Effect of winter conditions on spring nutrient concentrations and plankton in a large shallow Lake Peipsi (Estonia/Russia)

During the study period 1997–2007, the duration of the ice cover of Lake Peipsi, the largest freshwater lake in Estonia, was variable. The ice-break took place in mid-April instead of generally in May. Compared with data from 1960s onwards, a trend of shortening of the duration of ice-cover period is evident. In under-ice phytoplankton, diatoms, cryptophytes and flagellated chlorophytes predominated from March to June. In zooplankton, while thermophobic rotifers dominated in densities, copepods were dominant in biomass. The monthly sum of positive water temperatures correlated with the zooplankton in the following month and duration of the ice cover correlated with the biomass of all different zooplankton groups in May and June. The sum of water temperatures in April, May and June was positively correlated with the biomass of cladocerans and copepods, and negatively with the biomass of winter rotifers. Mild winters affected nitrogen and silica concentration positively and phosphorus concentration negatively.     

The state of zooplankton in the cooler reservoir of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and in the upper part of the Kiev Reservoir

The results of studies on the zooplankton in the cooler reservoir of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant following the 1986 disaster are presented. The study region also included the waterbodies and watercourses situated within the 30-km-wide right-of-way zone. Species composition, vertical and horizontal distribution, abundance, and biomass have been studied. A total of 101 species of invertebrates were found: 43 species of rotifers, 42 cladocerans, and 16 copepods. Among all the species found, almost 90% of the total zooplankton abundance and biomass were composed of indicator species: representatives of g. Brachionus, Asplanchna priodonta, Synchaeta spp., Euchlanis dilatata, Chydorus sphaericus, Bosmina longirostris, and Acanthocyclops americanus. The veligers of zebra mussel were found in the plankton of the investigated water-bodies. In the Kiev Reservoir, their abundance during the summer period may be high: >1 million spec./m³).     

Does stocking of filter-feeding fish for production have a cascading effect on zooplankton and ecological state? A study of fourteen (sub)tropical Chinese reservoirs with contrasting nutrient concentrations

Stocking of filter-feeding fish is a common tool used in Chinese reservoirs to increase fish production because of low natural recruitment. Whether such stocking has important negative effects on zooplankton with cascading effects on phytoplankton is debated. We compared the zooplankton communities in fourteen reservoirs with different nutrient concentrations and fish densities. Both chlorophyll a (Chla) and fish catch were positively related with total phosphorus (TP), whereas zooplankton biomass did not show a similar relationship with TP. Zooplankton seemed to be influenced by fish as high fish catches coincided with a low proportion of calanoids of the total copepod biomass, a high proportion of rotifers of the total zooplankton biomass, a low zooplankton:phytoplankton biomass ratio, and the absence of Daphnia irrespective of TP concentration. Both zooplankton biomass and most of the zooplankton:phytoplankton biomass ratios were among the lowest reported in the literature for the nutrient range studied. Furthermore, the Chla:TP ratio was higher than what is typically observed in temperate lakes. We conclude that top-down control of zooplankton is of key importance in reservoirs in South China where frequent stocking of filter-feeding fish seems to contribute to poor water quality in the form of higher algal biomass and reduced clarity.     

Top-down control of a meiobenthic community by two juvenile freshwater fish species

Top-down control of prey assemblages by fish predation has been clearly demonstrated for zooplankton and macroinvertebrates. However, in the benthic communities of freshwater ecosystems, the impact of fish predation on meiofaunal assemblages is nearly unknown. In this study, the predation effects of juvenile carp (Cyprinus carpio) and gudgeon (Gobio gobio) on meiofaunal abundance, biomass, community structure, and the diversity of nematodes were examined using microcosms that were sampled repeatedly over 64 days. Significant differences in abundance and biomass were found between the two fish treatments (carp and gudgeon) and their respective controls for nematodes, oligochaetes, and crustaceans (copepods, harpacticoids, ostracods, and cladocerans), but not for rotifers. These changes were consistent with top-down control of the freshwater meiofaunal assemblages in the microcosms over time. By contrast, small-bodied meiofauna was more abundant, suggesting indirect facilitation. Neither the species richness nor the diversity of the nematode community was affected by fish predation. The results indicate that predation by juvenile freshwater fish depresses the overall abundance and biomass of meiofaunal assemblages, except for rotifers, and alters the size structure of the meiofaunal community. Therefore, the meiofaunal assemblages of freshwater ecosystems may be influenced by bottom-feeding juvenile fish, e.g., carp and gudgeon, through top-down control of meiofaunal populations.     

