浙江水源地水库浮游动物丰度和生物量与水质参数的通径分析

为探明浙江水源地水库浮游动物群落特征及与环境因子的关系, 达到用浮游动物群落参数监测水源地水库水质的目的。于2014年1月至2016年10月, 对10个饮用水源地水库(K1—K10)展开了水质参数、浮游动物丰度和生物量的季节调查。采用多元逐步回归与通径分析的方法, 研究了浙江水源地水库环境因子与浮游动物群落之间的相互关系和作用过程。结果表明, 2014—2016年水库浮游动物平均密度97.5 ind./L, 主要由桡足类无节幼体(占36.3%)、轮虫(28.4%)和剑水蚤(20.0%)组成。平均生物量289.3 μg/L, 主要由枝角类(占39.3%)、剑水蚤(29.0%)和哲水蚤(14.5%)组成。Chl. a含量是春、夏季水库浮游动物丰度的决策因子, TP含量是秋、冬季群落丰度波动的限制因子, 春季TN通过N﹕P比率影响群落丰度。DO含量是冬季和夏季水库浮游动物生物量发展的决策因子, 冬季DO通过降低N﹕P比促进群落生物量发展。水库浮游动物现存量受到了TP含量消长、N﹕P比率变化, 以及最终反映的水体Chl.a含量共同影响。     

疏浚后杭州西湖浮游动物群落的变化

2003年1-12月调查了疏浚后杭州两湖(小型、浅水、富营养化湖泊)四个采样站(Ⅰ-Ⅳ)浮游动物群落的变化。研究包括优势种组成、密度和生物量,以及浮游动物生物量与水体叶绿素a、有机物耗氧量、总氮和总磷含量之间的相关分析。疏浚后,Ⅲ-Ⅳ站原生动物第一优势种由似铃壳虫(Tintinnopsis sp.)变为筒壳虫(Tintinnidium sp.);Ⅲ-Ⅳ站轮虫第一优势种由暗小异尾轮虫(Trichocerca pusilla)变为针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla);Ⅰ站的长额象鼻溞(Bosmina longirostris)和Ⅲ站的微型裸腹溞(Moina micrura)分别取代了长肢秀体溞(Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum)第一优势种的地位;桡足类中,剑水蚤优势种为粗壮温剑水蚤(Thermocyclops dybowskii),哲水蚤优势种为汤匙华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus dorrii)。疏浚后,西湖浮游动物平均密度增加了80.5%,其中原生动物密度增量贡献57.3%。平均生物量增加了49.7%,其中轮虫生物量增量贡献36.5%。西湖浮游动物生物量与水体叶绿素a、有机物耗氧量和总磷含量之间均呈垃著的正相关关系。不同采样站中,以Ⅳ站环境生态因子与浮游动物生物量之间的相关程度最高,其次为Ⅲ站、Ⅰ站和Ⅱ站,水体环境生态因子对浮游动物的影响程度与其优势利演变的体现相一致。在不同浮游动物类群中,枝角类生物量与水质生态因子之间的相关程度最高,其次为轮虫、桡足类和原生动物。     

滴水湖浮游动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

为研究上海市滴水湖浮游动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系,于2012年1—12月对滴水湖进行了一年调查采样。共检出浮游动物33属61种,其中轮虫22属45种,枝角类4属7种,桡足类7属9种。优势种包括10种轮虫,桡足类为中华窄腹剑水蚤(Limnoithona sinensis)和无节幼体,枝角类不形成优势种。浮游动物年均密度为1200个/L,年均生物量为1.67mg/L,种类数、密度和生物量均为春夏两季相对较高。Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H'和Margalef丰富度指数D年均值分别为1.61和1.01,多样性季节差异显著而各样点间差异不显著。相关性分析和多元回归分析显示,水温是影响滴水湖浮游动物群落结构变化的决定性因子,冗余分析(RDA)显示TN、TP、叶绿素a和p H也是影响浮游动物群落变化的重要因素,表明滴水湖浮游动物群落结构的季节变化与水体营养状况密切相关。综合运用水质理化因子、综合营养状态指数、多样性指数及浮游动物优势种对滴水湖进行水质污染水平和富营养化评价,得出2012年滴水湖水质状况属于α-中污型,营养程度为中富营养水平。     

