Composition Of Crustacean Zooplankton Research Articles

Spatial Density, Biomass, and Composition of Crustacean Zooplankton on Lake Michigan Beaches

Ecosystem alterations to Lake Michigan (LM), such as the invasion of dreissenid mussels, have decreased the abundance of phytoplankton and, subsequently, zooplankton, which has implications for Great Lake fisheries. The community composition of zooplankton has also been altered over the past 20 years in LM, shifting the summer dominance from cladoceran to calanoid taxa. However, most of our information on zooplankton community dynamics is from deeper pelagic zones. The nearshore beach (≤1 m) habitat, which serves as a critical nursery for some larvae and juvenile fish, is composed of different zooplankton taxa than deeper zones, but limited data are available for comparison. We conducted a standardized summer sampling campaign to characterize the zooplankton community across 32 beaches in LM. We found the lowest crustacean zooplankton density and biomass on northern LM beaches and a higher zooplankton density and biomass on Greater Green Bay and central LM beaches, which had warmer water temperatures. Smaller-bodied cladocera (mainly Bosmina) and cyclopoid taxa were the most abundant groups on beaches. Our results provide the first comprehensive characterization of zooplankton on beaches in the Great Lakes, with applications for other lake systems. These results may help identify potential “hot spots” of fish recruitment for management.

Evaluating the performance of DNA metabarcoding for assessment of zooplankton communities in Western Lake Superior using multiple markers.

For DNA metabarcoding to attain its potential as a community assessment tool, we need to better understand its performance versus traditional morphological identification and work to address any remaining performance gaps in incorporating DNA metabarcoding into community assessments. Using fragments of the 18S nuclear and 16S mitochondrial rRNA genes and two fragments of the mitochondrial COI marker, we examined the use of DNA metabarcoding and traditional morphological identification for understanding the diversity and composition of crustacean zooplankton at 42 sites across western Lake Superior. We identified 51 zooplankton taxa (genus or species, depending on the finest resolution of the taxon across all identification methods), of which 17 were identified using only morphological traits, 13 using only DNA and 21 using both methods. The taxa found using only DNA metabarcoding included four species and one genus-level identification not previously known to occur in Lake Superior, the presence of which still needs to be confirmed. A substantial portion of taxa that were identified to genus or species by morphological identification, but not identified using DNA metabarcoding, had zero ("no record") or ≤ 2 ("underrepresented records") reference barcodes in the BOLD or NCBI databases (63% for COI, 80% for 16S, 74% for 18S). The two COI marker fragments identified the most genus- and species-level taxa, whereas 18S was the only marker whose family-level percent sequence abundance patterns showed high correlation to composition patterns from morphological identification, based on a NMDS analysis of Bray-Curtis similarities. Multiple replicates were collected at a subset of sites and an occupancy analysis was performed, which indicated that rare taxa were more likely to be detected using DNA metabarcoding than traditional morphology. Our results support that DNA metabarcoding can augment morphological identification for estimating zooplankton diversity and composition of zooplankton over space and time, but may require use of multiple markers. Further addition of taxa to reference DNA databases will improve our ability to use DNA metabarcoding to identify zooplankton and other invertebrates in aquatic surveys.

Multi‐scale biodiversity analyses identify the importance of continental watersheds in shaping lake zooplankton biogeography

