Seasonal changes of the profundal macrobenthic community in a polluted lake

Abstract

Late summer and winter structures of the profundal macrobenthos in a polluted lake (Lake Nemi, Central Italy) were compared to verify the relative differences in the faunal structure and the magnitude of the winter recovery of this community. Densities of Oligochaetes and Chironomids did not vary significantly from summer to winter, the latter not showing any recolonization of the profundal zone. Structure and diversity of the total fauna, and Oligochaete/Chironomid ratio were very similar in the two periods. Our results suggest that in a severely polluted lake, with a strong and lasting oxygen deficit in the hypolimnic zone, a lack of recovery of profundal macrobenthos may be expected in improved environmental winter conditions.