Spatial heterogeneity of the Tucuruí Reservoir (State of Pará, Amazonia, Brazil) and the distribution of zooplanktonic species

With the purpose of analyzing the horizontal distribution of the zooplankton community of the Tucuruí Reservoir in the State of Pará, Brazil, collections were made at 16 stations during August 1988. The stations cover the regions called Caraipé (C), Ara?agi (B) and Arar?o (A), and represent the different compartments of this ecosystem in regard to the morphometry and the presence or absence of "flooded forest". Our findings showed the existence of three compartments with different limnological characteristics determined as a function of the system's morphometry, a factor that may have influenced the horizontal circulation of the reservoir's water and, consequently, led to physical, chemical and biological differences at each of the sampled stations. All the stations presented physical and chemical stratification and layers of total anoxia or reduced concentrations of oxygen dissolved at depths corresponding to the limit of the euphotic zone. With regard to the zooplankton, a differentiated distribution that was mainly quantitative was found among the compartments (density of organisms and proportion among the species) in the case of Cladocera and Copepoda, and basically qualitative in the case of Rotifera. On the other hand, the greatest densities of organisms for all the groups were recorded at the Caraipé stations. As for the spatial distribution, some species were more restricted or more abundant at given stations. Among the Cladocera, there was a greater abundance of Moina minuta, Bosmina hagmani and Bosminopsis deitersi at the Ara?agi stations, while C. cornuta intermedia, C. cornuta rigaudi and C. cornuta cornuta were more plentiful in the Caraipé and Diaphanosoma birgei in the Arar?o. Among the Rotifera, Trochosphaera aequatoriales and Lecane proiecta, Ascomorpha ecaudis, besides Polyartha cf vulgaris were restricted, respectively, to the Caraipé, Ara?agi and Arar?o stations, while the others, such as Keratella americana and Collotheca sp., were more broadly distributed. As regards Copepoda Calanoida, the dominating species was found to be Notodiaptomus maracaibenses, followed by Notodiaptomus henseni and Argyrodiaptomus azevedoi. The most abundant Cyclopoda species was Thermocyclops minutus, although Thermocyclops decipiens, Mesocyclops longisetus, Mesocyclops meridianus e Metacyclops sp. were also found.     

Phytoplankton biomass and distribution in a shallow eutrophic lake (Lake George,Uganda)

Summary Lake George, a shallow lake in western Uganda, supports a permanent and dense crop of phytoplankton, and may be regarded as eutrophic although the ambient concentrations of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus are low. The figures for the annual nutrient loadings (Viner and Smith, 1973) would suggest, however, a eutrophic lake when analysed on the scheme of eutrophication proposed by Vollenweider (1968).The horizontal distribution of chlorophyll a shows a concentric pattern, with the maximum values occurring towards the center. This horizontal variation is thought to reflect water movements, and a general pattern of water flow is proposed.The majority of the species show no seasonal variation but populations of both Anabaena and Melosira show annual variations. These two species also have a horizontal distribution pattern which is the reverse of other species. This pattern is used to support the proposed movements of water.Phytoplankton generation times are discussed in relation to the diurnal cycle occurring in Lake George.     

博斯腾湖枝角类群落结构特征及其影响因子

2010—2013年对博斯腾湖17个站位的枝角类及其影响因子进行了11次季度采样调查,阐述了枝角类群落结构特征及其演替动态,分析了博斯腾湖枝角类物种和多样性对环境变量的响应.结果表明： 1)调查期间共鉴定枝角类14种,其中优势种3种.与历史数据比较,喜贫营养型水体的种类减少甚至消失,喜富营养型水体的种类逐步占据群落优势地位.2)枝角类密度时空变动较大,调查期间各站位密度变幅为0～567.0 ind·L^-1,总平均为30.0 ind·L^-1;年际变动上2011年最高(82.5 ind·L^-1),之后逐年递减;水平分布上密度差异显著,主要呈沿岸浅水区高、中心深水区低的特点.3)水温是影响枝角类群落最重要的生态因子;种类分布对水深的响应表现在长刺溞在深水区分布较多,长额象鼻溞多集中在浅水区;食物限制和食浮游动物鱼类的捕食可能是影响博斯腾湖枝角类群落结构变动的重要原因.     

