Impact of selective predation by Mesocyclops pehpeiensis on a zooplankton community: experimental analysis using mesocosms |
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Authors: | Kwang-Hyeon Chang Takayuki Hanazato |
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Institution: | (1) Research and Education Center for Inland Water Environment, Shinshu University, 5-2-4 Kogandori, Suwa 392-0027, Japan;(2) Present address: Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, 3-5-7 Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan |
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Abstract: | Predation by cyclopoid copepods is an important factor affecting zooplankton communities in freshwater habitats. Experiments provide strong evidence of the role of selective predation by cyclopoid copepods in structuring zooplankton communities. To assess the predation impact of a cyclopoid copepod, Mesocyclops pehpeiensis, we conducted a mesocosm experiment using 20-l polyethylene tanks in which the density of the predator and the food available to herbivorous zooplankton varied. M. pehpeiensis had a notable but selective effect on the zooplankton community. The population of a small cladoceran, Bosmina fatalis was affected negatively, but M. pehpeiensis did not have any apparent impact on the population dynamics of another Bosmina species, B. longirostris. On the other hand, the population of small rotifers responded positively to the presence of M. pehpeiensis, and their densities increased in mesocosms with a high density of M. pehpeiensis. It seems that suppression of B. fatalis by M. pehpeiensis predation indirectly affected rotifers by releasing them from competition with B. fatalis. The results suggest that copepod predation is a powerful factor regulating zooplankton communities directly and indirectly. |
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Keywords: | Invertebrate predation Selective predation Mesocyclops Bosmina Rotifers |
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