AbstractAimWe examined variation in crustacean zooplankton composition and diversity across Canada, the most lake‐rich country in the world. In addition to α‐diversity patterns, we explore mechanisms behind β‐diversity spatial variation, using taxonomic and functional metrics. Our goal was to explore geographical gradients and related mechanisms shaping zooplankton distribution across different spatial scales.LocationCanada.TaxonCrustacean zooplankton.MethodsPelagic zooplankton was sampled in and characterized for 624 lakes across Canada, spanning 12 ecozones (defined by climatic, vegetation and geological differences) or 6 continental drainage basins as part of the NSERC Canadian Lake Pulse Network project. We compared taxon and trait distributions, as well as spatial (longitudinal and latitudinal) patterns of community composition and diversity. We computed taxonomic and functional spatial β‐diversity indices, decomposing these into taxon replacement and richness differences. Finally, species (or traits) and lake uniqueness (contributions) to β‐diversity (SCBD and LCBD) were estimated by ecozone and continental basin.ResultsIn all, 90 crustacean zooplankton species were identified across the country. Differences in zooplankton taxonomic and functional composition were more distinct when considered by continental basin than by ecozone. α‐diversity varied greatly across space, with greatest diversity in eastern Canada. β‐diversity was greatest when based on taxonomy and was driven by richness differences across all spatial and biodiversity dimensions.Main conclusionsStructuring factors influencing zooplankton taxon and trait assemblages vary across spatial scales, being more important at the broadest scale considering continental hydrodynamics. Our results point to the combined effects of physical barriers to longitudinal dispersal and climate change in shaping zooplankton taxonomic and functional biogeography across Canadian lakes.

Submerged aquatic vegetation cover and complexity drive crustacean zooplankton community structure in a large fluvial lake: An in situ approach

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is considered an important driver of the zooplankton community, owing to the refuge offered by its structural complexity. However, non-destructive in situ approaches to assess quantitatively the features of SAV beds and their effects on zooplankton community are still lacking. This study aims to: 1) estimate SAV cover and complexity using subaquatic upward photographs (SUP) and 2) analyse the relationship between SAV variables and crustacean zooplankton composition and functional diversity (FD). SAV biomass and zooplankton were sampled at 52 stations in a large fluvial lake. Two metrics based on SUP were used to quantify SAV cover and complexity: 1) the percentage of the underwater landscape occupied by SAV (PLAND: SAV cover), and 2) its perimeter-area fractal dimension (PAFRAC: SAV complexity). Zooplankton composition and functional diversity were estimated based on crustacean species assemblages and functional traits. We used linear models to describe the relationships between SAV indices, environmental variables and zooplankton abundance, biomass and FD. SUP was an effective method to estimate in situ SAV cover and complexity. PLAND and PAFRAC were positively related to SAV biomass and zooplankton abundance, yielding a non-destructive assessment of the SAV-zooplankton relationships. Our study partially supports the habitat complexity-ecological niche availability hypothesis, as SAV cover and complexity influenced zooplankton functional groups and diversity indices. However, water transparency and depth also had important effects in interaction with PLAND and PAFRAC, and it remains difficult to fully disentangle the effects of SAV complexity from SAV cover on crustacean zooplankton community structure.

The response of zooplankton communities to the 2016 extreme hydrological cycle in floodplain lakes connected to the Yangtze River in China.

The Huayanghe Lakes play an important role in the Yangtze floodplain in China and had extremely high water levels during the summer of 2016. Monitoring data was collected in an effort to understand the impact of this change on the crustacean zooplankton composition and abundance and the biomass variation in the Huayanghe Lakes between a regular hydrological cycle (RHC) and an extreme hydrological cycle (EHC). The crustacean zooplankton community composition, abundance, and biomass in the floodplain lakes were markedly affected by the water-level disturbance. The number of species was lower in the RHC, but the mean density and biomass decreased from 93.84 ± 13.29 ind./L and 6.11 ± 0.89mg/L, respectively, in the RHC to 66.62 ± 10.88 ind./L and 1.22 ± 0.26mg/L, respectively, in the EHC. Pearson correlations and redundancy analyses revealed the environmental factors with the most significant impact on the crustacean zooplankton community differed between the RHC and EHC cycles. Little previous information exists on the zooplankton in these lakes, and the present study provides data on the zooplankton composition, abundance, and biomass, both at baseline and in response to hydrological changes.

