Importance of water-level fluctuation on population dynamics of cladocerans in a hypertrophic reservoir (Lake Arancio,south-west Sicily,Italy)

During a period of three years (1990–1991 and 1993),we studied the population dynamics of planktoniccladocerans in a hypertrophic reservoir. Weeklysampling revealed that the five most common speciesfollowed a trend which reflects the peculiarhydrological characteristics of the reservoir andtheir key position in the pelagic food web. Inparticular, 1991 was characterized by a strong waterinflow which probably interfered with the reproductiveactivities of the dominant fish population (Rutilus rubilio) and reduced the concentration ofinedible planktonic algae allowing the development ofsmall Chlorococcales. This event was associated withhigher population densities of Daphnia hyalinacompared to the other years of the survey. In spring1991, an extended clear-water phase was observed andSecchi disk depth increased to 6 m, whereas in theother years it did not surpass 1 m. In addition, theD. hyalina population persisted throughout thesummer in 1991, whereas it started to decline at theend of June in the other years. This development ofD. hyalina probably influenced the populationdynamics of the other cladoceran species in thereservoir, and in particular reduced the summer growthof Diaphanosoma lacustris and delayed theoccurrence of Bosmina longirostris. Stomachanalysis indicated that D. hyalina is thepreferred food item of juvenile (less than two monthsold) R. rubilio. Overall, the hydrology of thereservoir was observed to interact with the trophicprocesses in the pelagic environment of the ecosystemin at least two different ways: via bottom-upprocesses, influencing phytoplankton dynamics, and viatop-down processes, regulating the predationefficiency of the planktivores.