浙江两类饮用水源地浮游动物种类组成及其类群相关性分析

于2009年7月至2010年4月,在浙江省选取了10个水库和10个河网饮用水源地,进行4个季节的浮游动物采样调查。记录浮游动物101种(轮虫60,枝角类24和桡足类17种)。水库和河网轮虫的优势种分别为角突臂尾轮虫(Brachionus angularis)和针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthratrigla),枝角类分别为颈沟基合溞(Bosminopsis deitersi)和长额象鼻溞(Bosmina longirostris),桡足类均为温剑水蚤(Thermocyclops)。水库中有一些能指示良好生态或水质的指示性种类。水库枝角类与桡足类群落之间周年在丰度和生物量上均有极显著的正相关关系(P<0.01),轮虫与桡足类类群之间的相关性最弱;河网枝角类与桡足类在夏、秋、冬季有显著的正相关性(P<0.05)。浮游动物类群之间的相关性程度,以水库的秋季与河网的夏季为最高。轮虫与浮游甲壳动物的种类丰富度随着饮用水源水体透明度的变化呈现相反的变化趋势。     

Zooplankton populations and the diets of three Chaoborus species (Diptera, Chaoboridae) in a tropical lake

SUMMARY. 1. Zooplankton populations in a small, natural, tropical lake are dominated by a few, small-sized taxa including the copepod Thermo- cyclops consimilis , the cladoceran Moina micrura and several rotifer species.
2. Moina micrura and adults of Thermocyclops consimilis undergo diel vertical migrations within the water column. Population densities of T. consimilis show marked intra-annual variations which may to some extent be related to variations in rainfall and to lunar periodicities In predator abundance.
3. The diets of Chaoborus lavae include other Chaoborus , Cladocera, Copepoda. Rotifera and the dinoflagellate Peridinium. The diets of late instars of the largest species, edulis , were dominated by Crustacea, while those of the two smaller species. C, ceratopogones and C. anomalus , were dominated by Rotifera and the dinoflagellate alga Peridinium , as were the diets of early instars of all species. Algae have not been previously reported to be a large component of the diet of Chaoborus populations in nature.
4. Some of the dietary differences among Chaoborus instars and species are related to the size of each prey species in relation to the mouth gape of each instar. However, there are also important differences in electivity among instars of different species of the same size.     

Composition,size, and biomass of zooplankton in large productive Florida lakes

Crustacean zooplankton data were compiled from long-term observational studies at seven large shallow Florida lakes, to determine whether there are general characteristics in regard to species composition, body size, and biomass. In particular, we examined whether patterns in body size and species richness fit empirical models developed by Stanley Dodson. The lakes included range in size from 125 to 1730 km² and encompass mesotrophic to hyper-eutrophic conditions. We found that zooplankton biomass was strongly dominated by one species of calanoid copepod—Arctodiaptomus dorsalis. Large daphnids were absent, and Cladocera assemblages were dominated by small taxa such as Ceriodaphnia, Chydorus, and Eubosmina. The total number of species of pelagic cladocerans (8–12) was consistent with Dodson’s predictions based on lake area. The average size of crustacean zooplankton in Florida lakes is small in comparison with temperate communities. A. dorsalis is the smallest calanoid copepod in North America, and the mean length of Cladocera (0.6 mm) is consistent with Dodson’s results that size decreases from temperate to tropical zones. Total biomass of crustacean zooplankton was very low, ratios of zooplankton to phytoplankton biomass (0.01–0.1) are among the lowest reported in the literature, and the zooplankton displayed short-lasting early spring peaks in biomass. Cladocera were almost entirely absent in spring and summer. Factors known to occur in Florida lakes, which appear to explain these characteristics of biomass, include intense fish predation and high summer water temperature.     

Associations of Rotifera in the zooplankton of the lake sources of the White Nile

Plankton samples for rotifers were collected by means of vertical hauls with phytoplankton nets at eight stations on Lake Albert during the course of a year. Similar hauls were taken from Lakes Kyoga, Victoria, George and Edward in October and November. The rotifers found in the samples are listed and some estimates of their abundance and seasonal occurrence in Lake Albert are given. The most important planktonic rotifers are Keratella tropica and several species of Brachionus . Other species may also become locally or temporarily abundant; Lecane bulla becomes numerous in samples taken near vegetation after disturbance by rough weather, or where blue-green algae are abundant.
The associations of rotifers at the stations on Lake Albert and in the other lakes have been compared by means of the Sorensen Index and the index of diversity. The highest diversity is found in situations with a high rate of flow, as at the mouth of the Victoria Nile, where the extra species are non-planktonic forms swept into suspension by the current. This high diversity is associated with low numbers of individuals per unit volume. In Lake Albert rotifers are most consistently present and abundant at the mouth of the River Semliki, where the rate of flow is moderated by a large reed swamp. The middle of Lake Albert is poor in rotifers, and this may be related to the sparseness of planktivorous fish coupled with competitive elimination of the rotifers by larger crustacean zooplankters.
The associations of rotifers in Lakes Kyoga and George are similar, and resemble one another more than they resemble the associations in their neighbouring deeper lakes. The association in Lake Kyoga also resembles the associations found in water of a similar depth at the northern end of Lake Albert.     