Environmental filtering of crustacean zooplankton communities in fishless boreal lakes: expectations and exceptions

To test the paradigm that large-bodied zooplankton species dominate in fishless lakes, we evaluated crustacean zooplankton composition of 53 fishless boreal lakes across a broad geographic scale (north-west Saskatchewan, Canada) in relation to contemporary environmental factors. Lake productivity, acid–base status and intensity of invertebrate predation were the three major environmental filters of crustacean zooplankton composition of the survey lakes, while lake morphometry and drainage basin characteristics likely had indirect effects by influencing the variations in above environmental factors. The traditionally expected dominance of large-bodied zooplankton species in fishless conditions only occurred in well-buffered shallow lakes with higher productivity and intense invertebrate predation. Daphnia pulex was dominant in more eutrophic lakes, while higher abundances of Holopedium gibberum were favored by relatively mesotrophic conditions. In exception to the traditional view, small-bodied species dominated in 57% of survey lakes as influenced by interactions of biotic and abiotic factors. Bosmina longirostris and cyclopoid copepods dominated less productive, deeper lakes with low invertebrate predation. Predominance of Leptodiaptomus minutus was supported under unfavorable environmental conditions for other species, i.e. poor buffering capacity and/or low calcium concentration. The present study demonstrates that exceptions to the generally expected species composition in fishless lakes can be caused by interactions among abiotic and biotic factors.

Limnological variations of a deep reservoir in periods with distinct rainfall patterns

AIM: This study intends to provide information on how precipitation variation may impact environmental parameters (total phosphorus, water temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, Secchi depth, chlorophyll a and Anabaena abundance) and crustacean zooplankton composition and abundance. METHODS: Samples were collected monthly from October 2000 to September 2002 and from October 2007 to September 2009 at one single sampling station located at the deepest point of the reservoir. All data were obtained in the euphotic zone. RESULTS: The highest values of total phosphorous concentrations were reported together with the maximal values of precipitation. Conversely, conductivity decreased during the wet periods. Anabaena presence was only detected between September and December 2001. Daphnia longispina total abundance showed large inter-annual differences. A clear seasonal pattern was inferred for Diaphanosoma brachyurum and Ceriodaphnia pulchella. Both species are thermophilic and begin to be detected in early summer when the water temperature is around 15 ºC. Copidodiaptomus numidicus abundance did not present a clear seasonal pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the observed shifts in environmental parameters (Conductivity, total phosphorus concentrations and Anabaena abundance) resulting in changes in zooplankton abundance are induced by rainfall variation. The most affected species were those with a lack of seasonality (C. numidicus) or species occurring mainly in winter/early summer (Daphnia longispina). However, a wide range of physical, chemical and biotic interactions is likely to influence zooplankton abundance. Therefore, caution is advised when relating the observed variation exclusively with rainfall intensity. In fact, some of the observed shifts were induced by other factors varying subtly in a seasonal or inter-annual pattern, independently of rainfall intensity.

Bottom–up carbon subsidies and top–down predation pressure interact to affect aquatic food web structure

Human impacts such as eutrophication, overexploitation and climate change currently threaten future global food and drinking water supplies. Consequently, it is important that we understand how anthropogenic resource (bottom–up) and consumer (top–down) manipulations affect aquatic food web structure and production. Future climate changes are predicted to increase the inputs of terrestrial dissolved organic carbon to lakes. These carbon subsidies can either increase or decrease total basal production in aquatic food webs, depending on bacterial competition with phytoplankton for nutrients. This study examines the effects of carbon subsidies (bottom–up) on a pelagic community exposed to different levels of top–down predation. We conducted a large scale mesocosm experiment in an oligotrophic clear water lake in northern Sweden, using a natural plankton community exposed to three levels of glucose addition (0, 420 and 2100 μg C l−1 total added glucose) and three levels of young‐of‐the‐year perch Perca fluviatilis density (0, 0.56 and 2 individuals m−3). Bacterioplankton production doubled with glucose addition, but phytoplankton production was unaffected, in contrast to previous studies that have manipulated carbon, nutrients or light simultaneously. This suggests that carbon addition alone is not sufficient to reduce autotrophic production, at least in an oligotrophic lake dominated by mixotrophic phytoplankton. Larval perch grazing did not produce a classical trophic cascade, but substantially altered the species composition of crustacean zooplankton and ciliate trophic levels. Glucose addition increased the biomass of rotifers, thus potentially increasing energy transfer through the heterotrophic pathway, but only when fish were absent. This study illustrates that changes in community structure due to selective feeding by top‐predators can determine the influence of bottom–up carbon subsidies.

