常德柳叶湖及其连通水体浮游甲壳动物群落结构与水环境特征

为研究连通水体中浮游甲壳动物的群落结构,于2018年6月至2019年3月,对常德市柳叶湖、穿紫河和沅江常德市区河段组成的连通水体浮游甲壳动物和理化环境进行每季度一次的采样调查.共发现浮游甲壳动物27种,其中桡足类10种,枝角类17种.连通水体浮游甲壳动物丰度变化范围为1-132 ind./L,沅江常德市区河段浮游甲壳动物年平均丰度显著低于柳叶湖(P <0.01)和穿紫河(P <0.05),柳叶湖和穿紫河丰度均呈现夏秋季高于春冬季的现象.多刺裸腹溞(Moina macrocopa)和模糊秀体溞(Diaphanosoma dubium)在夏秋季为主要优势种;简弧象鼻溞(Bosmina coregoni)、近邻剑水蚤(Cyclops vicinus)和汤匙华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus dorrii)在冬春季为主要优势种.群落结构相似性分析(ANOSIM)表明,不同季节之间浮游甲壳动物群落结构差异显著,尤以夏季与春季差异性最大,优势种丰度差异是造成不同季节间群落结构差异的主要原因.线性回归分析表明:浮游甲壳动物丰度与叶绿素a浓度呈极显著正相关(P <0.01).浮游甲壳动物群落结构与环境因子的典范对应分析(CCA)表明,影响柳叶湖及其连通水体浮游甲壳动物群落结构的主要环境因子为水温(WT)、透明度(SD)和高锰酸钾指数(CODMn).综合浮游甲壳动物群落结构和水环境特征,发现沅江常德市区河段水质较好,柳叶湖其次,穿紫河水质较差,因此城市水生态的保护和管理应进一步加强.(图5表5参42)     

长江口南北支浮游动物群落生态学研究

长江口特殊的生态环境使得浮游动物的种类组成、密度和时空分布等生态特征有别于其它水体。2005年秋季(丰水期)和2006年春季(枯水期)对长江口南北支浮游动物进行了2个航次的调查,沿南北支由西向东设立3个采样断面共20个采样点。共采集到浮游动物227种,其中轮虫65种,原生动物107种,枝角类15种,桡足类40种。优势种包括龟甲轮虫(Keratella)、刺簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla)、萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)、砂壳虫(Difflugia)、表壳虫(Arcella)、砂壳纤毛虫(Tintinnid)、中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)、汤匙华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus dorrii)、广布中剑水蚤(Mesocyclops leuckarti)、象鼻溞(Bosmina)等。文章对南北两支浮游动物的种类组成和结构进行了比较,南支浮游动物的种类、数量及生物多样都高于北支,南北两支的浮游动物群落相似度很低。南北两支水域环境的不同造成其浮游动物群落结构的较大差异,文章分析了环境因子与浮游动物群落结构的相关性,其中水温是重要的影响因素,水温的季节性决定...     

深圳湾浮游动物的群落结构及季节变化

2008年2月、5月、8月和11月分别对深圳湾浮游动物进行了周年的季节调查,结果共检出浮游动物38种和浮游幼体13类,其中原生动物2种,腔肠动物4种,介形类1种,桡足类22种,软甲类3种,毛颚类3种,被囊类1种,多毛类2种,浮游幼体（包括仔鱼）13类。年均丰度和生物量分别为406.7 ind.m-3和764.0 mg.m-3,高峰均位于夏季,低谷分别位于冬、春季。种类数（包括浮游幼虫）秋季最多为43种,夏季次之为30种,冬季最少仅23种。主要优势种为太平洋纺锤水蚤Acartia pacifica、刺尾纺锤水蚤Acartia spinicauda、短角长腹剑水蚤Oithona brevicornis、双生水母Diphyes chamissonis、卡玛拉水母Malagazzia carolinae、蔓足类幼体和桡足幼体等。多样性指数和均匀度年均值分别为2.568和0.526。回归分析表明浮游动物丰度和生物量与各环境因子之间存在明显的相关性,但有季节变化。     