Associations of Rotifera in the zooplankton of the lake sources of the White Nile

Plankton samples for rotifers were collected by means of vertical hauls with phytoplankton nets at eight stations on Lake Albert during the course of a year. Similar hauls were taken from Lakes Kyoga, Victoria, George and Edward in October and November. The rotifers found in the samples are listed and some estimates of their abundance and seasonal occurrence in Lake Albert are given. The most important planktonic rotifers are Keratella tropica and several species of Brachionus . Other species may also become locally or temporarily abundant; Lecane bulla becomes numerous in samples taken near vegetation after disturbance by rough weather, or where blue-green algae are abundant.
The associations of rotifers at the stations on Lake Albert and in the other lakes have been compared by means of the Sorensen Index and the index of diversity. The highest diversity is found in situations with a high rate of flow, as at the mouth of the Victoria Nile, where the extra species are non-planktonic forms swept into suspension by the current. This high diversity is associated with low numbers of individuals per unit volume. In Lake Albert rotifers are most consistently present and abundant at the mouth of the River Semliki, where the rate of flow is moderated by a large reed swamp. The middle of Lake Albert is poor in rotifers, and this may be related to the sparseness of planktivorous fish coupled with competitive elimination of the rotifers by larger crustacean zooplankters.
The associations of rotifers in Lakes Kyoga and George are similar, and resemble one another more than they resemble the associations in their neighbouring deeper lakes. The association in Lake Kyoga also resembles the associations found in water of a similar depth at the northern end of Lake Albert.     

太湖梅梁湾大型控藻围栏对浮游甲壳动物群落结构的影响

2005年对太湖梅梁湾大型鲢、鳙控藻围栏内外浮游甲壳动物群落结构的季节变化进行了监测.结果表明:围栏内外的环境因子、浮游植物生物量、浮游甲壳动物种类组成无显著差异.但鲢、鳙放养对浮游甲壳动物的生物量产生了较大的影响,围栏内浮游甲壳动物的总生物量和枝角类的生物量显著低于围栏外.总体上,枝角类各种类的生物量受鲢、鳙放养的影响程度大于桡足类的种类.太湖梅梁湾浮游甲壳动物的季节演替明显,大部分种类只是季节性出现.冬季和春季以溞(Daphnia sp.)和近邻剑水蚤(Cyclops vicnus)等大型种类为主,夏季和秋季以象鼻溞(Bosmina sp.)、角突网纹溞(Ceriodaphnia cornuta)和中华窄腹剑水蚤(Limnoithona sinensis)等小型种类为主.典范对应分析表明,透明度、温度和浮游植物的生物量是影响浮游甲壳动物季节变化的主要因素.     

Life history,population dynamics and production of Pontoporeia hoyi (Crustacea,Amphipoda) in relation to the trophic gradient of Lake George,New York

The life history characteristics, population dynamics and production of Pontoporeia hoyi in Lake George, New York, were studied from May 1981 through October 1982. P. hoyi, in terms of both density and standing crop, is the most prevalent member of the deep water macrobenthos of Lake George. It reproduces in the winter, with young being released in the late winter-early spring. At the southernmost study site, young released in the spring grew to 6–7 mm in length and bred during their first winter. At the remaining sites, P. hoyi required two years to complete its life cycle. This difference in life history characteristics can be related to food availability and temperature differences. The open waters of the south end of Lake George are not only more productive but are also more closely associated with the littoral zone, providing a wealth of bacteria-rich detritus for benthic deposit feeders. The greater food availability in the south basin of Lake George is reflected in significantly larger brood sizes and smaller size at maturity for P. hoyi populations from the south end of the lake.The southernmost study site has significantly greater P. hoyi density and standing crop than all other sites. The cohort of the year dominated density and standing crop at the southern site while the cohort of the previous year dominated standing crop at the other sites. Peak abundance ranged from 600 · m^–2 at the north site to 2 900 · m^–2 at the south site. Cohort production ranged from 2g · m^–2 at the north site to 15g · m^–2 at the south site.     

