Zooplankton Population Dynamics and Diaptomus Production in Waldsea Lake, a Saline Meromictic Lake in Saskatchewan

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1431-1438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Swift ◽  
U. Theodore Hammer

Zooplankton population dynamics were monitored in meromictic saline Waldsea Lake, Saskatchewan, during 1974–75. The dominant zooplankton species were Diaptomus connexus, Brachionus plicatilis, Hexarthra fennica, and Daphnia similis. Diaptomus had a 1-yr life cycle. Overwintered late-stage copepodites molted into adults in May and June and were followed by sequential peaks in numbers of eggs, nauplii, and copepodites. The estimated annual production of this species was 0.6 g dry weight∙m−2 or 0.3 g C∙m−2. About 4% of the annual planktonic primary production would be required to support Diaptomus if it is 10% efficient. The standing crop of Brachionus and Hexarthra was highest in the spring and declined thereafter; Hexarthra was more abundant than Brachionus. The standing crop of Daphnia was much lower than that of either rotifer and showed a spring and fall peak in abundance. Differences in vertical distribution were present among the zooplankton species but no real vertical migrations were observed. Key words: Diaptomus connexus, zooplankton, population dynamics, production, saline meromictic lake

Author(s):  
Theodoros Kevrekidis ◽  
Thomas Wilke

Life cycle, population dynamics and productivity of the larviparous mudsnail species Ventrosia maritima were investigated at low salinities (0·3–6 psu) in differentiated parts of a Mediterranean lagoon (Monolimni Lagoon). Monthly samples were collected during the period from February 1998 to February 1999 in both parts of the lagoon. Ventrosia maritima displayed an annual life cycle. Recruitment occurred in summer and autumn at the outer part of the lagoon and additionally in late winter at the innermost part. A positive correlation was found between the percentages of small individuals and salinity or sediment organic matter at the outer part. Growth practically ceased in winter. The mudsnail displayed remarkable densities and an increase in growth in spring at <1 psu indicating that it is highly tolerant to extremely low salinities. Population density showed a significant seasonal variation; it increased from early summer to autumn (30,000–40,000 individuals m−2) following the summer and autumn recruitment. No significant correlation between the density of V. maritima and several examined physicochemical variables was found; a negative correlation was observed between the density of the mudsnail and that of the co-occurring polychaete Streblospio shrubsolii. Secondary production calculated by the size–frequency method gave a mean annual density (N) of 9740 ind m−2, a mean biomass (B) of 1·66 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW) m−2 y−1, a production (P) of 4·51 g m−2 y−1 and a P:B ratio of 2·72 at the outer part of the lagoon and a N of 14,570 ind m−2, a B of 3·2 g AFDW m−2 y−1, a P of 9·9 g m−2 y−1 and a P:B ratio of 3·09 at the innermost part. At the innermost part of the lagoon, where the seawater renewal rate and hydro-dynamism were lower and the sediment finer and organically richer, V. maritima displayed more recruitment pulses, a larger body size and a denser and more productive population than the one at the outer part. Our findings are compared to published data for the direct-developing congeners V. ventrosa and V. truncata.


1977 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Marchant ◽  
WD Williams

Quantitative samples of P. zietziana were taken monthly for two years from Pink Lake and Lake Cundare. Shrimps were usually contagiously distributed. To reduce error, samples were stratified resulting in confidence limits of 40-50% for the mean population density. Despite this variability, stable trends emerged, and variation was not so great as to mask significant differences. Length-frequency analyses distinguished cohorts; a regression was established between length and dry weight, enabling growth to be estimated from samples. By combining growth with population densities in Allen curves, production was computed. In Pink Lake and Lake Cundare mean pro- duction was 11.3 and 1.0 g dry weight m-2 year-1 respectively. Generally there were two or three generations per year, but time and extent of recruitment were not predictable. Each generation suffered continuous mortality, the death of young shrimps accounting for most of the production. This mortality remains unexplained; there are no significant predators and salinity and temperature stress would occur only during summer.


1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 2350-2359 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Vincent ◽  
G. Vaillancourt ◽  
N. Lafontaine

The population dynamics of Pisidium amnicum have been studied in one population of the St. Lawrence River over a 2-year period during which 19 samples were taken. The species can live up to 3 years and it is iteroparous; individuals generally attain sexual maturity after 1 year and they reproduce twice, once at 2 and once at 3 years of age. In adults, mortality is lower in winter than during the rest of the year and mortality rates are twice as high during the 1st year than during the 2nd year. Total dry weight (PT, in milligrams) is related to maximum length (L, in millimetres) according to the equation PT = 0.0283∙L3,80 and flesh dry weight (PC, in milligrams) is related to length as follows: PC = 0.007∙L3,18. The annual production to mean biomass (P/B) ratio is 1.4, the mean annual production being 1.298 mg/m2 of total dry weight and 107 mg/m2 of flesh weight. Comparing these results with those obtained for the gastropod Bithynia tentaculata in the same environment and at the same period of the year has shown that the growth of Pisidium amnicum is far less influenced by the temperature regime than that of the other species and that its production is at least 10 times lower.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document