为西太湖的3个优势种。20世纪50年代以来,西太湖水生植物种类减少了50种,其中水质下降是导致水生植物种类不断减少甚至消失的一个重要原因。围网养殖和不合理的捕捞方式也对局部水域的植物造成极大的破坏。水生植物生存环境日益严峻,种群单一化趋势日益明显。     

Swimming Behaviour of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chironomus acerbiphilus</Emphasis> Larvae in Lake Katanuma

We conducted a seasonal survey of the swimming behaviour of Chironomus acerbiphilus larvae in volcanic Lake Katanuma from April 1998 to December 2001. Swimming C. acerbiphilus density was much higher than other chironomid species in lakes. All C. acerbiphilus larvae (1st through 4th instars) swam, but the earlier instars (especially the 1st) had the greatest densities and fluctuations. First instars were never found in the benthic population. This result indicates that the 1st-instar larvae are planktonic. Low water temperature (below about 10 °C) resulted in the seasonal disappearance of swimming chironomid larvae. Chemical factors – oxygen depletion or presence of hydrogen sulfide – also restricted the distribution of swimming and benthic larvae. Larvae were distributed only in the oxygen-rich part of the lake bottom and swam only in the oxygen-rich layer of the water column. The density of older swimming C. acerbiphilus (3rd and 4th instars) tended to increase with increasing benthic larval densities. The chemical stress of oxygen depletion or presence of hydrogen sulfide during holomixis within and after the stratification period leads to conspicuous swimming behaviour of benthic C. acerbiphilus larvae. Almost all C. acerbiphilus larvae died on this occasion.     

Limnological studies of Lake Wisdom, a large New Guinea caldera lake with a simple fauna

SUMMARY. Lake Wisdom is of interest because it is large and deep, has oxygen throughout, and yet, apparently as a result of its recent formation, its biota has some surprising lacunae. It is nearly circular and fills the central caldera of Long Island, Papua New Guinea (5° 20′ S, 147° 6′ E). Its maximum length is 13.4 km, and area approximately 95 km². A bathymetric map of the lake to depths of 300 m has been constructed from fathometer transects. Repeated soundings in the deeper parts gave depths of about 360 m. The surface of the lake is approximately 190 m above sea-level and water samples from the deepest part of the lake are fresh, so the basin is apparently sealed. The lake level shows annual fluctuations of c. 1.0 m. Limnological information has been collected during seven visits to Lake Wisdom over the period 1969–76. The surface temperature of the lake was constant at 28°C throughout this period and the temperature falls very gradually to 26–27°C at 60 m, except for a relatively rapid drop of approximately 1°C from 10 to 20 m. One of the most unusual features is the relatively high oxygen concentration in the deepest parts of the lake. Living chironomid larvae and molluscs were collected from the bottom in depths of 360 m. Light penetration in the lake varies greatly depending on the amount of rainfall and the volcanic activity of Motmot, a secondary cone within the lake. The biota of Lake Wisdom is rather simple. There is a low standing crop of phytoplankton. Benthic algae are abundant and diverse although they cover only a limited area because of the depth of the lake. There are no vascular aquatic plants. The pelagic fauna consists of two species of Cladocera and one species of notonectid. There is one species of sponge, four species of molluscs, and a small number of species of aquatic insects including Hemiptera. Odonata, and the larvae of chironomids, mayflies, a caddisfly, and a pyralid moth. Water birds, including ducks, grebes and waders, are fairly numerous. The lake also contains one or more crocodiles.     

Inferring past zooplanktivorous fish and macrophyte density in a shallow lake: application of a new regression tree model

1. Eutrophication has a profound effect on the biological structure and function of shallow lakes, altering the composition and abundance of submerged macrophyte and fish assemblages. Relatively little is known, however, about decadal to centennial‐scale change in these important aspects of shallow lake ecology. 2. Established palaeolimnological inference models are limited to reconstructing a single variable. As macrophyte and zooplanktivorous fish abundance exert dual and interacting controls on cladoceran assemblages a single variable inference model may contain significant error. To obviate this problem, we applied a new cladoceran‐based multivariate regression tree (MRT) model to cladoceran subfossil assemblages from dated cores from a small shallow lake (Felbrigg Lake, U.K.) to assess long‐term change in fish and submerged macrophyte abundance. Plant macrofossil, chironomid and mollusc subfossil assemblages were also analysed to track changes in biological structure and function and to evaluate the inferences of the MRT model. 3. Over the 200+ year period covered by the sediment cores, there was good agreement in the timing and nature of ecological change reflected by the plant macrofossil, mollusc, chironomid and cladoceran data. The sediment sequence was divided into three dated zones: c. 1797–1890, c. 1890–1954 and c. 1954–present. Prior to 1890 plant‐associated mollusc, cladoceran and chironomid assemblages indicated a species‐rich macrophyte community; a scenario confirmed by the plant macrofossil data. From c. 1890 to 1954 macrophyte‐associated species of all three invertebrate groups remained abundant but the proportion of pelagic cladocerans rose. Post‐1954 mollusc and chironomid assemblages changed to sediment associated detrital feeders and the proportion of pelagic cladoceran taxa increased further. 4. The cladoceran‐based MRT model indicated a long period of stability, c. 1790–1927, characterised by abundant submerged macrophytes and zooplanktivorous fish. From c. 1927 to 1980, the MRT model inferred a decline in zooplanktivorous fish density (ZF) but relative stability in August macrophyte abundance. From 1980 to 2000, an increase in zooplanktivorous fish was inferred tallying well with available data on the fish population (since the 1970s), which indicated extirpation of perch in the 1970s and a subsequent increase in the rudd population. The model inferred little change in August macrophyte abundance until post‐c. 1980 at which point it indicated a decline. The surface sediment assemblage was placed in MRT group A, where submerged plants are absent or very rare in late summer in good agreement with current conditions at the site. 5. The MRT model, applied here for the first time, appears to have successfully tracked changes in macrophyte abundance and ZF over the last 200 years at Felbrigg Lake. The inferences agreed with historical observations on the fish community and the supporting palaeolimnological data. Given that multiple structuring forces shape most biological communities, the application of a model capable of allowing for this represents a significant advance in palaeolimnology.     

A primary study on relationships between subfossil chironomids and the distribution of aquatic macrophytes in three lowland floodplain lakes,China

Aquatic macrophytes act as an important substrate for zoobenthos-supporting midge communities (chironomids) that can be used for reconstructing past environmental change. This study selected three macrophyte-dominated lakes in the middle reach of the Yangtze floodplain (central China), to identify relationships between macrophyte characteristics (i.e. communities, richness and biomass) and subfossil chironomid assemblages. One-way ANOSIM tests illustrated that there were significant differences in chironomid community compositions between lakes. Most chironomid taxa were not selective of dominant macrophyte species, but Corynoneura species were found to be associated with the development of Vallisneria as revealed by SIMPER analysis. Multivariate analyses indicate that submerged plant biomass, water depth and secchi depth, conductivity and the concentration of HCO₃ ^? were significantly correlated with midge compositions. Overall, this study corroborates the existing opinions that chironomid species show little selectivity to plant type but are significantly influenced by plant density. As an exception to this general trend, we found strong associations between Corynoneura chironomid larvae and Vallisneria macrophytes, prompting the need for future experimental studies to confirm this association.