Cyanobacterial chemical warfare affects zooplankton community composition

1. Toxic algal blooms widely affect our use of water resources both with respect to drinking water and recreation. However, it is not only humans, but also organisms living in freshwater and marine ecosystems that may be affected by algal toxins. 2. In order to assess if cyanobacterial toxins affect the composition of natural zooplankton communities, we quantified the temporal fluctuations in microcystin concentration and zooplankton community composition in six lakes. 3. Microcystin concentrations generally showed a bimodal pattern with peaks in early summer and in autumn, and total zooplankton biomass was negatively correlated with microcystin concentrations. Separating the zooplankton assemblages into finer taxonomic groups revealed that high microcystin concentrations were negatively correlated with Daphnia and calanoid copepods, but positively correlated with small, relatively inefficient phytoplankton feeders, such as cyclopoid copepods, Bosmina and rotifers. 4. In a complementary, mechanistic laboratory experiment using the natural phytoplankton communities from the six lakes, we showed that changes in in situ levels of microcystin were coupled with reduced adult size and diminished juvenile biomass in Daphnia. 5. We argue that in eutrophic lakes, large unselective herbivores, such as Daphnia, are ‘sandwiched’ between high fish predation and toxic food (cyanobacteria). In combination, these two mechanisms may explain why the zooplankton community in eutrophic lakes generally comprise small forms (e.g. rotifers and Bosmina) and selective raptorial feeders, such as cyclopoid copepods, whereas large, unselective herbivores, such as Daphnia, are rare. Hence, this cyanobacterial chemical warfare against herbivores may add to our knowledge on population and community dynamics among zooplankton in eutrophic systems.     

Zooplankton of the Argazi reservoir (Southern Urals, Russia) and its long-term changes

The Argazi reservoir on the Miass River, the oldest reservoir in the Southern Urals, has been investigated. In total 49 species and forms of zooplankton are identified, including new and rare species for the fauna of the Urals. Throughout the reservoir zooplankton has high species diversity and considerable biomass (up to 11 g/m³). Rotifers are the leading group in the plankton of the reservoir. Compared to the early 1960s, the abundance and biomass of zooplankton has increased by 5–10 times. The disappearance of some plankton forms and the emergence of new ones, as well as an increased number of rotifers and some crustaceans by 1–2 orders of magnitude, are noted. The influence of three main factors that could lead to long-term changes in zooplankton—eutrophication, heavy metals pollution, and global warming—are considered. The last factor seems to be the most important.     

Seasonal succession of zooplankton in the north basin of Lake Biwa

To examine the seasonal succession of the entire zooplankton community in Lake Biwa, zooplankton biomass (on an areal basis) and its distribution patterns among crustaceans, rotifers and ciliates were studied in the north basin from April 1997 to June 1998. Seasonal changes in phytoplankton and population dynamics of Daphnia galeata were also examined to assess food condition and predation pressure by fish. From March to November, crustaceans dominated zooplankton biomass, but rotifers and ciliates were dominant from December to February. Among crustaceans, Eodiaptomus japonicus was the most abundant species, followed by D. galeata. Zooplankton biomass increased from January to a peak in early April, just before the spring bloom of phytoplankton, then decreased in mid-April when mortality rate of D. galeata increased. From mid-June, zooplankton increased and maintained a high level until the beginning of November. During this period, both birth and mortality rates of D. galeata were relatively high and a number of rotifer and crustacean species were observed. However, their abundances were very limited except for E. japonicus which likely preys on ciliates and rotifers. In Lake Biwa, food sources other than phytoplankton, such as resuspended organic matter from the sediments, seems to play a crucial role in zooplankton succession from winter to early spring, while zooplankton community seems to be regulated mainly by fish predation from summer to fall.     

Comparative analysis of plankton rotifer biomass in large Estonian lakes

The number and biomass of rotifers in large eutrophic lakes is small in winter, reaches a maximum in spring or summer and decreases to a winter minimum. The dynamics of rotifer participation as part of total zooplankton is opposite to their absolute number: the role of rotifers in zooplankton is great in winter, starts decreasing in spring, reaches a minimum in summer and increases again to its winter maximum. The number and biomass of rotifers is proportional to the trophy of the waterbody, but in the case of some species this correlation is inverse.     

