Skip to main content
Log in

The distribution of microcrustacea in the littoral zone of a freshwater lake

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The distribution of microcrustacea in the water column, sediments and on different macrophyte species was examined in the littoral zone of Jack Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada. Large numbers of microcrustacea occurred in association with macrophytes, suggesting that this habitat should receive greater attention in future studies of microcrustacean numbers, biomass, and production. The relative abundance of different microcrustacea varied considerably among sediments, macrophytes and water column samples. Although microcrustacean species composition differed among macrophyte groups, consistent differences in absolute numbers per gram could not be demonstrated. Epiphytic microcrustacean community structure also varied among depth strata in Jack Lake. Few epiphytic and benthic microcrustacea migrated into the water column on a diurnal basis.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cooley, W. W. & P. R. Lohnes, 1971. Multivariate data analysis. J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 364 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crisman, T. L. & D. R. Whitehead, 1978. Paleolimnological studies on small New England (U.S.A.) ponds. Part II. Cladoceran community responses to trophic oscillations. Pol. Arch. Hydrobiol. 25: 75–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cyr, H. & J. A. Downing, 1988a. Empirical relationships of phytomacrofaunal abundance to plant biomass and macrophyte bed characteristics. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 45: 976–984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cyr, H. & J. A. Downing, 1988b. The abundance of phytophilous invertebrates on different species of submerged macrophytes. Freshwat. Biol. 20: 365–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daggett, R. F. & C. C. Davis, 1974. A seasonal quantitative study of the littoral Cladocera and Copepoda in a bog pond and acid marsh in Newfoundland. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 59: 667–683.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, J., 1985. Evidence for a diurnal horizontal migration in Daphnia hyalina lacustris Sars. Hydrobiologia 120: 103–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiFonzo, C. D. & J. M. Campbell, 1988. Spatial partitioning of microhabitats in littoral cladoceran communities. J. freshwat. Ecol. 4: 303–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Downing, J. A., 1986. A regression technique for the estimation of epiphytic invertebrate populations. Freshwat. Biol. 16: 161–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, M. S. & J. A. Stewart, 1977. Epibenthic and benthic microcrustaceans (copepods, cladocerans, ostracods) from a nearshore area in southeastern Lake Michigan. Limnol. Oceanogr. 22: 1059–1066.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flossner, D., 1985. The meiozoobenthos. In Lake Stechlin. A temperate oligotrophic lake. Dr W. Junk, Boston: 219–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fryer, G., 1957. The food of some freshwater cyclopoid copepods and its ecological significance. J. anim. Ecol. 26: 263–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fryer, G., 1968. Evolution and adaptive radiation in the Chydoridae (Crustacea: Cladocera): a study in comparative functional morphology and ecology. Phil. Trans. r. Soc., Lond. B 254: 221–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fryer, G., 1974. Evolution and adaptive radiation in the Macrothricidae (Crustacea: Cladocera): a study in comparative functional morphology and ecology. Phil. Trans. r. Soc., Lond. B 260: 137–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gehrs, C. W., 1974. Horizontal distribution and abundance of Diaptomus clavipes Schacht in relation to Potamogeton foliosus in a pond and under experimental conditions. Limnol. Oceanogr. 19: 100–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hare, L. & J. C. H. Carter, 1976. Diacyclops nanus (Cyclopoida: Copepoda), a new record from the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. J. Great Lakes Res. 2: 294–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hargeby, A., 1990. Macrophyte associated invertebrates and the effect of habitat permanence. Oikos 57: 338–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, D. A., H. H. Harvey & K. M. Somers, 1990. Ratios in aquatic sciences: statistical shortcomings with mean depth and the morphoedaphic index. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 47: 1788–1795.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalonde, S. & J. A. Downing, 1991. Epiphyton biomass is related to lake trophic status, depth, and macrophyte architecture. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 48: 2285–2291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyers, D. G., 1980. Diurnal vertical migration in aquatic microcrustacea: light and oxygen responses of littoral zooplankton. In W. C. Kerfoot(ed.), Evolution and Ecology of Zooplankton Communities. The University press of New England, Hanover (N.H.): 80–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyers, D. G., 1984. Habitat shifting, feeding mode versatility, and alternate resource exploitation by herbivorous cladoceran zooplankton in a montane lake. In D. G. Meyers & J. R. Strickler (eds), Trophic interactions within aquatic ecosystems. AAAS Selected Symposium 85: 309–345.

  • Neter. J., W. Wasserman & M. H. Kutner, 1983. Applied linear regression models. Richard D. Irwin, Homewood, 547 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patalas, K., 1971. Crustacean plankton communities in fortyfive lakes in the Experimental Lakes Area, northwestern Ontario. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 28: 231–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, M. J., 1991. Invertebrate predation and the seasonal dynamics of microcrustacea in the littoral zone of Jack Lake, Nova Scotia. Ph. D. thesis, Dalhousie University, Halifax, 235 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paterson, M. J., 1993. Invertebrate predation and the seasonal dynamics of microcrustacea in the littoral zone of a fishless lake. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. (in press)

  • Pennak, R. W., 1962. Quantitative zooplankton sampling in littoral vegetation areas. Limnol. Oceanogr. 7: 487–489.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pielou, E. C., 1984. The interpretation of ecological data. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 263 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pip, E. & J. M. Stewart, 1976. The dynamics of two aquatic plant-snail associations. Can. J. Zool. 54: 1192–1205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quade, H. W., 1969. Cladoceran faunas associated withaquatic macrophytes in some lakes in northwestern Minnesota. Ecology 50: 170–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, R. R. & F. J. Rohlf, 1981. Biometry, 2nd edn. W. H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, 859 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strayer, D., 1985. The benthic micrometazoans of Mirror Lake, New Hampshire. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 72: 287–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tinson, S. & J. Laybourn-Parry, 1985. The behavioral responses and tolerance of freshwater benthic cyclopoid copepods to hypoxia and anoxia. Hydrobiologia 127: 257–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vuille, T., 1991. Abundance, standing crop and production of microcrustacean populations (Cladocera, copepoda) in the littoral zone of Lake Biel, Switzerland. Arch. Hydrobiol. 123: 165–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteside, M. C., 1974. Chydorid (Cladocera) ecology: seasonal patterns and abundance of populations in Elk Lake, Minnesota. Ecology 55: 538–550.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteside, M. C. & J. B. Williams, 1975. A new sampling technique for aquatic ecologists. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 19: 1534–1539.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteside, M. C., J. B. Williams & C. P. White, 1978. Seasonal abundance and pattern of chydorid Cladocera in mud and vegetative habitats. Ecology 59: 1177–1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, L., 1990. SYSTAT: the system for statistics. SYSTAT Inc., Evanston, 822 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. B., 1982. Temporal and spatial patterns of abundance of the Chydoridae (Cladocera) in Lake Itasca, Minnesota. Ecology 63: 345–353.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paterson, M. The distribution of microcrustacea in the littoral zone of a freshwater lake. Hydrobiologia 263, 173–183 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006268

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006268

Key words

Navigation