Abstract
The psammic rotifer community inhabiting the bottom of a second order stream partially under the influence of acid mine drainage was studied from May, 1978 to November, 1979. Thirty-one species of rotifers were found, but abundances were very low (range 0.0 to 8.6 cm-3). Total rotifer density and densities of major genera differed significantly over time, among sites and between depths in the sediment (P < .01). Highest densities occurred in the top 1 cm of sediment during periods of stream stability in the late summer and fall. Total rotifer density and densities of Lecane spp., Cephalodella spp. and Trichocerca spp. were positively correlated with alkalinity and negatively correlated with manganese (canonical correlation, p < .05). Densities of all taxa were negatively correlated with variability in water chemistry. Total rotifer density was found to be positively correlated with minimum monthly temperature (r = 0.6, P <. 05) and to lag behind the temperature cycle by 6 weeks. Rotifer species were found to be randomly distributed in time and space with no evidence which might suggest competitive exclusion. A highly variable and unpredictable environment is thought to keep density and diversity low in this community.
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Evans, W.A. Seasonal abundances of the psammic rotifers of a physically controlled stream. Hydrobiologia 108, 105–114 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014869
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014869