Structure of the zooplankton community in Hulun Lake, China

Abstract

Abstract The study investigated the composition, community structure and diversity of zooplankton in Hulun Lake from January to October in 2009. The water quality and the type of nourishment of the lake were analyzed. The results showed forty one species of zooplankton were found, of which eighteen species were rotifera (43.9%), fourteen species were protozoa (34.1%), five species were copepoda (12.2%), three species were cladocera (7.3%), one species was ostracoda (2.4%). Among zooplankton, particularly protozoa were the dominant group throughout the study period and highest count was recorded in June while low incidence was observed in October. Zooplankton community is also correlated with physicochemical parameters. According to the dominant species and the ShannanWeiner diversity index, Hulun Lake was mesotrophic water.