Dispersal-limited zooplankton distribution and community composition in new ponds

Twelve new experimental ponds were constructed identically, filled simultaneously, had similar physical and chemical properties, and were maintained with minimal manipulation. Colonizing zooplankton communities were sampled bi-weekly for one year. Rotifers dominated zooplankton communities in densities, biomass, and species number (47 of 61 observed species were rotifers). Only 14 species were observed in all 12 ponds; 9 were rotifers. Twenty-nine species (26 rotifers) were recorded in <-6 ponds. Species with high vagility exhibited greater viability. Ponds differed in zooplankton community composition throughout the year, due to differences in both vagility and viability among colonizing species.     

Spatial variations in the composition and abundance of zooplankton in the Bahir Dar Gulf of Lake Tana, Ethiopia

The zooplankton in the littoral and open water zones of Bahir Dar Gulf, Lake Tana, collected in June and July 2007, were investigated using basic statistical measurement of diversity indices and one way analysis of variance to characterize the zooplankton fauna, with respect to its composition, abundance and spatial distribution patterns. The zooplankton composition was typical of a tropical freshwater lake, with a total of 44 species made up of sixteen rotifers, sixteen c1adocerans and twelve copepods and their developing stages in the following order of dominance; Rotifera > Cladocera > Cylopoida > Calanoida. Variation in spatial distribution was noticeable, the abundance of zooplankton was significantly higher ( P  < 0.05) at the littoral zone (Stations 2 and 3) than the open water (Station 1) as a result of the preponderance of the small-bodied nauplii stages, small rotifers and c1adocerans particularly Bosmina longirostris . Species richness, evenness, and diversity also increased as abundance increased in the littoral zones of the lake. The rotifers, particularly the brachionids Keratella and Brachionus spp., which are considered good indicators of lake trophic status constituted the dominant zooplankton group in terms of abundance and diversity, thus indicating that the lake has a high fisheries potential.     

Correspondence among methods of zooplankton biomass measurement in lakes: effect of community composition on optical plankton counter and size-fractionated seston data

The effectiveness of the optical particle counter (OPC) to estimatezooplankton biomass depends on the variability in zooplanktonshape and the presence of interfering particles. In marine environmentswhere zooplankton are composed of similarly shaped copepods,an average shape is relatively easily obtained. However, infreshwater environments, spheroid cladocerans mix with ellipsoidcopepods and make the application of a single morphometric modeldifficult. To expand the use of the OPC to freshwater environments,we developed new ellipsoid models for three common lake types(eutrophic, mesotrophic, and oligotrophic). In addition, weassessed how closely different size fractions of seston correspondedto zooplankton biomass. When expressed in common dry mass units,OPC- and seston-derived zooplankton biomass estimates showeda 1:1 correspondence with taxonomically derived estimates inproductive lakes (r > +0.70, P < 0.001) but not in oligotrophicsystems. OPC ellipse models differed among lake sets (major-to-minoraxis ratio: 1.5 to 2.7) but were not a simple function of thecladoceran-to-copepod ratio. The seston size fraction that providedthe best estimates of zooplankton biomass was smaller in mesotrophiclakes (>200 µm) than in eutrophic or oligotrophic lakes(>500 µm). The presence of algae and rotifers had nodetectable influence on OPC and size-fractionated seston estimates.Overall, these analyses suggest that OPC and seston providereliable estimates of lacustrine zooplankton biomass as longas region-specific ellipse models and size fractions, respectively,are used.     

The influence of planktivorous fish on zooplankton communities in riverine slackwaters

1. Contrary to that for lakes and ponds, our knowledge of the influence of planktivorous fish on zooplankton communities in rivers is slight, largely because of the general assumption that such communities are overwhelmingly regulated by physical conditions. 2. In two separate but concurrent in situ enclosure experiments, we investigated the effects of carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris spp.) and Eastern Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) on zooplankton communities in slackwaters of a temperate Australian floodplain river. 3. A high biomass of Hypseleotris suppressed the density of daphniid microcrustaceans, but enhanced the total density of rotifers. A high biomass of Gambusia, on the other hand, suppressed the total density of both microcrustaceans and rotifers. 4. A high biomass of planktivorous fish also reduced the density of many of the ovigerous (egg‐carrying) zooplanktonic taxa. Indeed, ovigerous cyclopoid copepods were suppressed in the presence of a high biomass of Hypseleotris, even though there was no significant effect on overall (ovigerous plus non‐ovigerous) density. 5. Our results imply that a high biomass of planktivorous fish can potentially influence zooplankton communities in riverine slackwaters, as in many lakes and ponds.     

The effect of products of the vital activity of semi-aquatic birds on zooplankton in the littoral of small lakes (Oka River basin)

The zooplankton structure in the littoral of two small lakes that were subjected to the effect of products of the vital activity of birds is described. In the area of birds?? nesting in the zooplankton of the larger lake, the abundance and biomass of copepods reliably increased and the abundance of rotifers decreased, whereas in the smaller lake, a tendency toward the dominant development of rotifers and cladocerans was found. It is suggested that the differences in the zooplankton structure in the littoral of both lakes are determined by the area and the number of nesting birds.     

南汇东滩湿地围垦水域内浮游动物群落结构的变化

2010年10月-2011年7月对南汇东滩围垦水域和坝外自然水域的浮游动物进行调查,研究了两水域内浮游动物的种类组成、丰度、生物量、优势种和生物多样性等生态学特征参数的季节变化,并初步探讨了围垦内外水域浮游动物群落的结构差异,及其与盐度、水温和人类活动等环境因子的关系.结果表明:围垦水域和坝外自然水域共检获浮游动物30种,其中围垦水域浮游动物24种,以轮虫的种类数最多;坝外自然水域浮游动物14种,其中桡足类占绝对优势.围垦水域浮游动物的年平均丰度明显高于坝外自然水域,年平均生物量则相反.围垦水域以角突臂尾轮虫、萼花臂尾轮虫和广布中剑水蚤等淡水种为主要优势种,而坝外自然水域则以中华华哲水蚤、火腿许水蚤和虫肢歪水蚤等河口半咸水种为主要优势种,且两水域优势种均存在季节更替.坝外水域浮游动物Shannon多样性指数(H)值和Pielou均匀度指数(J)值均明显高于围垦水域,Margalef丰富度指数(d)值和单纯度指数(C)值低于围垦水域.群落聚类和MDS结果表明,围垦水域浮游动物的群落结构与坝外自然水域存在明显差异.围垦是引起被围水域浮游动物群落结构变化的主要原因,盐度、潮汐动力等是导致动物群落结构改变的主要环境因子.     

The effects of predation by juvenile fish on the meiobenthic community structure in a natural pond

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淡水排放对杭州湾湿地浮游动物群落分布的影响

于2010年4月至2011年1月对杭州湾南岸滩涂湿地5个断面(S1-S3为排水区, S4-S5为非排水区)的高潮位和中潮位分别进行浮游动物群落结构的周年调查, 共发现浮游动物38种(轮虫15种, 枝角类4种, 桡足类19种)。排水区浮游动物年平均密度88.89 ind./L, 生物量0.41 mg/L, 非排水区平均密度仅4.21 ind./L, 生物量0.10 mg/L。排水区轮虫和桡足类的第一优势种分别为萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)和汤匙华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus dorrii), 而非排水区第一优势种为中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)。S2-S3断面中潮位的水体营养盐浓度、浮游动物密度和生物量均明显大于高潮位。淡水排放、潮沟径流和潮汐决定了滩涂湿地群落的时空格局, 后两者还解释了排水区中、高潮位间群落结构组成的差异。       

Nutrient dependent effects of consumer identity and diversity on freshwater ecosystem function

1. Over the past decade, ecologists have tried to determine how changes in species composition and diversity affect ecosystem structure and function. Until recently, the majority of these studies have been conducted in terrestrial ecosystems and have not taken into account environmental variability. The purpose of this research was to determine how species identity and diversity in the freshwater zooplankton affected biomass of algae and zooplankton at two levels of nutrient enrichment.
2. Several species of cladocerans were grown alone and together in microcosms at both ambient and raised phosphorus concentrations to determine if the effects of consumer identity and diversity were nutrient dependent.
3. Total zooplankton biomass was greater, while algal biomass was lower, in mixed culture than in monoculture. The effects of zooplankton diversity on algal biomass, however, were only observed at raised phosphorus concentrations, suggesting that diversity effects were nutrient dependent. Specifically, diversity effects appeared to be related with biological mechanisms such as complementarity in resource use and/or facilitation.
4. More diverse communities of zooplankton appear to be better able to control algae than single species of zooplankton at high nutrient concentrations; therefore, zooplankton diversity may provide a buffer against eutrophication in freshwater ecosystems.     