长江口南北支浮游动物群落生态学研究

长江口特殊的生态环境使得浮游动物的种类组成、密度和时空分布等生态特征有别于其它水体。2005年秋季（丰水期）和2006年春季（枯水期）对长江口南北支浮游动物进行了2个航次的调查,沿南北支由西向东设立3个采样断面共20个采样点。共采集到浮游动物227种,其中轮虫65种,原生动物107种,枝角类15种,桡足类40种。优势种包括龟甲轮虫（Keratella）、刺簇多肢轮虫（Polyarthra trigla）、萼花臂尾轮虫（Brachionus calyciflorus）、砂壳虫（Difflugia）、表壳虫（Arcella）、砂壳纤毛虫（Tintinnid）、中华哲水蚤（Calanus sinicus）、汤匙华哲水蚤（Sinocalanus dorrii）、广布中剑水蚤（Mesocyclops leuckarti）、象鼻溞（Bosmina）等。文章对南北两支浮游动物的种类组成和结构进行了比较,南支浮游动物的种类、数量及生物多样都高于北支,南北两支的浮游动物群落相似度很低。南北两支水域环境的不同造成其浮游动物群落结构的较大差异,文章分析了环境因子与浮游动物群落结构的相关性,其中水温是重要的影响因素,水温的季节性决定了浮游动物在时间分布上的变化。盐度对浮游动物群落结构的影响主要决定了其物种生态类型及空间分布。从整体上看,南北支主要受长江径流控制,浮游动物的种类组成以淡水种为主,咸水种在断面3出现较多。     

东平湖秋季浮游生物群落特征及其与环境因子的关系

作为黄河下游仅存天然湖泊以及南水北调东线工程重要枢纽,东平湖生态环境安全对黄河流域生态环境保护与中国北方供水安全起到重要作用.为明确东平湖秋季浮游生物群落结构特征及环境驱动因子,于2021年9月对全湖28个采样点进行水样采集与检测,并采用综合营养状态指数法、生态多样性指数法、相关性分析法以及冗余分析法等多种分析方法进行了分析研究.此次研究共检出浮游植物8门73种（属）,浮游甲壳动物2门10种（属）,其中浮游植物主要以绿藻、蓝藻和硅藻为主,浮游甲壳动物主要以桡足类和枝角类为主.浮游植物中,蓝藻门的伪鱼腥藻（Pseudoanabaena spp.）优势度最大（Y=0.205）,浮游甲壳动物中则以剑水蚤（Cyclops）优势度最高（Y=0.305）.东平湖秋季浮游植物生物密度空间分布与综合营养状态指数（TLI）具有较强相关性,高值均分布于湖区东部与东北岸,而湖区中、西部较低.浮游植物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数以及Margalef丰富度指数分别为3.70、0.75与1.29,其生态多样性污染评价结果分别为清洁水平、轻污染水平与中污染水平.冗余分析结果表明,T...     

茂名近岸海域中、小型浮游动物群落特征及其与环境因子的关系

近年来,随着茂名经济迅猛发展及涉海工程建设,其近海海域遭到日益严重的污染,海域环境日趋恶化。为更好地了解茂名近岸海域中小型浮游动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系,摸清中小型浮游动物的种类组成及其空间分布状况,保护近岸海域生物多样性,分别于2019年夏季(6月)和秋季(9月)对茂名近海浮游动物进行调查。调查共发现浮游动物52种,以桡足类为主(达到40种,占比76.92%)。秋季浮游动物平均丰度和平均生物量(分别为29.82 ind·m^-3和282.08 mg·m^-3)均高于夏季(分别为15.71×10³ ind·m^-3和110.23 mg·m^-3)。短角长腹剑水蚤(Oithona brevicornis)、小长腹剑水蚤(Oithona nana)、强额拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus crassirostris)和小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)为茂名近岸海域春、夏季优势种。夏季和秋季浮游植物物种多样性指数平均值分别为3.06和2.69,丰富度指数平均值分别为3.65和3.38,均匀度指数平均值分别为0.71和0.66。运用BIO-ENV方法分析了浮游动物群落结构以及与浮游植物丰度、环境因子之间的关系,结果表明浮游植物丰度、溶解氧、盐度、水温、水深是影响夏季浮游动物群落的主要环境因子,水深、浮游植物丰度是影响秋季浮游动物群落的主要环境因子。     

黄浦江浮游动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

为探究上海黄浦江枯水期和丰水期浮游动物群落结构及其对环境的指示作用,于2013年11月和2014年7月分别对黄浦江11个断面(82个采样点)进行了调查分析。共鉴定出浮游动物109种,其中原生动物35种(占总种类数的32%),轮虫33种(30%),枝角类18种(17%),桡足类23种(21%)。浮游动物丰度变化范围为1 671.8~70 428.4 ind.·L~(-1),生物量变化范围为0.26~14.97 mg·L~(-1)。丰水期浮游动物的丰度及生物量约为枯水期的2倍。聚类分析显示,枯水期与丰水期各个站点的浮游动物群落结构相似性不一致,枯水期可分为5个类群,丰水期为3个类群。相关性分析表明,原生动物密度与氨氮呈显著负相关;轮虫密度与总磷呈显著正相关,与叶绿素呈极显著正相关;枝角类密度与叶绿素呈极显著正相关,与氨氮呈显著正相关;桡足类密度与叶绿素和水温均呈极显著正相关。由此表明,黄浦江浮游动物的群落结构与水温、叶绿素以及水体的营养状况关系密切。淡水麻铃虫(Leprotintinnus fluviatile)、淡水筒壳虫(Tintinnidium fluviatile)、广布多肢轮虫(Polyarthra vulgaris)、脆弱象鼻溞(Bosmina fatalis)、微型裸腹溞(Moina micrura)、桡足幼体(Copepodid)、无节幼体(Nauplii)、台湾温剑水蚤(Thermocyclops taihokuensis)和球状许水蚤(Schmackeria forbesi)等9个种的存在与否以及是否成为水体的优势种可以作为评定黄浦江等河流水体富营养化水平高低及污染程度轻重的指示物种。该研究可为后期对黄浦江的生态监测及水域生态修复提供理论基础,同时可为未来黄浦江水环境质量、水生态现状及其演变趋势的评价提供参考依据。     

利用室内微宇宙系统研究三唑酮对淡水浮游动物群落的影响

三唑酮广泛用于水稻田,常在水环境中残留。为研究三唑酮在环境暴露下的生态风险,通过室内标准微宇宙试验系统检验三唑酮对浮游动物的效应。结果表明,在试验初期,三唑酮对部分浮游动物种群表现出抑制作用:对枝角类生物有明显的抑制作用,对桡足类则展现出轻微的抑制作用。8种生物及桡足类无节幼虫对三唑酮的敏感性依次为:盘肠溞平突船卵溞隆线溞萼花臂尾轮虫低额溞≥锯缘真剑水蚤≥无节幼虫≥单趾轮虫≥中华薄壳介。在整个试验周期内,三唑酮对浮游动物群落的最大无作用剂量(NOEC_(community))2 078.88μg·L~(-1)。在水稻种植季节,三唑酮在沟渠水最大残留浓度为12.00μg·L~(-1),低于本研究中三唑酮的NOEC_(community)。由此可以推测,三唑酮对浮游动物群落的风险很小。     

