Seasonal changes in the invertebrate community of small shallow ephemeral pans at Bain's Vlei, South Africa

Changes in invertebrate population numbers and composition were monitored in six small shallow ephemeral pans during four consecutive inundations of spring, summer and autumn 1988/1989. The community was generally characterized by crustaceans and was invaded by insect larvae in summer. Community changes and succession were prominent in spring but less so in summer and autumn. Large pans supported more species than small pans. During longer inundation there was less difference between the initial and the final population composition than during shorter inundation, although the total population density did not increase significantly. This indicated that population composition stabilized as inundation lengthened. Population changes of six representative taxa were not correlated to changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the water.