Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Species composition, distribution and seasonal dynamics of Rotifera in a Rift Valley lake in Ethiopia (Lake Awasa)

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The species composition of rotifers in Lake Awasa was studied and 40 species recorded. Seven species appeared in large numbers in the plankton seasonally. Brachionus and Keratella species made up more than 50% of the rotifer community by numbers during the observation period (1983–1987). The standing stock numbers of rotifer species are low with a maximum of 50 individuals L−1, and some possible reasons for this observation are discussed. Most rotifer species are distributed randomly in the lake and show 3-fold fluctuations between consecutive days.

The seasonal dynamics of most rotifer species are correlated with mixing periods in the lake, and the amplitude of seasonal fluctuation may be as high as 50-fold. Clear-cut seasonal succession of rotifer species was observed during the study period, but no consistent seasonal pattern for individual species was obvious. Also, observations indicate that rotifer biomass is partly sustained by availability of carbon through the bacterial pathway and that competitive exclusion for food by nauplii and ciliates probably keeps rotifer abundance low.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allan, J. D., 1976. Life history patterns in zooplankton. Am. Nat. 110: 165–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belay, A. & R. B. Wood, 1984. Primary productivity of five Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 22: 1187–1192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berner-Fankhauser, H., 1987. The influence of sampling strategy on the apparent population dynamics of planktonic rotifers. Hydrobiologia 147: 181–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryce, D., 1931. Report on the Rotifera. Mr Omer-Cooper's investigations of the Abyssinian Freshwaters. Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 1931: 865–878.

  • Burgis, M. J., 1969. A preliminary study of the ecology of zooplankton in Lake George, Uganda. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 17: 297–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgis, M. J., 1974. Revised estimates for the biomass and production of zooplankton in Lake George, Uganda. Freshwat Biol. 4: 535–541.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cannicci, G. & F. Almagia, 1947. Notizie salla ‘facies’ plantonica di lacuni Laghi della fossa Galla. Bolletino di Pesca, Piscicoltura e Idrobiologia. Vol. II, fasc. I.

  • De Ridder, M., 1984. A review of the rotifer fauna of the Sudan. Hydrobiologia. 110: 113–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Ridder, M., 1985. Contributions to the knowledge of African rotifers: Rotifers from the Ivory Coast. Hydrobiologia. 127: 53–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Ridder, M., 1987. Distribution of rotifers in African fresh and inland saline lakes. Hydrobiologia. 147: 9–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, A., 1983. The composition, density and distribution of the zooplankton in Parakrama Samudra. In: F. Schiemer (ed.). Limnology of Parakrama Samudra - Sri Lanka. Dr. W. Junk.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, A. & Gulati R. D., 1981. Parakrama Samudra (Sri Lanka) project, a study of a tropical lake ecosystem. III. Composition, density and distribution of the zooplankton in 1979. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 21: 1007–1014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egborge, A. B. M., 1981. The composition, seasonal variation and distribution of zooplankton in Lake Asejire, Nigeria. Rev. Zool. Afr. 95, 1: 136–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elizabeth Kebede, 1987. A seasonal study on the species composition and phytoplankton biomass in Lake Awasa, Ethiopia. M.Sc. thesis, Addis Ababa University.

  • Elliot, J. M., 1977. Some methods for the statistical analysis of samples of benthic invertebrates. Scientific Publication No. 25. 2nd ed. FBA.

  • Eyualem Abebe, 1984. Studies on the gut contents of juveniles of Oreochromis niloticus (Tilapia) in Lake Awasa. 4th year thesis. Biology Department, Addis Ababa University.

  • Fernando, C. H., 1980a. The freshwater zooplankton of Sri Lanka with a discussion of tropical freshwater zooplankton composition. Int. Revue. ges. Hydrobiol. 65, 1: 85–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernando, C. H., 1980b. The species and size composition of tropical freshwater zooplankton with special reference to the Oriental region (South East Asia). Int. Revue. ges. Hydrobiol. 65, 3: 411–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernando, C. H. & R. Rajapaksa, 1983. Some remarks on long-term and seasonal changes in the zooplankton of Parakrama Samudra. In: F. Schiemer (ed.). Limnology of Parakrama Samudra - Sri Lanka. Dr. W. Junk, Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finlay, B. J. & C. R. Curds, S. S. Banforth & J. M. Banfort, 1987. Ciliated protozoa and other microorganisms from two African soda lakes, Lake Nakuru and Lake Simbi, Kenya. Arch. Prot. 133 12: 81–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fulton, R. S. III & H. W. Pearl, 1987. Toxic and inhibitory effects of the blue-green alga Microcystis aeruginosa on herbivorous zooplankton. J. Plankton Res. 9: 837–856.

    Google Scholar 

  • GetachewTeferra, 1987. A study on a herbivorous fish, Oreochromis niloticus L. diet and its quality in two Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes, Awasa and Zwai. J. Fish. Biol. 30:439–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Getachew Teferra & Fernando, C. H. (in press). Food, nutrition and digestive efficiency of Oreochromis niloticus in Lake Awasa, Ethiopia. Hydrobiologia.