Littoral microcrustaceans (Cladocera and Copepoda) as indices of recovery of a limed water system

A 7 year study (1992–1998) of littoral microcrustaceans (Cladocera and Copepoda) in the watercourse of the River Rore, South Norway, illustrates that qualitative data on cladocerans and copepods are well suited to indicate the recovery of lakes following liming. Eight limed, two acid and two circum neutral reference lakes, were sampled twice a year (June/July and September/October). In the limed lakes, species associated with neutral lakes have become more common, whereas apparently acid-tolerant species have become rarer. In Lake Rore and Lake Syndle, the two largest limed lakes which exhibited a gradual increase in pH, the changes in species composition indicated that these lakes were about to recover. Species composition in Lake Røynelandsvatn, which has reacidified after liming, first reflected improved water quality, then reverted to dominance by acid-tolerant species. In the remaining lakes, the species composition reflects a fauna which has recovered compared with the preliming situation. There is strong evidence, however, that temporary fluctuations in pH have a negative influence on the speed of recovery, confirming the importance of keeping pH stable.     

Zooplankton dynamic of Lake Prespa (Macedonia)

The composition and temporal abundance patterns of zooplankton community in Lake Prespa pelagic zone were studied throughout an annual cycle (October 2008–September 2009). Eighteen species (10 Rotifera, 5 Cladocera, 2 Copepoda, 1 Mollusca) were evidenced. It includes Arctodiaptomus steindachneri, an endemic calanoid of the Western Balkans. The zooplankton density varied during the investigated period and certain seasonal successions in temporal transpositions of their maximal development were noticed. The total zooplankton density was much higher in spring and summer period. The representatives of subclass Copepoda were dominant during the whole year. The dominant species was A. steindachneri. At the second place (with exception of the winter period) were the Cladocera representatives. The dominant species was Daphnia cucullata. At the third and fourth place were rotifers and larval form of Dreissena polymorpha, respectively. The quantitative presence of the Copepoda representatives was significantly lower in terms of the previous investigations. The Cladocera quantity reached high values during this period, particularly in summer. Such altering in the quantitative ratio between Copepoda and Cladocera in favor of the Cladocera, especially high quantitative presence of D. cucullata, typical for eutrophic lakes, imply of significant changes in zooplankton community and changes of the water quality in Lake Prespa pelagial.     

鄱阳湖子湖“堑秋湖”过程中水位变化对浮游动物群落结构的影响

“堑秋湖”是鄱阳湖区渔民根据湖泊水位季节性涨退变化, 利用人工闸门控制子湖水位进行捕鱼的一种渔业方式。研究分析了“堑秋湖”过程中浮游动物群落结构的变化, 探讨水位变化对浮游动物群落结构的影响及其他可能的影响因素, 以期为合理管控鄱阳湖区“堑秋湖”渔业活动提供科学依据。鄱阳湖“堑秋湖”捕鱼期间(2014年11月9日至2015年1月4日), 在鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区内子湖——大湖池的敞水区设置了7个采样点进行了8次浮游动物定性、定量采集和分析。研究共发现浮游动物77种, 其中轮虫53种, 枝角类10种, 桡足类14种。在“堑秋湖”捕鱼过程中, 浮游动物物种数随水位的连续下降呈现逐渐减少趋势, 多样性指数也呈逐渐下降趋势, 密度和生物量呈现先增加后减少的变化趋势。浮游动物优势物种的密度变化具有明显的种属差异, 前节晶囊轮虫和中华窄腹剑水蚤的密度呈逐渐增加的趋势, 广布多肢轮虫、广布中剑水蚤、长额象鼻溞和桡足类无节幼体的密度呈逐渐减少的趋势。冗余分析表明: 水位、电导率、水温、溶氧、营养盐等环境因子均对浮游动物群落结构产生显著影响, 其中溶解氧是最强的影响因子。此外, 根据“堑秋湖”鱼类渔获量的变化情况推测, 捕鱼活动导致的浮游食性鱼类减少也对浮游动物的密度变化产生了影响。在“堑秋湖”过程中, 随着水位的持续下降水体理化因子发生了不同变化。浮游动物的种类和多样性指数逐渐降低, 浮游动物的密度呈现先升高后降低的变化趋势。浮游动物的群落结构主要受溶解氧、氨氮和水位的影响。捕鱼活动导致的浮游食性鱼类减少也对浮游动物的密度变化产生了影响。     

