Effect of removal of free-floating macrophytes on zooplankton habitat in shallow wetland

Abstract

Key-words: submerged macrophyte, macrophyte habitat, zooplankton, species diversity, shallow wetland Submerged macrophytes improve the structural heterogeneity of microhabitats in aquatic ecosystems, often providing an important habitat for zooplankton. However, excessive development of free-floating macrophytes on the water surface can reduce the biomass of submerged macrophytes and result in a relatively simple habitat structure. We hypothesized that controlling the development of free-floating macrophytes would result in a more complex habitat structure by promoting the development of submerged macrophytes. After applying three experimental treatments (NR, no removal; IR, intermediate removal; CR, complete removal of free-floating macrophytes), we found that CR of free-floating macrophytes improved the growth and development of submerged macrophytes and supported a large zooplankton assemblage. However, the largest zooplankton assemblage (in terms of abundance and diversity) was recorded after the IR treatment. Although submerged macrophytes were abundant in the CR treatment, the number, abundance, and density of zooplankton species were much lower than those in the IR treatment. Preferential selection of different macrophyte types by zooplankton presumably led to variation in plant utilization of niches, and the simultaneous presence of different macrophyte life forms created a complex microhabitat structure that induced high species diversity and zooplankton density.