Use of aniline blue to distinguish live and dead crustacean zooplankton composition in freshwaters

Summary1. Traditional zooplankton sampling methods do not account for the presence of zooplankton carcasses, which could lead to a biased understanding of the ecological role of zooplankton.2. The aniline blue staining method for the differentiation between live and dead freshwater crustacean zooplankton was adapted for field application and the accuracy of the new protocol was tested in the laboratory. Detailed descriptions of the characteristic staining patterns of individuals are provided. The adapted staining method was subsequently applied in a field study to assess the live–dead zooplankton composition in the oligotrophic Lake Stechlin and the eutrophic Lake Dagow in Germany.3. The modified aniline blue staining method accurately identified percentages of mixed live and dead crustacean zooplankton, making it suitable for quantifying live–dead compositions of copepods and cladocerans in freshwater samples.4. On average 6% and 8% of the zooplankton were identified as dead in Lake Stechlin and Lake Dagow, respectively. Within each lake there were no significant spatial variations in the horizontal or vertical distribution of zooplankton carcasses. Nor did the percentage of dead zooplankton differ between day and night.5. The aniline blue staining method provides an effective, simple and economical means for more systematic study of the occurrence and fate of crustacean zooplankton carcasses in freshwaters.

Zooplankton of Fishless Ponds of Northern Patagonia: Insights into Predation Effects of Mesostoma ehrenbergii

AbstractThe turbellarian predator Mesostoma ehrenbergii, a common inhabitant of fishless ponds of northern Patagonia, can consume prey larger than 1 mm. Because the feeding strategy of M. ehrenbergii includes mucus trapping and external digestion, this predator may exploit a broad range of prey sizes. We hypothesize that M. ehrenbergii could exert a strong effect on zooplankton composition and body size spectra in Patagonian fishless ponds. We investigated this hypothesis by analyzing the crustacean zooplankton composition and size spectra in five fishless ponds of northern Patagonia, and we carried out experiments to assess predation rates of M. ehrenbergii on potential prey species from 0.8 mm to 6 mm. These ponds were colonized by macrophytes, which favored habitat heterogeneity, especially in the smaller ponds that had higher species richness. The surveyed ponds showed distinctive crustacean zooplankton assemblages and sizes, but all were dominated by calanoid copepods of the genus Boeckella. Our results indicated that M. ehrenbergii consumed the whole size range of offered prey, from ∼0.8 mm (Ceriodaphnia dubia) to ∼6 mm (Parabroteas sarsi). Predation rates were higher for intermediate‐bodied copepods (∼1.5 mm) and C. dubia (0.8 mm), but we did not find conclusive evidence that variations in size spectra of crustacean zooplankton are a result of M. ehrenbergii predation. We suggest that an interaction between prey body size and its evasion tactic might be important to determine the true effect Mesostoma on zooplankters. The structural complexity created by macrophytes in Patagonian fishless ponds may also help account for the lack of a strong predation effect of Mesostoma in the field survey. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Acidification and the structure of crustacean zooplankton in mountain lakes: The Tatra Mountains (Slovakia, Poland)