Effects of pH and predation by Chaoborus larvae on the plankton of a shallow and acidic forest lake

1. Eutrophic acid lakes are not common. Delamere Lake in Cheshire, U.K. is shallow and acid (mean pH 4.5) with a very high phytoplankton crop (mean 290 μg chlorophyll a L^?1), dominated by Dictyosphaerium pulchellum. Rotifers were dominant in the pelagic waters but small cladocerans (Alona guttata, Chydorus sphaericus and Scapholeberis mucronata) were occasional in the littoral waters. Chaoborus flavicans larvae were the top predators in this fishless lake. Two mesocosm experiments were carried out in which pH and Chaoborus populations were manipulated. 2. Progressively higher concentrations of D. pulchellum were maintained in the elevated pH treatments (pH 6 and 8; P < 0.001) with increased amounts of a Chlamydomonas species at the end of the experiment. Highest species richness was seen at ambient pH. Thus the low pH of Delamere Lake alone did not control the structure of the phytoplankton community. Keratella quadrata showed significantly higher abundance at pH 6 than in other pH treatments (P < 0.001). Species richness of rotifers was unaffected by pH. 3. Most Cladocera were C. sphaericus. Although never seen in the open lake, Daphnia pulex appeared in all the pH treatments. Low pH did not control small Cladocera abundance in Delamere Lake, but probably hampered reproduction in Daphnia. Negative correlations between chlorophyll a concentrations and Daphnia in the mesocosms (r² = 0.215, P < 0.05), however, indicated the potential of large‐bodied daphniids in controlling phytoplankton. 4. Neither different combinations of Chaoborus instars (none, instars 1 and 2 and instars 3–5) nor different densities of instars 3–5 (0.15, 0.5 and 1.0 L^?1) had a negative impact on Cladocera. Daphnia pulex remained unaffected in the experiment, perhaps because of its large size, and C. sphaericus because of its high reproductive rate compensating predatory losses. 5. Very low pH in Delamere Lake might suppress Daphnia by hampering its reproduction. Consequently, Daphnia may be vulnerable to invertebrate predation even at low predator density in the lake.     

Cladocera paleocommunity to disentangle the impact of anthropogenic and climatic stressors on a deep subalpine lake ecosystem (Lake Iseo,Italy)

In big lakes with strong anthropogenic pressure, it is usually difficult to disentangle the impacts of climate variability from those driven by eutrophication. The present work aimed at the reconstruction of change in the species distribution and density of subfossil Cladocera in Lake Iseo (Italy) in relation to climate and anthropogenic pressure. We related subfossil Cladocera species composition and density in an 80-cm sediment core collected in the pelagic zone of Lake Iseo to long-term temperature trends and phosphorus concentration inferred by diatoms frustules. The Cladocera remains detected in Lake Iseo sediment reflected the species composition and density of modern pelagic Cladocera assemblages. Cladocera rapidly respond to environmental change, and that climate change combined with eutrophication can induce changes in community composition and species density. At the beginning of twentieth century, when global warming was not yet so accentuated, the nutrient increase in water resulted as the principal driver in determining the long-term development of plankton communities and pelagic food web structure. Moreover, catchment-related processes may decisively affect both species composition and density of the lake planktonic communities due to the decrease of lake water transparency induced by input of inorganic material from the catchment area to the lake. The paleolimnological investigation, through the combined study of biotic and abiotic factor, allowed clarifying the synergic effects of the most important drivers of change in lake ecosystems, suggesting that climatic factors should be considered with nutrient availability as determinant element in controlling the temporal development of plankton communities and pelagic food web structure.

     

Repartition spatio-temporelle,biomasse et production des populations zooplanctoniques du lac d'aydat en periode estivale

Lake Aydat is a young eutrophic lake (mean depth 7.4 m, area 6o ha) situated in the french Central Massif. Secondary production was studied during the summer months June and July. In early summer, dissolved oxygen in the deep layers gradually gets depleted, and depletion reaches the 7m level in July. Zooplankton is therefore concentrated in the upper layers: Rotatoria are very abundant and the various species are segregated in space and / or succeed each other in time, thus maximally exploiting the water layers favorable to their development. Cladocera are represented by small species, which sharply increase in numbers at the time of maximum primary production, and cause a dramatic drop in primary production. They are in competition with the Rotatoria. Copepods are the least abundant group, but they were in a reproductive phase at the time of this study.88% of the Zooplankton biomass is accumulated in the Cladocera; the Rotifera represent 9%, and the Copepods 8%. Secondary production is intense, and due almost exclusively to filter-feeders in July. Since the carnivores are scarce in numbers, their maximum production is poor relative to that of the herbivores.The P/B coefficient was extremely high during the two summer months, and is indicative of a process of intense consumption of the resources of the lake during that particular short period of the year.     

