Field Investigations and Model Simulation of the Dynamics of Zooplankton Populations in Fresh Waters

The main parameters characterizing the dynamics of a population were determined by field investigations at the Saidenbach reservoir and by means of an ecological model. The results obtained by both methods involving totally different procedures were in good agreement. The gross growth rates obtained by both methods ranged up to 0.14 d^−1, and the net growth rates vary between 0.1 d⁻¹ and 0.2 d⁻¹. Field investigations revealed zooplankton mortality rates during summer of about 0.1 compared with 0.08 d⁻¹ for the model. Comparison of the two methods shows how practical investigations may be improved and gives a better insight into the dynamics of zooplankton populations in waters.