高州水库水质与浮游生物动态分析

为评价分析流域治理对水质的影响，于2000年丰水期和枯水期调查了高州水库（石骨库区）营养状态及浮游生物分布，并与历史资料进行比较分析。从2000年的数据来看，水库营养水平属于寡中营养型；丰水期的营养水平，浮游植物丰度及Chl a含量均高于枯水期，丰水期以蓝藻，绿藻和硅藻为主要优势种，而枯水期主要为蓝藻，浮游动物丰度枯水期远高于丰水期，以桡足类的广布中剑水蚤（Mesocyclops leuckarti)，无节幼体，桡足幼体以及枝角类的角突网纹Sao(Ceriodaphnia cornuta)和长额象鼻Sao(Bosmina logirostris)为主，与1988年的数据相比，总磷含量大幅度下降（0.021-0.006mgL^-1)，尽管总氮含量呈上升趋势（0.405-0.820mgL^-1)，但总的营养水平有所下降，浮游生物种类与丰度发生了较大变化。浮游植物种类组成由蓝藻占绝对优势演变为以蓝藻，绿藻和硅藻为主要优势种，浮游动物则由桡足类和枝角类取代原生动物和轮虫，成为主要的优势种群。浮游植物和浮游动物丰度均大幅度下降，说明经过近十年的流域治理，水库水质得到一定的改善。图3表4参19     

滆湖后生浮游动物群落结构研究

为了解滆湖浮游动物群落现状,于2009年5月至2010年3月对滆湖后生浮游动物群落结构特征和物种多样性进行调查.结果显示,滆湖后生浮游动物为100种,轮虫25属52种,枝角类12属21种,桡足类14属27种.后生浮游动物优势种主要有萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)、角突臂尾轮虫(Brachionus angularis)、针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla)、桡足幼体(copepodid)和长额象鼻潘(Bosmina longirostris).后生浮游动物年均密度为1572 L-1,轮虫数量占后生浮游动物总数的98.7％,后生浮游动物密度以春季为最大.后生浮游动物年均生物量为2.34 mg·L-1,生物量以夏季为最大,枝角类生物量与桡足类密度间呈极显著正相关(r=0.516,P＜0.01),轮虫生物量与桡足类生物量间呈显著负相关(r=-0.517,P＜0.05).滆湖后生浮游动物的密度和生物量随季节变化明显,各季节密度由大到小依次为春季、夏季、秋季和冬季,生物量由大到小依次为夏季、春季、秋季和冬季;后生浮游动物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数值表明滆湖水体处于轻-中污染状态.     

Epipelagic mesozooplankton succession and community structure over a marine ouffall area in the northeastern South China Sea

This study analyses distribution and abundance patterns of mesozooplankton communities at 13 stations in the coastal waters over a marine outfall area in the northeastern South China Sea. Cruises were conducted in March, June and September 2002, and plankton samples were collected with a 333 microm North Pacific net. The Mesozooplankton was dominated by calanoid Copepods, Cladocera, Chaetognatha and Pteropoda. Stations located near the entrance of the harbor provided a relatively higher abundance of Noctilucales and Radiolarians. In total, 20 zooplankton groups were identified in which, Calanoida, Cladocera, Chaetognatha, Pteropoda, Poecilostomatoida and Appendicularia comprised 92.77% of the total zooplankton abundance. Copepoda dominated in all three cruises, comprising 65.32% of the total mesozooplankton abundance. Samples collected in June recorded higher mesozooplankton abundance than March and September samples. Onshore stations recorded higher BOD values, higher abundance of Noctilucales and Radiolarians and a relativelylower abundance of the overall mesozooplankton. Total mesozooplankton abundance did not correlate significantly with temperature, pH, or dissolved oxygen, but correlated negatively with BOD.     

Population dynamics and production of the planktonic copepods in a eutrophic inlet of the Inland Sea of Japan. III.Paracalanus sp.

Population dynamics and production of the calanoid copepodParacalanus sp. were studied from November 1986 to November 1987 in Fukuyama Harbor, a eutrophic inlet of the Inland Sea of Japan. This species was perennial, with a large abundance peak in June/July and small peaks in September/October and November/December. During a year of investigation, 15 generations Gould be detected. For each generation, the mean population egg production rate and the mean daily midstage abundance front NIII to CV were determined to obtain a survival curve from egg to CV. The mortality was extremely high during the early life stages: on average only 7.1% of the eggs produced might survive into NIII. This high mortality might be caused by predation by sympatric omnivorous copepods, in addition to sinking loss of eggs from the waten column. The biomass ofParacalanus sp. showed marked seasonal variations largely in parallel with numerical abundance. The instantaneous growth rate of each developmental stage increased exponentially with temperature up to 20 °C, above which the rate was constant. The annual integrated production rate was 734 mg C m^–3 yr^–1 or 5.5 g C m^–2 yr^–1.     

