Contrasting zooplankton communities of two bays of the large, shallow, eutrophic Lake Taihu, China: Their relationship to environmental factors

Abstract

Zooplankton are an important link in aquatic food webs of lakes serving as consumers of algae, bacteria, and other microorganisms and as prey for fish and invertebrates. Despite their importance, little is known about the structure of the zooplankton communities of subtropic, large, shallow, eutrophic freshwater lakes. Our investigation of zooplankton communities in Lake Taihu, a subtropic, shallow, eutrophic lake and the third largest lake in China provides new information on this subject. Zooplankton, phytoplankton, and water chemistry samples were collected monthly from July 2006 to June 2007 in Meiliang and Gonghu Bays of Lake Taihu. Thirty zooplankton species were identified in Meiliang Bay with small-bodied cladocerans Bosmina coregoni and Ceriodaphnia cornuta contributing 21% and 11%, respectively to total zooplankton abundance which averaged 459ind/L. Thirty-five species were identified in Gonghu Bay with the rotifers Polyarthra trigla and Brachionus calyciflorus the dominant species, contributing 21% and 11% respectively to total zooplankton abundance which averaged 467ind/L. Predation by lake anchovy (Coilia ectenes taihuensis) and ice fish (Neosalanx tangkahkeii taihuensis) likely accounted for the dominance of both bays by small-bodied species. Community structure and community patterns were correlated with differences in Microcystis blooms and organic matter levels (chemical oxygen demand) in the two bays. Based on canonical correspondence analyses dissolved total nitrogen, orthophosphate, Cyclotella and Pinnularia also contributed to variability in zooplankton community composition.