Two types of maternal care for juveniles observed in Caprella monoceros Mayer, 1890 and Caprella decipiens Mayer, 1890 (Amphipoda: Caprellidae)

Spatial and seasonal patterns in phytoplankton and zooplankton communities of Lake St. Clair from June through September, 1984 are described. Phytoplankton biomass averages 586 µg l^-1 with the Diatomae and Chrysophyceae predominating. Zooplankton biomass averages 663 µg l^- with small bosminid Cladocera being the most abundant organisms. Lake St. Clair zooplankton biomass is second only to that of Lake Erie amongst the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. Biomass size spectra are typical in structure for mesotrophic lakes but low explained variance in the annual normalized spectrum is indicative of a perturbed system. Since 1972/1973 there appears to have been a slight decrease in zooplankton abundance in the lake accompanied by a shift from dominance of rotifers to dominance of cladocerans. We hypothesize that high flushing rate and seasonal variability coupled with contaminant loadings have resulted in a plankton community reduced in taxonomic diversity and dominated by small-bodied species.     

三峡水库蓄水后期香溪河库湾浮游甲壳动物群落结构

为了解三峡水库蓄水后期香溪河库湾浮游甲壳动物群落结构及其时空变化, 于2015年1月至2017年12月对香溪河库湾浮游甲壳动物进行了逐月采样分析。共鉴定出浮游甲壳动物23种, 其中枝角类10种, 桡足类13种。出现频率较高的物种均为长江流域常见种, 生物量和密度峰值分别出现在5月和6月, 在1月和2月则未能采集到标本, 生物量和密度在年际间差异显著, 但群落组成差异不显著, 群落季节变化规律表现为春季-夏季以蚤状溞(Daphnia pulex)和僧帽溞(Daphnia cucullata)大型枝角类占优势, 秋季以简弧象鼻溞(Bosmina coregoni)小型种占优势。库中生物多样性指数高于库首和库尾, 库首和库尾生物多样性指数差异不明显, 生物多样性在季节上同样具有一定差异。CCA分析表明水温、叶绿素浓度和水深是解释浮游甲壳动物群落变化重要因素。我们的研究结果表明尽管香溪河库湾营养盐、水温、浮游甲壳动物生物量和密度均未达到稳定状态, 但群落组成在年际间无显著性差异, 浮游甲壳动物物种丰富度也高于蓄水初期, 生物多样性指数存在一定的时空差异, 适当程度的干扰有利于维持浮游甲壳动物较高的生物多样性。     

广东肇庆星湖浮游甲壳类的生态调查

1996年4月至1997年8月对广东肇庆星湖的两个重要子湖(里湖和中心湖)的浮游甲壳类进行6次调查.共观察到枝角类17种,桡足类11种.两个湖泊浮游甲壳类的种类组成差异不显著,但数量及生物量差异十分显著,这与两湖泊的水质不同特征有密切关系.     

Cladocera of coastal rivers of western Nigeria

Recent studies indicate that there are at least 100 species of Cladocera in the families Bosminidae, Chydoridae, Daphnidae, Macrothricidae, Moinidae and Sididae in the inland waters of Nigeria. Over 50% of these have been found in net plankton samples from the coastal rivers in addition to Evadne tergestina Claus (Family: Podonidae), and Daphnia barbata Weltner, hitherto unreported in the equatorial lowlands of Africa. In effect, the Cladocera of the coastal rivers and creeks consist of the marine/brackish assemblage made up of Penilia avirostris Dana and Evadne tergestina and the freshwater assemblage made up of all other Cladocera found. Unlike in the more inland water bodies, the freshwater assemblage of the coastal rivers is dominated by the Bosminids Bosmina longirostris (O. F. Muller) and Bosminopsis deitersi Richard. The distribution, seasonality and successional patterns of Cladocera in the coastal water bodies of Western Nigeria is presented.