Winter food utilisation by sympatric mysids in the Baltic Sea,studied by combined gut content and stable isotope analyses

We studied the winter dietary characteristics of two sympatric mysid species, Mysis mixta and M. relicta, which exploit both benthic and pelagic habitats during diel vertical migrations. Samples collected before and after the ice-covered period in the northern Baltic Sea were investigated using both stomach content analyses and stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen. Both of the mysid species were omnivorous during winter and utilised both benthic and pelagic food sources. The main food source before the ice period was calanoid copepods (40 and 36% for M. mixta and M. relicta, respectively), and after ice-out calanoid copepods (23%) and zooplankton resting eggs (23%) for M. mixta and diatoms (44%) and calanoids (25%) for M. relicta. Their patterns of food utilisation broadly followed seasonal fluctuations in the abundance of the main prey groups. Although pelagic food availability is low in winter both mysid species utilised pelagic prey widely. We also show that when combining these different diet analysis methods it is important to take into account the time lag in isotopic signatures, otherwise the obtained results do not correspond but instead show the feeding history at different times.     

Spatio-temporal changes in diversity and community structure of planktonic copepods in Sagami Bay, Japan

Seasonal changes in diversity and community structure of planktonic copepods at a shelf site in Sagami Bay, Japan was studied in relation to cross-shelf interaction of species components. Seasonal mesozooplankton samples were collected from the shelf station (St. M) of the north-west part of Sagami Bay from 1995 to 1997. Vertical multi-layered samples were collected near the center of Sagami Bay (St. P) in June 1996. A total 185 copepod species were identified from the two stations. We observed a clear seasonal succession in calanoid diversity and community structure at St. M from a simple shelf water community (>11 species) during spring blooming periods to highly diverse and mixed communities (ca 20–30 species) of shelf water species coupled with various Kuroshio Current species during late summer to autumn. Cluster and non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination analyses showed two distinct calanoid community groups. One group, which included samples of St. M and the surface layer of St. P, consisted of shelf water species, such as Calanus sinicus, Ctenocalanus vanus, Paracalanus spp., and Kuroshio species, such as, Canthocalanus pauper, Scolecithrix danae, etc. The other cluster was restricted to the samples collected from mid and deep layers at St. P, which consisted of meso- and bathypelagic species and Oyashio species (cold-current species, such as Neocalanus cristatus, Pseudocalanus spp., Eucalanus bungii and Metridia pacifica). In the mid and deep layers at St. P, the population of dormant copepodid stage V (CV) of Eucalanus californicus and C. sinicus were dominant. The deep CV population of C. sinicus might be ecologically discriminated from the surface and shelf water population due to their larger body length and dormant life cycle. E. californicus was also collected at the shelf site during each spring bloom period, whereas the population might descend into the mid- and deep-layers of the central bay before summer. Our results suggest that the seasonal fluctuation of community structure in the shelf water was controlled by both physical (Kuroshio Current) and biological factors, i.e., spring bloom and ontogenetic vertical migration of E. californicus. In particular, transport and diffusion processes of Kuroshio Current in Sagami Bay played a key role in controlling the shelf water calanoid community.     

Population dynamics and production of the planktonic copepods in a eutrophic inlet of the Inland Sea of Japan. II. Acartia omorii

Population dynamics and production of the calanoid copepod Acartia omorii Bradford were studied from November 1986 to November 1987 in Fukuyama Harbor, a eutrophic inlet of the Inland Sea of Japan. This species was present in the plankton from October to July (temperature range: 8.9 to 24.3°C), with peaks in February-March and June. During this period, nine generations could be detected, for which the mean population egg production rate and midstage abundance of each life stage older than naupliar Stage (N) II were determined to trace survival. The population suffered extremely high mortality during the early life stages: on average only 2.5% of the eggs produced recruited into NII. This large loss is probably concentrated within the egg stage, due to predation, including cannibalism, by omnivorous copepods, in addition to sinking loss of eggs in the water column. However, the mortality from NII to copepodite Stage (C) V was negligible, indicating low predation pressure by large carnivores. The biomass of A. omorii showed marked seasonal variations in parallel with numerical abundance. The instantaneous growth rate of each stage increased exponentially with increasing temperature. The integrated production rate of A. omorii from 7 November 1986 to 21 July 1987 was 749 mg Cm^-3 or 5.62 g Cm^-2     