  • Gillard, A., 1957. Exploration hydrobiologique du lac Tanganyika. Rotifères. Mem. Inst. roy. soc. nat. Belg. Vol. III. fase 6: 3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, J., 1960. Zooplankton of the River Sokoto. The Rotifers. Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 135: 491–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, J., 1986. Zooplankton associations in some Ethiopian crater lakes. Freshwat. Biol. 16: 495–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, J., 1987. Keratella cochlearis (Gosse) in Africa. Hydrobiologia 147: 3–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, R. C., 1985. Seasonality of aquatic invertebrates in low-latitude and Southern Hemisphere inland waters. Hydrobiologia 125: 151–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, R. C., 1987. Population dynamics and production of five crustacean zooplankters in a subtropical reservoir during years of contrasting turbidity. Freshwat. Biol. 18: 287–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzig, A., 1987. The analysis of planktonic rotifer populations: a plea for long-term investigations. Hydrobiologia 147: 163–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillbricht-Ilkowska, A., 1965. The effect of the frequency of sampling on the picture of the occurrence and the dynamics of plankton rotifers. Ekol. Pol. A. 13: 101–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, G. E., 1967. A treatise of Limnology. Vol II.

  • James, C. M., P. Dias & A. E. Salman, 1987. The use of marine yeasts (Candida sp.) and baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in combination with Chlorella sp. for mass culture of the rotifer Brachionus pliciatilis. Hydrobiologia. 147: 263–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kibret Tilahun, 1985. The benthos study of Lake Awasa. M.Sc. dissertation. Addis Ababa University. 216 pp.

  • Koste, W., 1978. Rotatoria. Borntraeger. Berlin. 2 vol.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, W. M. Jr., 1979. Zooplankton community analysis: Studies on a tropical system. Springer-Verlag, New York, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makarawicz, J. C. & G. E. Likens, 1979. Structure and function of the zooplankton community of Mirror Lake, New Hampshire. Ecol. Monogr. 49: 109–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makin, M. J., T. L. Kingham, A. E. Waddams, C. J. Birchall & B. W. Eaves, 1976. Prospects for irrigation development around Lake Zwai, Ethiopia. Lande sources study No 26. Ministry of Overseas Development, UK. HMSO. 316 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, N. C., T. Backiel, G. Bretscko, A. Duncan, A. Hillbricht-Ilkowska, Z. Kajak, J. F. Kitchell, P. Larsson, C. Leveque, A. Nauwerck, F. Schiemer & J. E. Thorp, 1980. Secondary production. In: E. D. LeCren and R. H. Lowe-McConnel (eds.). The functioning of freshwater ecosystems. I.B.P. 22 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pantastico, J. B., C. Espegadera & D. Reyes, 1982. Fry-to-fingerling production of Tilapia nilotica in aquarium using phytoplankton as natural food. Phillipine J. Biol. 11: 245–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pejler, B., 1977. On the global distribution of the family Brachionidae (Rotatoria). Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl 53: 253–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pourriot, R., 1968. Rotiferes du Lac Tchad. Bull IFAN, A. 30: 471–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. S., 1984. Phytoplankton periodicity: the interaction of form, function and environmental variability. Freshwat. Biol. 14: 111–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richerson, P. J., C. Windmer, T. Kittel & A. C. Landa, 1975. A survey of the physical and chemical limnology of Lake Titicaca. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 19: 1498–1503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, A. H. & P. K. Robinson, 1971. Seasonal distribution of zooplankton in the northern basin of Lake Chad. J. zool. Lond. 163: 25–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruttner-Kolisko, A., 1975. The vertical distribution of plankton rotifers in a small alpine lake with a sharp oxygen depletion (Lunzer Obersee). Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 19: 1286–1294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Serruya, C. & U. Pollingher, 1984. Lakes of the Warm Belt. Cambridge University Press.

  • Snedecor, G. W. & W. G. Cochran,1980. Statistical methods (7th ed). Ames, Iowa state University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, U., Z. M. Gliwicz, W. Lampert & A. Duncan, 1986. The PEG-model of seasonal succession of planktonic events in freshwaters. Arch. Hydrobiol. 106, 4: 433–471.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spodniewska, J., 1964. Problems of the frequency of taking samples for phytoplankton studies. Ekol. Pol. A. 12: 51–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, W. D. & Gebre-Mariam Zinabu (in press). Size-structure and activity of the plankton community of an Ethiopian Rift Valley lake. Freshwater Biology.

  • Tudorancea, C., C. H. Fernando & J. C. Paggi, 1988. Food and feeding ecology of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) juveniles in Lake Awasa (Ethiopia) Arch Hydrobiol. Suppl 79. (2/3). 267–289.

  • Twombly, S., 1983. Patterns of abundance and population dynamics of zooplankton in Tropical Lake Malawi. Ph.D. thesis. Yale Univ. 180 pp.

  • Twombly, S. & W. M. Lewis Jr. 1987. Zooplankton abundance and species composition in Laguna La Orsinera, a Venezuelan floodplain lake. Arch Hydrobiol/Supp 79, 1: 87–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wetzel, R., 1984. Limnology. Saunders: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wodajo, K. & A. Belay, 1984. Species composition and seasonal abundance of zooplankton in two Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes Lakes Abijata and Langano. Hydrobiologia 113: 129–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, R. B. & J. F. Talling, 1988. Chemical and algal relationships in a salinity series of Ethiopian inland waters. Hydrobiologia 158: 29–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinabu Gebre-Mariam, 1988. Dynamics of heterotrophic bacterioplankton in an Ethiopian Rift Valley lake (Lake Awasa). Ph.D. thesis. University of Waterloo, 110 pp.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Seyoum Mengestou

  2. Centre for Research in Aquatic Biology, Queen Mary College, University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK

    J. Green

  3. Biology Department, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, Ont, Canada

    C. H. Fernando

Authors
  1. Seyoum Mengestou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Green
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. H. Fernando
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mengestou, S., Green, J. & Fernando, C.H. Species composition, distribution and seasonal dynamics of Rotifera in a Rift Valley lake in Ethiopia (Lake Awasa). Hydrobiologia 209, 203–214 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015343

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015343

Key words

Search

Navigation