On the ecology of littoral Oligochaeta of an oligotrophic Finnish lake

Abstract

In material sampled from 0.5–6 m on two sampling dates and three subareas the dominant Oligochaeta were Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparède and Peloscolex ferox (Eisen), both composing more than 30% of the abundances of oligochaetes present. The numbers of Oligochaeta were mostly higher in August than in May. Regional differences could be found although the lake seems to be very homogenous. Temporal and vertical variations were detectable in separate subareas. The oligochaete biomass was maximal at 2 m depth. In soft bottom sediments the oligochaetes composed 15.9% of macrobenthos biomass and 12.2% of numbers, but on the stony bottom only 1.9% of numbers. The ratio of Oligochaeta/Chironomidae was similar to those in profundals of oligotrophic lakes. Correlation coefficients between species and two measures of niche overlap were in partial agreement. A temporal niche seems to occur: when the chironomid larvae decrease during the summer, the oligochaetes increase.