Calanoid copepod eggs in sea-bottom muds. II. Seasonal cycles of abundance in the populations of several species of copepods and their eggs in the Inland Sea of Japan

The seasonal cycles of abundance of populations of dominant calanoid copepods in the water column and of their eggs recovered from the bottom sediment in the central part of the Inland Sea of Japan are described. The numbers of both copepods and eggs fluctuated markedly with season in an essentially similar pattern among the 6 species studied (Tortanus forcipatus Giesbrecht, Calanopia thompsoni A. Scott, Acartia erythraea Giesbrecht, A. clausi Giesbrecht, Centropages abdominalis Sato, C. yamadai Mori). The density of eggs in the sea bottom was highest shortly before the population of adults and late copepodids disappeared from the plankton; the numbers of eggs then gradually decreased until the appearance of the next planktonic population.     

Coexistence of Fisheries with River Dolphin Conservation

Abstract: Freshwater biodiversity conservation is generally perceived to conflict with human use and extraction (e.g., fisheries). Overexploited fisheries upset the balance between local economic needs and endangered species’ conservation. We investigated resource competition between fisheries and Ganges river dolphins (Platanista gangetica gangetica) in a human‐dominated river system in India to assess the potential for their coexistence. We surveyed a 65‐km stretch of the lower Ganga River to assess habitat use by dolphins (encounter rates) and fishing activity (habitat preferences of fishers, intensity of net and boat use). Dolphin abundance in the main channel increased from 179 (SE 7) (mid dry season) to 270 (SE 8) (peak dry season), probably as a result of immigration from upstream tributaries. Dolphins preferred river channels with muddy, rocky substrates, and deep midchannel waters. These areas overlapped considerably with fishing areas. Sites with 2–6 boats/km (moderately fished) were more preferred by dolphins than sites with 8–55 boats/km (heavily fished). Estimated spatial (85%) and prey–resource overlap (75%) between fisheries and dolphins (chiefly predators of small fish) suggests a high level of competition between the two groups. A decrease in abundance of larger fish, indicated by the fact that small fish comprised 74% of the total caught, may have intensified the present competition. Dolphins seem resilient to changes in fish community structure and may persist in overfished rivers. Regulated fishing in dolphin hotspots and maintenance of adequate dry season flows can sustain dolphins in tributaries and reduce competition in the main river. Fish‐stock restoration and management, effective monitoring, curbing destructive fishing practices, secure tenure rights, and provision of alternative livelihoods for fishers may help reconcile conservation and local needs in overexploited river systems.     

Differential routing of ‘new’ nitrogen toward higher trophic levels within the marine food web of the Gulf of Aqaba, Northern Red Sea

