Seasonal dynamics of rotifer and crustacean zooplankton populations in a eutrophic, monomictic lake with a note on rotifer sampling techniques

Abstract

The abundances, biomass, and seasonal succession of rotifer and crustacean zooplankton were examined in a man-made, eutrophic lake, Lake Oglethorpe, over a 13 month period. There was an inverse correlation between the abundance of rotifers and crustaceans. Rotifers were most abundant and dominated (>69%) the rotifer-crustacean biomass during summer months (June–September) while crustacean zooplankton dominated during the remainder of the year (>89%). Peak biomasses of crustaceans were observed in the fall (151 µg dry wt l−1 in October) and spring (89.66 µg dry wt l−1 in May). Mean annual biomass levels were 46.99 µg dry wt l−1 for crustaceans and 19.26 µg dry wt l−1 for rotifers. Trichocerca rousseleti, Polyarthra sp., Keratella cochlearis and Kellicottia bostoniensis were the most abundant rotifers in the lake. Diaptomus siciloides and Daphnia parvula were the most abundant crustaceans. Lake Oglethorpe is distinct in having an unusually high abundance of rotifers (range 217–7980 l−1). These high densities can be attributed not only to the eutrophic conditions of the lake but also to the detailed sampling methods employed in this study.