上海市中心城区河道浮游动物群落结构的周年变化

于2007年11月—2008年10月,对上海市中心城区的午潮港、横港、朝阳河、曹杨环浜等4条河道中浮游动物的群落结构及其相关水环境指标进行了调查。共鉴定浮游动物63种,其中轮虫44种(69%),枝角类13种(21%),桡足类6种(10%),优势种主要为转轮虫(Rotaria rotatoria)、长足轮虫(R.neptunia)、萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)、螺形龟甲轮虫(Keratella cochlearis)、前节晶囊轮虫(Asplanchna priodonta)、长肢多肢轮虫(Pol-yarthra dolichoptera)、大型溞(Daphnia magna)、发头裸腹溞(Moina irrasa)和广布中剑水蚤(Microcyclops leuckarti)。4条河道浮游动物的平均密度变动范围为726～2571ind.L-1;平均生物量为12.04～44.27mg·L-1。相关分析结果显示,浮游动物种群密度、生物量与溶解氧呈显著正相关(P<0.05),水体中的磷酸盐、硝酸盐氮和亚硝酸盐氮对浮游动物的群落结构有一定的影响。对河道中浮游动物群落结构的周年变化进行分...     

象山港浮游动物群落结构时空变化的定量驱动分析

采用浮游生物 I 型网与 II 型网 , 在象山港进行了浮游动物季节性取样, 结合现场监测环境因子, 分析了浮游动物群落结构的时空差异及其环境驱动因子。结果显示: 共得 12 类浮游动物幼体、 75 种浮游动物。象山港浮游动物小型化特征明显 , 平均丰度 3 796.7 ind⋅m–3。周年优势种类是针刺拟哲水蚤 (Paracalanus aculeatus)、强额拟哲水蚤(Paracalanuscrassirostris)、短角长腹剑水蚤 (Oithona brevicornis)和桡足幼体, 其中 , 针刺拟哲水蚤为时空群落贡献最大物种。 ANOSIM 和SIMPER 分析显示, 浮游动物群落的季节性差异显著, 主要判别种类有: 太平洋纺锤水蚤(Acartia pacifica)、长尾基齿哲水蚤(Clausocalanus furcatus)、墨氏胸刺水蚤(Centropages mcmurrichi)、强额拟哲水蚤、伪长腹剑水蚤(Oithona fallax)、瘦尾胸刺水蚤(Centropages tenuiremis)、背针胸刺水蚤(Centropages dorsispinatus)和瓣鳃类幼虫。浮游动物群落空间上也存在显著差异 , 港口区以大个体或适高盐为主 , 港底区以小个体和幼虫为主。空间上主要判别种类是 : 强额拟哲水蚤、太平洋纺锤水蚤、短角长腹剑水蚤、桡足类幼体和瓣鳃类幼虫。基于距离的冗余分析(dbRDA, Distance-based redundancy analysis)显示, 驱动浮游动物群落结构变化的主要因子是水温、盐度和 pH, 3 个变量可解释浮游动物群落结构的 53.0%, 其中 , 水温是驱动季节群落变化的主要因子, 而驱动空间群落变化的主要因子是盐度和 pH。     

浙江饮用水源地浮游动物体积多样性及水质响应

为了解浙江饮用水源地浮游动物体积多样性及对水体综合营养状态（TLIc值）的响应特征,对16个饮用水源地（H1-H8为河网型,K1-K8为水库型）展开了水质参数、浮游动物群落生物体积及其多样性指数的季节调查。结果表明,生物体积密度的季节变化以1月（0.681 mL/L）> 4月（0.443 mL/L）> 10月（0.252 mL/L）> 7月（0.229 mL/L）,各季的第一优势种分别为汤匙华哲水蚤（Sinocalanus dorrii）（1月）、晶囊轮虫（Asplanchna sp.）（4月）、粗壮温剑水蚤（Thermocyclops dybowskii）（7月）和长额象鼻溞（Bosmina longirostris）（10月）。河网浮游动物生物体积以轮虫（44.6%）和枝角类（23.4%）为主,水库则以哲水蚤（39.5%）和轮虫（29.0%）为主。夏秋季浮游动物体积多样性指数（P < 0.01）和物种多样性指数（P < 0.05）与lg（浮游动物/浮游植物生物量比率）[lg（ZB:PB）]之间均有显著的相关性,水库中仅浮游甲壳动物体积多样性指数与lg（ZB:PB）之间有极其紧密的相关性（R2=0.77）。与物种多样性指数响应环境效应相比,甲壳动物的体积多样性指数（P < 0.01）能更好地指示夏秋季河网的TLIc值,这归因于甲壳动物个体数（ind./L）转换成了生物体积密度（mL/L）过程中有效信息的放大。     

亚热带大型水库—新丰江水库的浮游生物群落特征

于2000年丰水期和枯水期,调查了新丰江水库的浮游生物群落结构。新丰江水库处于贫营养状态,浮游生物密度和生物量均较低。浮游植物34种,丰水期以蓝、绿藻为主,分别占总数量的31.7%和26.8%,蓝藻、绿藻细胞微小,chl-a量未占优势;枯水期硅藻为优势种群,占63.9%。浮游动物22种,丰水期轮虫为主,占65.3%,枯水期桡足类占81%,丰水期动物密度较高,但丰水期以轮虫如螺形龟甲轮虫为主,枯水期以无节幼体、桡足幼体及广布中剑水蚤居多,因此枯水期生物量高于丰水期。     

湖南省大通湖浮游动物群落结构及其与环境因子关系

逐月对湖南省大通湖的浮游动物群落结构及环境因子进行了调查,并通过典范对应分析(CCA),探讨浮游动物群落结构与环境因子之间的关系,以期为其渔业可持续利用提供参考。营养盐水平、营养状态指数(TSIM)及浮游动物优势种特征均表明,大通湖水体处于富营养状态。调查共发现浮游动物20属46种,其中原生动物18种、轮虫19种、枝角类4种、桡足类5种;优势种为中华似铃壳虫(Tintinnopsis sinensis)、裂足臂尾轮虫(Brachionus diversicornis)、前节晶囊轮虫(Asplanchna priodonta)、针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla)、长三肢轮虫(Filinia longiseta)、长额象鼻溞(Bosmina longirostris)和英勇剑水蚤(Cyclops strenuus)。浮游动物丰度和生物量年平均值分别为1013±125 ind·L-1和5.12±0.96 mg·L-1,均在10月—次年3月相对较高,4月最低,空间上整体呈现南高北低的分布趋势。多样性指数(H)、丰富度指数(D)和均匀度指数(J)分别为0.31~1.88、0.11~1.39和0.45~0.90。CCA结果表明,水温与总磷是影响大通湖浮游动物群落结构的主要环境因子。推断,鲢、鳙放养与软体动物空间分布特征是影响大通湖浮游动物群落结构的重要生物因素。     

虾稻综合种养系统浮游动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

为探究虾稻综合种养(integrated crayfish-rice co-culture,ICRC)系统浮游动物的群落结构特征及其主要影响因素,对潜江市典型ICRC稻田渔沟和田面水体的浮游动物进行了季度研究,并分析了浮游动物和浮游植物、水体理化因子之间的相关性。结果显示:(1)共采集浮游动物60种,分别包含原生动物、轮虫、枝角类和桡足类12、28、10、10种(属),其中,优势类群为剑水蚤目无节幼体、桡足幼体以及蚤状溞(Daphnia pulex);Shannon-Wiener指数、Margalef指数和Pielou指数的年均值分别为1. 48、3. 42和0. 55;(2)浮游动物密度和生物量的变化范围分别为7. 65～1309. 50 ind./L、0. 08～50. 04 mg/L,年均值分别为360. 0 ind./L、17. 45 mg/L,桡足类和枝角类在密度和生物量上均占有绝对优势;(3)浮游动物物种数、多样性指数(田面除外)、密度和生物量均表现出明显的季节差异,其中密度和生物量在春季显著最高,相关性分析表明浮游动物物种数和资源量主要受总磷、浮游植物密度与生物量的影响;(4)浮游动物的物种数、多样性、密度和生物量在渔沟和田面两种生境间无明显差异。本研究表明ICRC系统中有丰富的大型浮游动物资源未得到利用,同时鉴于浮游动物可作为小龙虾早期生活史阶段的食物来源,需进一步研究秋冬季浮游动物变化,以及如何培育和合理利用此阶段的浮游动物以促进幼虾生长、提高存活率。     

