Factors influencing the spatial distribution of zooplankton and fish in Loch Ness, UK

Abstract

SUMMARY 1. The vertical and horizontal distribution of phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish in Loch Ness, Scotland, were monitored during one day-time and one night-time survey in July 1992. The vertical samples were collected at a site located at the northern end of the loch and the horizontal samples along a longitudinal transect. 2. The vertical distribution surveys demonstrated that the phytoplankton, the zooplankton and the fish were concentrated in the top 30 m of water above the seasonal thermocline. Within this layer, Cyclops stayed much closer to the surface than Eudiaptomus but both species moved towards the surface at night. 3. The most important factor influencing the horizontal distribution of the phytoplankton was the north‐south gradient in productivity. The sub-catchments surrounding the north basin contain a greater proportion of arable land than those to the south and the concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen and phytoplankton chlorophyll increased systematically from south to north. 4. Zooplankton distribution patterns were influenced by wind-induced water movements and the dispersion of allochthonous material from the main inflows. The highest concentrations of Cyclops were recorded in the north, where there was more phytoplankton, and the highest concentrations of Eudiaptomus in the south, where there were higher concentrations of non-algal particulates. 5. There was no spatial correlation between total zooplankton and total fish abundance but the highest concentrations of small (1‐5 cm) fish were recorded in the south where there was a large patch of Eudiaptomus. The number of Eudiaptomus at specific locations within this patch were, however, negatively correlated with the numbers of small fish. These results suggest that the fish were actively foraging within the patch and were depleting their zooplankton prey in the areas where they were most abundant.