scholarly journals Zooplankton communities as eutrophication bioindicators in tropical reservoirs

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio José Gazonato Neto ◽  
Lidiane Cristina da Silva ◽  
Angelo Augusto Saggio ◽  
Odete Rocha

Eutrophication is a process characterized by an increase in the aquatic system productivity, which causes profound changes in the structure of its communities. Owing to the high environmental sensitivity of planktonic species, the study of their communities can indicate the deterioration of the environment. The Jaguari and Jacareí reservoirs are part of the Cantareira System, supplying water to São Paulo inhabitants and that has been affected by several forms of continuous human interference. Here we analyze some properties of the zooplankton community as bioindicators of eutrophication and water quality change. In situ physical and chemical measurements were carried out, water was collected for analysis and quantitative zooplankton samples were taken at eight sites in the two reservoirs, in both seasons, dry and rainy. Species were identified and their numerical abundances and biomasses were determined and used to estimate two biological indices. The overall trophic state and zooplankton structure, the Calanoida/Cyclopoida ratio and the k-dominance curves were associated with the disturbance levels, mainly represented by nutrient river inputs and by water level fluctuations. The Jaguari Reservoir was more eutrophicated than the Jacareí Reservoir, as evidenced by the obtained indices values. The zooplankton community properties used as indicators of the reservoir trophic state were useful monitoring tools.

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Mohamed El-Otify ◽  
Isaac Agaiby Iskaros

Aim: The composition, abundance, community structure of potamoplankton and major physical and chemical variables of the Nile water in Upper Egypt were investigated to assess its status in different seasons during 2007.MethodsWater samples were collected seasonally during 2007 from six investigated sites from variable depths at levels of 0, 2.5 and 5 m. The area of this investigation is defined as the southern 120 Km of the main stream of the Nile in Upper Egypt (24° 04’ – 25° 00’ latitudes and 32° 51’ – 32° 54’ longitudes), downstream of Aswan Old Dam.ResultsAltogether, 121 potamoplankton species, of which 85 related to phytoplankton and 36 appertaining to zooplankton were recorded. Most numerous phytoplankton were Chlorophyceae (42 species) followed by Bacillariophyceae (30 species). Cyanobacteria and Dinophyceae were less numerous with only 11 and 2 species, respectively. Zooplankton species were mainly belonging to three systematic groups namely; Rotifera (24 species), Copepoda (3 species) and Cladocera (9 species). Besides, other rare zooplankton including Platyhelminthes, Nemata and Ciliophora were sparsely encountered. The main hydrological conditions characterizing the investigated area include water level fluctuations (˂82 - ˃85 m above sea level), relatively high current velocity (0.8 - 1.3 m sec–1) and disposal of wastewater. Plankton populations were variably but rather weakly dependent on the major nutrients due to their excessive availability in accessible form for uptake by the producers. For phytoplankton, the community structure was categorized in relation to temperature, pH, SO42– and Mg2+. For zooplankton, the community structure was categorized in relation to conductivity as well as Mg2+. Sampling intervals were inadequate to demonstrate the existing successional pattern of the Nile potamoplankton community. Alterations in the phytoplankton community structure accompanied changes in water temperature represented by the alternate dominance between diatoms and cyanobacteria, while zooplankton community was always dominated by rotifers. Phytoplankton populations were numerically more abundant in autumn and zooplankton peaked in spring.ConclusionsWastewater disposal restricted the abundance of the Nile zooplankton assemblages mainly due to the numerical decline of Rotifera and Cladocera. Otherwise, wastewater did not exert major limits for phytoplankton. The data obtained in this investigation will be crucial to understand potamoplankton regulation and contribute to the knowledge regarding the Limnology of the Nile basin.


Author(s):  
Aikaterini Karagianni ◽  
Georgia Stamou ◽  
Matina Katsiapi ◽  
Polina Polykarpou ◽  
Gerald Dörflinger ◽  
...  