Mesozooplankton communities in the meso-oligotrophic Gulf of Aqaba, Northern Red Sea, were investigated over a 2 years period (2005–2007) with emphasis on the trophodynamic relations among different taxonomic groups ranging from primary consumers to carnivorous predators. Based on stable isotope analyses, we present evidence for a strong contribution of ‘new’ nitrogen mainly derived from the utilization of aerosol nitrate by unicellular cyanobacteria especially during summer stratification and the propagation of exceptionally low δ¹⁵N onto higher trophic levels. In contrast, N₂-fixation by diazotrophs seemed to play a minor role, while the utilization of deep water nitrate by cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae might be of importance during winter mixing. Based on ¹⁵N enrichment of consumers, clear differences between exclusively herbivorous organisms (doliolids, appendicularians, pteropods) and those with omnivorous feeding modes were detected. The category of omnivores comprised a large variety of taxons ranging from small meroplanktonic larvae to non-calanoid copepods (harpacticoids, cyclopoids and poecilostomatoids) that together form a diverse and complex community with overlapping feeding modes. In addition, distinct seasonality patterns in δ¹⁵N of copepods were found showing elevated trophic positions during periods of winter mixing, which were most pronounced for non-calanoid copepods. In general, feeding modes of omnivores appeared rather unselective, and relative contributions of heterotrophic protists and degraded material to the diets of non-calanoid copepods are discussed. At elevated trophic positions, four groups of carnivore predators were identified, while calanoid copepods and meroplanktonic predators showing lowest ¹⁵N enrichment within the carnivores. The direct link between ‘new’ nitrogen utilization by primary producers and the ¹⁵N enrichment of consumers in the planktonic food web of the Gulf of Aqaba emphasizes the significant contribution of ‘new’ nitrogen to the nitrogen budget and ecosystem functions in subtropical and tropical oligotrophic oceans.     

Diel trophic interactions between vertically-migrating zooplankton and their fish predators in an eelgrass community

Diel changes in the composition of crustacean zooplankton and the diets of fish predators from an intertidal eelgrass flat were monitored concurrently. The zooplankton is characterized by two major components. The obligate zooplankters (holoplanktonic calanoid copepods and meroplanktonic decapod larvae) appear to exhibit vertical migration, being present in higher densities near the surface of the water column at night. The facultative zooplankton (amphipods and ostracods) are benthic during the day, but move up into the water column at night. Planktivorous midwaterdwelling fish consume calanoid copepods and decapod larvae during the day and cease feeding or switch their diet to amphipods at night. Benthic-dwelling fish consume some amphipods during both day and night. The factors important in prey selection by fish and the functional significance of vertical migration in both components of the zooplankton are discussed in the light of the changing patterns of fish predation.This paper is Publication No. 183 in the Ministry for Conservation of Victoria, Environmental Studies Series.     

Seasonal variations in zooplankton abundances in the Iturbide reservoir (Isidro Fabela, State of Mexico, Mexico)

This studywas undertaken to quantify the seasonal variations of zooplankton (rotifers, cladocerans and copepods) and selected physico-chemical variables (temperature, pH, conductivity, Secchi disc transparency, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrate and phosphate concentrations) in the Iturbide dam. Monthly zooplankton samples (50 l filtered through 50 microm mesh, in duplicates from each of the 4 stations) were collected from February 2008 to January 2009. Simultaneously physico-chemical variables were measured. The zooplankton samples were fixed in 4% formalin in the field. In general, the temperature ranged from 9 to 16 degrees C, rarely exceeding 20 degrees C. Secchi transparency was nearly 100% since the reservoir was shallow (< 2 m) even during the rainy seasons. Dissolved oxygen was generally high, 13-18 mg l(-1). Nitrate levels (10 to 170 microg l(-1)) were low while phosphates were relatively high (9 to 35 microg l(-1)). The Iturbide reservoir was dominated by rotifer species. We encountered in all, 55 taxa of rotifers, 9 cladocerans and 2 copepods. The rotifer families Trichocercidae and Notommatidae had the highest number of species (7 each) followed by Colurellidae and Lecanidae (6 and 5 species, respectively). Trichocerca elongata, Ascomorpha ovalis, K. americana, K. cochlearis, Lepadella patella and Pompholyx sulcata were the dominant rotifers during the study period. On an annual average, rotifer density ranged between 50-200 ind.(-1). Among crustaceans Chydorus brevilabris and Macrothrix triserialis were most abundant. The maximal density of these cladocerans was about 50 ind. l(-1). Copepods were much lower in numbers (< 20 ind. l(-1)). In general the density of zooplankton was higher during summer months (April to July) than during winter. Shannon-Wiener diversity index varied from 1.0 to 4.3 depending on the site and the sampling period. Based on the data of Secchi transparency and nutrient concentrations, the Iturbide reservoir appeared to be mesotrophic.