枯水季节赣江近岸水洼与浅滩中浮游动物的群落差异

为探究水洼与邻近浅滩中浮游动物群落是否存在差异, 于2015年1月22日和3月1日, 选择赣江南昌段的3个水洼和邻近浅滩采集浮游动物, 对浮游动物的物种组成、密度、生物量、多样性指数和群落结构进行比较研究。通过单因子方差分析(One-way ANOVA)检验水洼与浅滩中水环境因子及浮游动物密度和生物量的差异。使用非度量多维尺度分析(Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling, NMDS)和群落相似性分析(Analysis of similarity, ANOSIM)对暂时性水洼及邻近浅滩的浮游动物群落进行排序。1月和3月共发现浮游动物44种, 轮虫有30种, 占总捕获数的68%。枝角类和桡足类各有7种, 分别占总捕获数的16%。相对重要性指数(Index of relative importance, IRI)大于1000的优势物种有5种, 分别为汤匙华哲水蚤Sinocalanus dorrii、长肢多肢轮虫Polyarthra dolichoptera、桡足类无节幼体Copepod nauplii、角突臂尾轮虫Brachionus angularis和长圆疣毛轮虫Synchaeta oblonga。单因子方差分析表明, 1月份水洼的水深、电导率和总氮含量显著高于浅滩(P<0.05), 浅滩的水温、pH、溶解氧、浊度和总磷含量略高于水洼。3月份水洼的水深、pH和总氮含量略高于浅滩, 浅滩的溶解氧、浊度和总磷含量较水洼高, 水温和电导率在2种水体中非常接近。1月份水洼中浮游动物的密度(7.90 ind./L)和生物量(7.78 μg/L)均低于浅滩(9.34 ind./L, 19.03 μg/L), 3月份水洼中浮游动物的密度(24.27 ind./L)和生物量(332.14 μg/L)均高于浅滩(22.86 ind./L, 146.10 μg/L)。浅滩中浮游动物的多样性指数(H′)、均匀度指数(J)和物种丰富度指数(D)均大于水洼。非度量多维尺度分析和群落相似性分析表明, 仅1月份水洼与浅滩的浮游动物群落结构具有边缘显著差异(P=0.067), 可大致划分为2个: 水洼群落和浅滩群落。3月份由于水位上涨, 研究的水洼与赣江河道处于连通或半连通状态, 2种生境中浮游动物群落结构无显著差异(P=0.313)。斯皮尔曼相关分析(Spearman correlation coefficient)发现水深和溶解氧是导致水洼和浅滩中浮游动物密度差异的主要环境因子。2种生境中浮游动物的密度与pH、电导率、总氮和总磷均具有显著相关性(P<0.05)。     

Spatial distribution and secondary production of Copepoda in a tropical reservoir: Barra Bonita, SP, Brazil.

The present paper aims to describe the spatial distribution of zooplankton copepods, their biomass and instantaneous secondary production, in Barra Bonita, a large eutrophic, polymitic reservoir (22 degrees 29' S and 48 degrees 34' W) on the Tietê River, of the Paraná basin. Sampling was carried out during two seasons: dry winter and rainy summer. Species composition, age structure and numerical density of each copepod species population were analyzed at 25 sampling stations. Secondary production was calculated for Copepoda, the dominant group in zooplankton communities, taking Calanoida and Cyclopoida separately. Copepoda represented the largest portion of the total zooplankton biomass, the dominant species being Notodiaptomus iheringi among the Calanoida and Mesocyclops ogunnus and Thermocyclops decipiens among the Cyclopoida. The production of Copepoda was higher during the rainy summer (23.61 mgDW.m(-3).d(-1) in January 1995) than during the dry winter season (14 mgDW.m(-3).d(-1) in August 1995), following the general pattern of abundance for the whole zooplankton community. Among the copepods, Cyclopoida production was higher than that of Calanoida, a pattern commonly observed for tropical lakes and reservoirs. Barra Bonita copepods are very productive, but there was a great degree of spatial heterogeneity, related to the physical and chemical conditions, particularly the level of nutrients and also to phytoplankton biomass.     