Temporary saline lakes are diverse ecosystems mostly located in arid areas. In the Mediterranean region they are among the most remarkable, but also the most threatened habitats; thus, effective management and conservation plans need to consider their special hydrological and ecological features and requirements. They are mainly fishless systems and so zooplankton is the driver of the trophic cascade. Our aim was to determine zooplankton communities' composition and biomass in seven temporary saline lakes of Cyprus and investigate their relation with environmental variables. Salinity ranged between <2 and 300 ppt and was a key factor shaping zooplankton community. In hyposaline conditions zooplankton communities exhibited higher species diversity than in meso- and hypersaline conditions. Hyposaline lakes were dominated by Arctodiaptomus salinus (Daday, 1885), Daphnia magna Straus, 1820 and Moina brachiata (Jurine, 1820) in terms of biomass, while meso- and hypersaline lakes by anostracans Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758) and Phallocryptus spinosus (Milne-Edwards, 1840) or M. brachiata and D. magna highlighting competition as another factor shaping the zooplankton community. We conclude that zooplankton reflects environmental pressures, such as salinity fluctuations which are closely related to water level fluctuations, in the mostly fishless Mediterranean temporary saline lakes. Moreover, salinity fluctuations should be considered a key factor for typological considerations in quality assessments, restoration and management plans in temporary saline systems since it can reflect the hydrological variations on the communities across different years and seasons by salinity gradient even for the same water body.


1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (S1) ◽  
pp. s154-s162 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Holoka ◽  
S. G. Lawrence

An apparatus which draws lake water, either filtered or unaltered, at a preestablished rate through four 40.75 L vessels incubated in situ is described. The system provides facilities for the synchronous addition of experimental liquids such as toxicants. All components are readily transportable. The system is self-powered for periods up to one month depending on the rate of flow chosen. This apparatus provides for the isolation of the zooplankton community from other compartments in the lake, incubation in natural conditions, experimental periods of from 1 to 30 d, maintenance of chosen concentrations of added materials continuously or non-continuously as appropriate, and entry of food organisms with concomitant dilution of wastes and metabolites.The responses of selected zooplankton species or of zooplankton communities to impoundment, manipulation of predator or prey organisms and the addition of nutrient or toxic materials can be assessed as they occur in the naturally varying conditions of a lake environment while the population is being held as a separate and defined part of the whole-lake ecosystem.Methods for the construction and use of the apparatus, and for collection of samples are described. Methods for enumerating organisms in several sizes of subsamples are assessed. Data generated in several experiments are analyzed using standard statistical methods and percent similarity indices.


2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
VLS. Almeida ◽  
ÊW. Dantas ◽  
M. Melo-Júnior ◽  
MC. Bittencourt-Oliveira ◽  
AN. Moura

The aim of the present study was to investigate the zooplankton community at six reservoirs in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil). Zooplankton assemblages were identified using current literature and quantitatively analysed under a microscope and stereomicroscope. Concurrently to the sampling of zooplanktonic and phytoplanktonic communities, in situ measurements of abiotic variables, such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH, were determined using field probes and transparency was determined with a Secchi disk. Total phosphorus concentrations were used for the determination of the Trophic State Index. The reservoirs were classified between eutrophic and hypertrophic, oxygenated, with pH varying from slightly acid to alkaline, high temperatures and low water transparency. A total of 27 zooplankton taxa were identified. Phytoplankton was represented by Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Baccilariophyta and phytoflagellates. The highest richness of species was observed for Rotifera (17), followed by Crustacea (8), Protozoa (1) and Insecta (1). Rotifers shared quantitative importance with Crustacea, which were mainly represented by juvenile forms. Jazigo Reservoir presented the highest diversity and equitability. Lowest diversity and equitability were recorded at the Poço da Cruz and Mundaú reservoirs, respectively. Dissimilarity was detected between the environments studied regarding zooplankton composition and structure.