Species composition of planktonic Crustacea in 102 lakes in the West and High Tatra Mountains, studied during the peak of anthropogenic acidification (1978–1996), is presented in this work. Zooplankton of the Tatra lakes have been studied since the middle of the 19th century, which later enabled the recognition of lake acidification and the assessment of its effect on the plankton community of lake ecosystems. In the pre-acidification period, the distribution of zooplankton was determined namely by the lake altitude and orientation (north vs. south) and by the catchment character. Crustacean zooplankton in larger lakes consisted of a limited number of species, with Acanthodiaptomus denticornis and Daphnia longispina dominating lakes in the forest zone, and Arctodiaptomus alpinus, Cyclops abyssorum, Daphnia longispina, Daphnia pulicaria, and Holopedium gibberum dominating lakes in the alpine zone. Ceriodaphnia quadrangula, Daphnia obtusa, Daphnia pulex, and Mixodiaptomus tatricus occurred in lakes with high concentrations of dissolved organic matter and in strongly acidified waters. Anthropogenic acidification has caused drastic changes in both the chemistry and biology of the Tatra lakes. Based on their status during the acidification peak, lakes were divided into three categories: non-acidified (with no change in the species composition of crustacean zooplankton due to the acidification), acidified (planktonic Crustacea disappeared in lakes with meadow-rocky catchments), and strongly acidified lakes where original Crustacea in meadow-rocky catchment lakes disappeared and were replaced by populations of the acid-tolerant littoral species Acanthocyclops vernalis, Chydorus sphaericus, and Eucyclops serrulatus. The acidification-induced processes of oligotrophication and toxicity of aluminium played a key role in the extinction of species. Despite the first signs of biological recovery observed in the early 2000s, acidification remains the most important factor governing the structure of plankton in the Tatra lakes.

Relative importance of CO2 recycling and CH4 pathways in lake food webs along a dissolved organic carbon gradient

Terrestrial ecosystems export large quantities of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to aquatic ecosystems. This DOC can serve as a resource for heterotrophic bacteria and influence whether lakes function as sources or sinks of atmospheric CO2. However, it remains unclear as to how terrestrial carbon moves through lake food webs. We addressed this topic by conducting a comparative lake survey in the northeastern U.S. along a gradient of terrestrial‐derived DOC. We used naturally occurring carbon stable isotopes of CO2, particulate organic matter (POM), and crustacean zooplankton, as well as gas measurements and culture‐independent assessments of microbial community composition to make inferences about the flow of terrestrial carbon in lake food webs. Stable isotope ratios of POM and zooplankton decreased with DOC and were often depleted in 13C relative to terrestrial carbon, suggesting the importance of an isotopically light carbon source. It has been proposed that the incorporation of biogenic methane (CH4) into plankton food webs would account for such trends in stable isotope ratios, but we found weak evidence for this hypothesis, on the basis of relationships of CH4, methanogenic archaebacteria, and methanotrophic bacteria in our lakes. Instead, our results are consistent with the view that phytoplankton increase their use of heterotrophically respired CO2 with increasing concentrations of terrestrialderived DOC. The effect of this CO2 recycling can be detected in the stable isotope composition of crustacean zooplankton, suggesting that the direct transfer of terrestrial DOC inputs to higher trophic levels may be relatively inefficient.

Calcium content of crustacean zooplankton and its potential role in species distribution

SUMMARY 1. The occurrence and species composition of crustacean zooplankton in Norwegian lakes was related to ambient Ca concentrations, pH, total phosphorus and chlorophyll a, and to the presence/absence of other zooplankters and a planktivorous fish (roach: Rutilus rutilus).2. Ambient Ca concentrations appeared to influence the distribution of Daphnia species: Daphnia longispina often occurred in Ca‐rich lakes with low fish‐predation pressure while the smaller Daphnia cristata often occurred in opposite conditions.3. Body Ca contents were measured in zooplankters from a wide range of localities, to examine Ca requirements and thus the potential for Ca‐limitation of common species.4. All Daphnia species had relatively high specific Ca contents [ranging from 0.8 to 4.4% Ca dry weight (DW)−1] compared with other cladocerans and also copepods (ranging from 0.1 to 0.4% Ca DW−1). Within the Daphnia genus, the specific Ca content increased with increasing body size of the species, and thus the large‐bodied species had especially high Ca demands.5. Because of their high Ca demands, species of Daphnia could be competitively disadvantaged in softwater lakes relative to less Ca‐demanding species.

Comparison of different stoichiometric methods for the estimation of proximate biochemical composition of crustacean zooplankton and some considerations on energy transfer to planktophagous fish

In a previous publication (Riccardi & Mangoni 1999) the proximate biochemical composition of some freshwater zooplankton species was estimated from C, H and N content by a calculation method developed by Gnaiger & Bitterlich (1984). The stoichiometric coefficients used by these authors to calculate protein, lipid and carbohydrate fractions were based on reference compounds specifically selected to represent the composition of the soft tissues of fish and molluscs. According to Vollenweider (2000, this issue) the application of Gnaiger & Bitterlich’s equations in estimating zooplankton proximate composition could lead to erroneous estimates, mainly resulting from the fact that carbohydrate is primarily present in the form of chitin. The discussion arising from this question led Dr. Vollenweider to develop a modified calculation procedure and to explore the reliability and the confidence limits of proxy estimates.

