Abstract
The profundal macroinvertebrates, particularly the oligochaetes, of Lake Ledro (Trento, Italy), that has recently undergone eutrophication, were studied.
A statistical approach of random sampling was used to study the distribution and abundance of the oligochaete species. The optimum sample number was calculated from a preliminary sample series. The oligochaete community was made up of five tubificid species, one naidid and one lumbriculid species that on average represents more than 80 % of the macrobenthic community. Population density was correlated with depth and decreasing oxygen concentration. The role of Tubifex tubifex as a eutrophic, tolerant species was confirmed; and in fact it was the only species found (although at low density) in the deepest and anoxic zone. No comparable data are available for the lake prior to eutrophication, but these data will be valuable for future comparison once a remediation program for the lake has been implemented.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Barbato, G., 1977. Note idrobiologiche sul Lago di Ledro. Ann. Mus. Civ. St. Nat. Brescia 14: 92–109.
Bonomi, G., 1974. Indagini sul Lago di Garda. Benton profondo. IRSA CNR, 18: 211–223.
Casellato, S., 1990. Il Lago di Ledro: Valutazione del suo stato trofico. Provincia Autonoma di Trento, 111 pp.
Elliot, J. M., 1977. Some methods for the statistical analysis of samples of benthic invertebrates. Freshwat. Biol. FBA 25. 160 pp.
Lang, C. & B. Lang-Dobler, 1980. Structure of tubificid and lumbriculid communities, and three indices of trophy based upon these communities, as descriptors of eutrophication level of Lake Geneva (Switzerland). In R. O. Brinkhurst & D. G. Cook (eds), Aquatic Oligochaete Biology. Plenum Publishing Corporation, New York: 457–470.
Milbrink, G., 1978. Indicator communities of oligochaetes in Scandinavian lakes. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 20: 2406–2411.
Milbrink, G., 1980. Oligochaete communities in pollution biology. The European situation with special reference to lakes in Scandinavia. In R. O. Brinkhurst & D. G. Cook (eds), Aquatic Oligochaete Biology. Plenum Publishing Corporation, New York: 433–455.
Milbrink, G., 1983. An improved environmental index based on the relative abundance of oligochaete species. Hydro-biologia 102: 89–97.
Milbrink, G., 1987. Biological characterization of sediments by standardized tubificid bioassays. Hydrobiologia 155: 267–275.
Probst, L., 1987. Sublittoral and produndal Oligochaeta fauna from the lake Constance (Bodensee-Obersee). Hydrobiologia 155: 277–282.
Ravera, O., 1966. Stability and pattern of distribution of the benthos in different habitats of an alpine oligotrophic lake: Lunzer Untersee. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 16: 233–244.
Ruggiu, D. & C. Saraceni, 1972. A statistical study of the distribution and abundance of the bottom fauna of a lake undergoing accelerated eutrophication (Lake Mergozzo, N. Italy). Mem. 1st. ital. Idrobiol. 29: 169–187.
Sarkka J., 1987. The occurrence of oligochaetes in lake chains receiving pulp mill waste and their relation to eutrophication on the trophic scale. Hydrobiologia 155: 259–265.
Tonolli, V., 1956. Il Lago di Ledro nelle sue vicende di lago naturale, lago serbatoio e lago rifornito. Mem. Ist. ital. Idrobiol. 9: 25–48.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this paper
Cite this paper
Casellato, S., Caneva, F. (1994). Composition and distribution of bottom oligochaete fauna of a north Italian eutrophic lake (Lake Ledro). In: Reynoldson, T.B., Coates, K.A. (eds) Aquatic Oligochaete Biology V. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 95. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0842-3_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0842-3_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4363-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0842-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive