Abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate planktonic microcrustacean species composition, abundance, and diversity in lakes with different trophic status and to determine the relationship between microcrustacean community structure and lake environmental conditions. This study hypothesized that there are correlations between eutrophication levels and microcrustacean community structures in a lake. Three shallow lakes of different trophic status (Sembrong, Putrajaya and Subang lakes) were selected for this study. Two-Way Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) revealed differences in microcrustacean diversity and density amongst lakes, where the hypereutrophic condition in Sembrong lake resulted in the lowest diversity but the highest density of microcrustaceans. Similarity percentage (SIMPER) analysis identified the discriminator species among lakes where the domination of small-sized microcrustaceans was observed in lakes with high levels of eutrophication; the hypereutrophic Sembrong lake (Ceriodaphnia cornuta, 74.0%); the meso-eutrophic Putrajaya lake (Bosmina longirostris, 46.9%; C. cornuta, 19.4%). Chlorophyll a, total phosphorus and water transparency showed significant roles in the distribution of microcrustaceans. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) scores indicated that small-sized C. cornuta and B. longirostris were related to the eutrophic conditions of lakes. This study elucidated that the lake trophic status could be one of the main factors contributing to the community restructuring of microcrustaceans in tropical lakes.
Highlights
Freshwater microcrustacean communities, consisting mainly of cladocerans and copepods, play significant roles in nutrient recycling and energy transfer to higher trophic levels in aquatic food webs [1,2]
Dry and wet seasons in Peninsular Malaysia were delineated based on the rainfall amount where April 2015, June 2015, and February 2016 were categorized as dry months (Range: Sembrong lake = 102 mm to 148 mm, Putrajaya lake = 65 mm to 156 mm, Subang lake = 102 mm to 150 mm), while, August 2015, October 2015 and December 2015 were categorized as wet months
Variables related to lake trophic status, especially nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll a and water transparency, were the main drivers influencing the distribution of microcrustacean species
Summary
Freshwater microcrustacean communities, consisting mainly of cladocerans and copepods, play significant roles in nutrient recycling and energy transfer to higher trophic levels in aquatic food webs [1,2]. They form a major food source for many invertebrates and planktivorous fish [3]. Microcrustacean species in lakes adapt to various environmental changes to maintain their population growth, and form a unique community characterized by their preferences for biotic and abiotic factors, which enable them to be a potential bioindicator species [4,5]. The adequate light availability enhances phytoplankton growth and production of phytoplankton, which, in turn, serves as microcrustacean food sources [13]
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