Copepod communities in karstic mediterranean lakes along the eastern Adriatic coast

The copepod communities of karstic lakes along the eastern Adriatic coast were studied. Lakes were divided in several groups according to their morphology (deep, shallow, barrage and reservoirs), production (oligotrophic, mesotophic and eutrophic), and salinity of water: freshwater and brackish. Copidodiaptomus steueri, Eucyclops serrulatusand Macrocyclops albidus belong to the group that inhabited most of the lakes under the study, regardless of lake type. The shallow karstic lakes are usually inhabited by Thermocyclops dybowskii, T. oithonoides, Cyclops vicinus and Eudiaptomus padanus etruscus in freshwater biotopes, and Calanipedia aquaedulcis and Copidodiaptomus steueri in brackish biotopes. The last two species can also be found in deep karstic lakes with brackish water (Bacina lakes in the Neretva River delta). Species like Cyclops abyssorumcan be found in most deep freshwater lakes. Some Calanoida were recorded in only one lake, like Eudiaptomus transsylvanicusin the deep Lake Vrana on the island of Cres, or Eudiaptomus hadzici in the barrage Lake Visovac. Production of the lakes, expressed as copepod biomass, depends on lake trophy, and in some lakes also on hydrology and salinity. Most of the meso-eutrophic lakes in the study area had Calanoida dominating, while Cyclopoida dominated in some oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes as well.     

富营养化对小型湖泊浮游甲壳动物群落结构及多样性的影响

2017年3月到2018年2月研究了临涣湖浮游甲壳动物群落结构的季节变化。临涣湖共记录浮游甲壳动物13种,其中枝角类8属8种,桡足类5属5种。短尾秀体溞(Diaphanosoma brachyurum)、广布中剑水蚤(Mesocyclops leuckarti)和象鼻溞(Bosmina sp.)等小型富营养种类是温暖季节的优势种,而近邻剑水蚤(Cyclops vicinus)是冬季的优势种。盔形溞(Daphnia galeata)等大型种类仅在少数月份中被观察到。临涣湖浮游甲壳动物的年平均密度和生物量分别为28.3个/L和0.33 mg/L。营养状态指数(TSI_M)的年平均值为62.6。浮游甲壳动物的Shannon指数、Pielou指数和Simpson指数的年平均值分别为0.86、0.74和0.49,且3种多样性指数均具有显著的季节差异。营养盐水平、营养状态指数和物种多样性指数均表明,临涣湖水体处于富营养化状态。冗余分析结果表明,水温、总磷浓度和叶绿素a浓度是影响临涣湖浮游甲壳动物群落结构变化的上行效应因子。鲢、鳙鱼的捕食压力是临涣湖浮游甲壳动物群落结构小型化的下行效应因子。     

The use of the Shannon-Wiener diversity index to delineate the horizontal distribution of crustacean zooplankton communities in Lake Superior, 1973

The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was calculated for the total zooplankton community found in Lake Superior in 1973, as well as for its components (ie. Calanoida, Cyclopoida, Cladocera and nauplii). These values were then subjected to a model to develop statistically homogeneous zones, and to determine the temporal and spatial variability of the diversity values. A region roughly following the loo meter depth profile and having an average yearly temperature of 9.8°C was found to exist along the south and southwestern shores of Lake Superior. In this region significantly (P 0.10) higher diversity indices were found.     

Experimental study of trophic cascade effect of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrixon) in a subtropical lake, Lake Donghu: on plankton community and underlying mechanisms of changes of crustacean community

An enclosure experiment was carried out to test trophic cascade effect of filter-feeding fish on the ecosystem: growth of crustacean zooplankton, and possible mechanism of changes of crustacean community structure. Four fish biomass levels were set as follows: 0, 116, 176 and 316 g m^-2, and lake water (containing ca. 190 g m^-2 of filter-feeding fishes) was comparatively monitored. Nutrient levels were high in all treatments during the experiment. Lowest algal biomass were measured in fishless treatment. Algal biomass decreased during days 21–56 as a function of fish biomass in treatments of low (LF), medium (MF) and high (HF) fish biomass. Crustaceans biomass decreased with increasing fish biomass. Small-bodied cladocerans, Moina micrura, Diaphanosoma brachyurum and Scapholeberis kingii survived when fish biomass was high whilst, large-bodied cladocerans Daphnia spp. and the cyclopoids Theromcyclops taihokuensis, T. brevifuratus, Mescyclops notius and Cyclops vicinus were abundant only in NF enclosures. Evasive calanoid Sinodiaptomus sarsi was significantly enhanced in LF, but decreased significantly with further increase of fish biomass. Demographic data indicated that M. micrura was well developed in all treatments. Our study indicates that algal biomass might be controlled by silver carp biomass in eutrophic environment. Changes of crustacean community are probably affected by the age of the first generation of species. Species with short generation time were dominant and species with long generation time survived less with high fish biomass. Evasive calanoids hardly developed in treatments with high fish biomass because of the (bottle neck) effect of nauplii. Species abundance were positively related to fish predation avoidance. Other than direct predation, zooplankton might also be suppressed by filter-feeding fish via competition.     