1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 414-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène Cyr

Many studies suggest that the taxonomic composition of a zooplankton community should determine its grazing rate and selectivity for different types of particles. It is generally believed that copepod-dominated communities should (i) have lower grazing rates and (ii) consume larger particles than communities dominated by large cladocerans. I tested these hypotheses in situ by comparing zooplankton grazing in 19 communities from low-productivity lakes where the zooplankton ranged from >99% copepod biomass to >90% large cladoceran biomass (Holopedium gibberum, Daphnia spp.). The zooplankton grazed 1-14% of total chlorophyll per day and 0-17% of the chlorophyll in algae <35 µm per day. Grazing rates increased with increasing zooplankton biomass (r2 = 0.34, P < 0.01), but once the effect of zooplankton biomass was accounted for, similar grazing rates were found in copepod- and in cladoceran-dominated communities. The difference in grazing rates on small algae and on the whole phytoplankton assemblage, on the other hand, varied systematically with zooplankton taxonomic composition. Holopedium-dominated communities were most efficient at grazing algae <35 µm, Bosmina-dominated communities had similar grazing rates on algae <35 µm and on the whole phytoplankton assemblage, and copepod-dominated communities had similar or slightly higher grazing rates on the whole phytoplankton assemblage. Qualitative differences in grazing selectivity of different zooplankton taxa are observed in complex natural communities.


1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. K. Kaushik ◽  
G. L. Stephenson ◽  
K. R. Solomon ◽  
K. E. Day

A series of in situ aquatic enclosures or limnocorrals (5 × 5 × 5 m deep) was used to evaluate the impact of the insecticide permethrin (3-phenoxybenzy[(1RS)-cis,trans-3-(2,2-dimethyl-3-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate) (50.0 and 5.0 μg∙L−1 in 1979 and 5.0 and 0.5 μg∙L−1 in 1980) on the pelagic zooplankton community in a 10-ha mesotrophic lake in southern Ontario. Permethrin was acutely toxic to the macrozooplankton (Cladocera and Copepoda) at all concentrations; microzooplankton (Rotifera) showed acute toxicity only at 50.0 μg∙L−1. Despite this initial toxicity, the density of microzooplankton increased dramatically 15–20 d post-treatment in all treated enclosures, and the rotifer populations dominated the zooplankton community for 3–4 wk. The high densities of microzooplankton were attributed to their inherent reproductive capabilities when released from competition and predation pressures. Resilience of the different zooplankton taxa was variable and depended upon both the species and the exposure concentration. Diversity of zooplankton was significantly reduced in communities exposed to permethrin. The limnocorral technique has proved to be an important tool for assessment of direct and indirect impacts of pesticides on and probable recovery of a zooplankton community under natural conditions.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beijuan Hu ◽  
Xuren Hu ◽  
Xue Nie ◽  
Xiaoke Zhang ◽  
Naicheng Wu ◽  
...  

Shallow lakes are important for the maintenance of Lake Poyang ecosystem integrity, and zooplankton play an important role in its substance and energy flow. We investigated zooplankton in spring (April), summer (July), autumn (October) and winter (January of the following year) from 2012 to 2016 in a sub-lake of Lake Poyang with seasonal water level fluctuations. The study aims to understand their seasonal dynamics and interannual variation of zooplankton community in relation to environmental variables. A total of 115 species were identified in all samples of the 4 years, comprising 87 Rotifera, 13 Cladocera and 15 Copepoda. Rotifera was the dominant group in quantity and its species richness and abundance were significantly higher than Cladocera and Copepoda (P<0.05, by ANOVA), while Cladocera dominated in biomass. Species richness of Rotifera showed a significant seasonal difference (P<0.05 by ANOVA). The clear decline of zooplankton species richness in spring was mainly due to the dramatic decrease of Rotifera species. Furthermore, both density and biomass of zooplankton showed significant seasonal differences (P<0.05). Generally, the density and biomass of zooplankton were higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. Biodiversity indices e.g., Shannon-Wiener index and evenness were dramatically lower in spring than in other seasons. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis suggested that the zooplankton communities can be divided into three groups: spring community, summer–autumn community and winter community associated with distinct indicator species. The results of species richness and community analysis showed that the seasonal succession of zooplankton communities did not have interannual reproducibility. Redundancy analysis revealed that water temperature (WT), conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) had significant effects on the zooplankton community. In addition, water level fluctuations, disturbance by wintering waterbirds and artificial water level control during dry season have potential effects on zooplankton community structure too. This study is helpful to further understand the ecosystem stability of lake connected with rivers and provide scientific guidance for protection of lake wetlands.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liubovi Lebedenco ◽  
◽  
Mykhailo Nabokyn ◽  
Nadejda Andreev ◽  
Svetlana Kovalyshyna ◽  
...  