Spatial and temporal variations reveal the response of zooplankton to cyanobacteria

The effects of cyanobacteria on zooplankton abundance, structure and diversity were investigated, based on a systematic study on spatial and temporal variations of cyanobacteria and zooplankton in Lake Taihu from 1998 to 2007. It was found that similar increasing trends of cyanobacteria/phytoplankton ratios were accompanied by different trends in biomass, composition and biodiversity of zooplankton in different regions of the lake; the cladocerans benefitted from the increase in cyanobacteria; however, rotifers and protozoans were negatively affected by cyanobacteria. The biomass-based biodiversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton was negatively affected by cyanobacteria as well, and the adverse effects were in proportion to the cyanobacteria/phytoplankton ratio. These results indicated interestingly that higher amounts of cyanobacteria do not necessarily reduce zooplankton biomass, as the biomass of larger zooplankton such as cladocerans was positively related to cyanobacteria. The findings are essential to understand the complex ecological effects of cyanobacteria blooms in lakes.     

Response of zooplankton to nutrient enrichment and fish in shallow lakes: a pan-European mesocosm experiment

1. Responses of zooplankton to nutrient enrichment and fish predation were studied in 1998 and 1999 by carrying out parallel mesocosm experiments in six lakes across Europe. 2. Zooplankton community structure, biomass and responses to nutrient and fish manipulation showed geographical and year‐to‐year differences. Fish had a greater influence than nutrients in regulating zooplankton biomass and especially the relative abundances of different functional groups of zooplankton. When fish reduced the biomass of large crustaceans, there was a complementary increase in the biomasses of smaller crustacean species and rotifers. 3. High abundance of submerged macrophytes provided refuge for zooplankton against fish predation but this refuge effect differed notably in magnitude among sites. 4. Large crustacean grazers (Daphnia, Diaphanosoma, Sida and Simocephalus) were crucial in controlling algal biomass, while smaller crustacean grazers and rotifers were of minor importance. Large grazers were able to control phytoplankton biomass even under hypereutrophic conditions (up to 1600 μg TP L^?1) when grazer biomass was high (>80–90 μg dry mass L^?1) or accounted for >30% of the grazer community. 5. The littoral zooplankton community was less resistant to change following nutrient enrichment in southern Spain, at high temperatures (close to 30 °C), than at lower temperatures (17–23 °C) characterising the other sites. This lower resistance was because of a greater importance of nutrients than zooplankton in controlling algal biomass. 6. Apart from the reduced role of large crustacean grazers at the lowest latitude, no consistent geographical patterns were observed in the responses of zooplankton communities to nutrient and fish manipulation.     

Zooplankton of two arms in the Morava River floodplain in Slovakia

The species composition, seasonal dynamic of biomass and density of zooplankton were studied in two arms with a different hydrological regime. The samples were collected in two hydrologically different years — extremely wet in 2002 and extremely dry in 2003. In the first arm the mean annual chlorophyll-a concentration was 31.6 μg L⁻¹ (2002) and relatively high 64.7 μg L⁻¹ during 2003. Mean seasonal zooplankton wet biomass was low and varied: 11.6 g m⁻³ (2002) and 2.93 g m⁻³ (2003). Total zooplankton density was high (7,370 N L⁻¹) in 2002, when rotifers predominated in an open water zone and contributed up to 81% of the total zooplankton biomass and 83% of the total zooplankton density. In medial and littoral zone, in total, 22 cladoceran and 15 copepod species were identified. In the second arm the mean annual concentration of chlorophyll-a was high: 74.8 μg L⁻¹ (2002) and 61.4 μg L⁻¹ (2003). Mean seasonal zooplankton wet biomass varied from 92.5 g m⁻³ (2002) and 44.10 g m⁻³ (2003). In 2002 the planktonic crustaceans predominated; their mean biomass was 87.1 g m⁻³ and B. longirostris formed more than 91% of this value. In 2003, the zooplankton density was high (15,687 N L⁻¹), when rotifers contributed up to 94% of this value. The boom of rotifers (58,740 N L⁻¹) was recorded in June 2003. In total, 45 cladoceran and 14 copepod species were recorded in the medial and littoral zones. During observation we concluded that the structure of zooplankton, particularly species composition, abundance, biomass and seasonal dynamics are affected by the fluctuation of water levels in the arms of the rivers’ inundation areas. This unstable hydrological regime prevented the development of planktonic crustaceans.