Zooplankton distribution in relation to turbidity and related environmental gradients in a large subtropical reservoir: patterns and implications

SUMMARY. A marked gradient in water transparency along the 75 km longitudinal axis of Lake le Roux, a fjord‐like reservoir on the Orange River, South Africa, was consistently evident over several years. On average, Secchi depth transparency doubled from approximately 18 cm at the turbid upper end (which is fed by sediment‐laden Orange River water discharged from Lake Verwoerd), to 33 cm near the dam wall. A variety of changes in abiotic limn logical attributes (temperature, light attenuation, suspended solids and nutrient levels, etc.), and in the abundance and composition of planktonic biota accompany, and may be imposed by, this turbidity gradient. On average, phytoplankton abundance (assessed as chlorophyll content), and total crustacean zooplankton biomass (per unit volume) were lowest at the very top of the lake, but reached maximal values within 15 km ‘downstream’, reflecting the rapid development of plankton. These variables subsequently declined downstream, in contrast to the apparent improvement in conditions for planktonic existence (increasing water transparency, longer water residence time, etc.). The composition of crustacean zooplankton varied along the length of the reservoir. Both seasonal and inter‐annual differences were evident. On average, however, cladocerans (Daphnia, Moina), despite their r‐selected attributes, were especially sparse in the more turbid, uppermost reaches, where advective effects of river inflows were most pronounced. The large predatory copepod Lovenula was surprisingly most abundant in this region, where potential planktonic curstacean prey was scarce. The attainment of maximal zooplankton standing slocks some 15 km downstream was attributable to the proliferation particularly of the herbivorous copepod Metadiaptomus, along with minor increases in several ctadoceran components. The latter continued to increase downstream, in line with declining turbidity, although Daphnia and Moina reached their respective abundance maxima in central and lower reaches of the reservoir, reflecting slight disparities in response to turbidity or related gradients. By contrast.

Biochemical composition of crustacean zooplankton from the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Water, protein, lipid, and ash, were measured in 38 species of crustacean zooplankton (1 decapod, 1 mysid, 12 euphausiids, and 24 copepods) found in the upper 1000 m in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Deeper-living species had higher water and lower protein contents; lipid levels were highest in species found at mid-depths (500–550 m). Within vertically migrating genera, lipid and water contents were generally low. Deeper-living non-migratory genera had high water contents. Based on present results and literature values for unassayed groups, the standing stocks of zooplankton in terms of calories were highest at 30–50 m during the day and at 15 m at night, and decreased exponentially with depth. The high lipid levels of two mesopelagic species contribute to a secondary peak of zooplanktonic caloric content at 550 m. This results in an average caloric density here that is 1.5 times higher than in individual animals at the surface. While zooplankton populations at this depth are sparse, energy content per individual prey item can be high.

Diel trophic interactions between vertically-migrating zooplankton and their fish predators in an eelgrass community

Diel changes in the composition of crustacean zooplankton and the diets of fish predators from an intertidal eelgrass flat were monitored concurrently. The zooplankton is characterized by two major components. The obligate zooplankters (holoplanktonic calanoid copepods and meroplanktonic decapod larvae) appear to exhibit vertical migration, being present in higher densities near the surface of the water column at night. The facultative zooplankton (amphipods and ostracods) are benthic during the day, but move up into the water column at night. Planktivorous midwaterdwelling fish consume calanoid copepods and decapod larvae during the day and cease feeding or switch their diet to amphipods at night. Benthic-dwelling fish consume some amphipods during both day and night. The factors important in prey selection by fish and the functional significance of vertical migration in both components of the zooplankton are discussed in the light of the changing patterns of fish predation.