The study focuses on zooplankton communities of the Lower Dniester. The quantitative indicators of plankton are given and the annual dynamics is described. An assessment of the current state of the river according to the state of zooplankton communities is presented, together with a comparison with historical data, at different stages of river regulation. The changes that occurred in the river zooplankton since the 1950s were analyzed. The relationships between individual characteristics of planktonic communities and the physical and chemical characteristics of the river was also investigated. A comparison of actual data with those collected during 70-80s revealed no significant changes in the structure of the zooplankton community. The proportion of different groups of zooplankton organisms changed insignificantly, the saprobity indices improved slightly, and the average zooplankton biomass did not change. However, compared to the period before 1950s, prior to river regulation for hydropower purposes the role of rotifers in the community was reduced. It might be difficult to identify the main factor determining the development of zooplankton in the Lower Dniester, in order to understand the processes taking place in planktonic communities, it is necessary to analyze the complex impact of hydrological and hydrochemical factors on planktonic communities.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beijuan Hu ◽  
Xuren Hu ◽  
Xue Nie ◽  
Xiaoke Zhang ◽  
Naicheng Wu ◽  
...  

Shallow lakes are important for the maintenance of Lake Poyang ecosystem integrity, and zooplankton play an important role in its substance and energy flow. We investigated zooplankton in spring (April), summer (July), autumn (October) and winter (January of the following year) from 2012 to 2016 in a sub-lake of Lake Poyang with seasonal water level fluctuations. The study aims to understand their seasonal dynamics and interannual variation of zooplankton community in relation to environmental variables. A total of 115 species were identified in all samples of the 4 years, comprising 87 Rotifera, 13 Cladocera and 15 Copepoda. Rotifera was the dominant group in quantity and its species richness and abundance were significantly higher than Cladocera and Copepoda (P<0.05, by ANOVA), while Cladocera dominated in biomass. Species richness of Rotifera showed a significant seasonal difference (P<0.05 by ANOVA). The clear decline of zooplankton species richness in spring was mainly due to the dramatic decrease of Rotifera species. Furthermore, both density and biomass of zooplankton showed significant seasonal differences (P<0.05). Generally, the density and biomass of zooplankton were higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. Biodiversity indices e.g., Shannon-Wiener index and evenness were dramatically lower in spring than in other seasons. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis suggested that the zooplankton communities can be divided into three groups: spring community, summer–autumn community and winter community associated with distinct indicator species. The results of species richness and community analysis showed that the seasonal succession of zooplankton communities did not have interannual reproducibility. Redundancy analysis revealed that water temperature (WT), conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) had significant effects on the zooplankton community. In addition, water level fluctuations, disturbance by wintering waterbirds and artificial water level control during dry season have potential effects on zooplankton community structure too. This study is helpful to further understand the ecosystem stability of lake connected with rivers and provide scientific guidance for protection of lake wetlands.


1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. S. Goderya ◽  
M. F. Dahab ◽  
W. E. Woldt ◽  
I. Bogardi

A methodology for incorporation of spatial variability in modeling non-point source groundwater nitrate contamination is presented. The methodology combines geostatistical simulation and unsaturated zone modeling for estimating the amount of nitrate loading to groundwater. Three dimensional soil nitrogen variability and 2-dimensional crop yield variability are used in quantifying potential benefits of spatially distributed nitrogen input. This technique, in combination with physical and chemical measurements, is utilized as a means of illustrating how the spatial statistical properties of nitrate leaching can be obtained for different scenarios of fixed and variable rate nitrogen applications.


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