三座南亚热带大型水库敞水区桡足类群落结构比较

于2000-2002年对南亚热带三座大型水库:新丰江水库、公平水库和飞来峡水库敞水区桡足类进行了定性定量采样.三座水库桡足类种类数较少,共检出桡足类4科10属14种,其中8种哲水蚤,5种剑水蚤和1种猛水蚤.主要分布在广东省水库的我国特有种舌状叶镖水蚤(Phyllodiaptomus tunguidus)和广布性种类右突新镖水蚤(Neodiaptomus schmackeri)是出现频率较高的哲水蚤种类,温中剑水蚤(Mesocyclops thermocyclopoides)、台湾温剑水蚤(Thermocyclops taihokuensis)和博平近剑水蚤(Tropocycl opsbopingi)是出现频率较高的剑水蚤种类.水库的流域面积、滞留时间、鱼类捕食和营养状态是影响水库桡足类种类组成和数量的重要因素.三座水库桡足类种类数与水库流域面积大小存在正相关关系.随着水库营养水平的升高,桡足类密度和生物量也相应增加,但是大型哲水蚤的优势度降低,而剑水蚤和桡足类幼体的优势度上升.水力滞留时间很短是引起飞来峡水库桡足类种群波动的主要因素.水库捕食性鱼类对甲壳浮游动物的选择性捕食,对桡足类种类影响较小,对桡足类成体密度影响较大.由于地区差异和鱼类捕食强度等因素的影响,桡足类种类多样性与水体营养状态之间存在不确定性.     

Relationship between trophic state and plankton community structure in 21 Sicilian dam reservoirs

The relationship between the trophic state of 21 Sicilian dam reservoirs and their taxonomic community structure of phytoplankton (87 taxa) as well as zooplankton (45 taxa) have been examined by means of cluster analysis performed using annual average biomass values. The phytoplankton community structure was closely connected with the trophic state of the reservoirs, whereas the zooplankton community structure was related to hydrological regimes peculiar to the individual water bodies and not to the trophic state.     

The importance of zooplankton in the diets of three native fish species in floodplain waterholes of a dryland river,the Macintyre River,Australia

The zooplankton of freshwater systems has been recognized as an important energy resource for fish of small body size that, in turn, provide energy to piscivorous fish consumers higher up the food web. This study evaluates the importance of zooplankton to the diets of three species of fish living in floodplain waterholes of an Australian dryland river. The species selected for study represent different trophic categories in waterhole food webs: Ambassis agassizii is a microcarnivore, Leiopotherapon unicolor is an omnivore, and Nematalosa erebi is a detritivore. Dietary differences among size classes of each species were also evaluated to understand possible ontogenetic shifts in zooplankton consumption. Ambassis agassizii fed primarily on zooplankton (99.9%, made up mostly of 81.6% Calanoida and 17.4% Moinidae), regardless of the size of individual fish. Leiopotherapon unicolor fed on zooplankton (47%, mostly Daphniidae and Moinidae) and aquatic insects (46.7%). Smaller individuals of Leiopotherapon unicolor (30–49 mm TL—total length) were responsible for 36.1% of the plankton consumed by the species. Nematalosa erebi fed on detritus (84.6%) with zooplankton (Calanoida, Moinidae, and Cyclopoida) contributing only 13.7% of the mean diet. Smaller individuals (40–69 mm TL) were responsible for 98% of the plankton consumed by Nematalosa erebi, and individuals of 40–49 mm (TL) fed exclusively on zooplankton (53.8% Moinidae and 46.2% Calanoida). Although the three fish species had different diets, reflecting differences in species-specific and ontogenetic morphological and behavioral characteristics, zooplankton formed the basis of the diet of all species when young. These results confirm the importance of zooplankton as a major food resource for three fish species and smaller size classes of these species in floodplain waterholes of the Macintyre River, Australia. Guest editors: U. M. Azeiteiro, I. Jenkinson & M. J. Pereira Plankton Studies