Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The coexistence of three species of Daphnia in the Klostersee

II. The stabilizing effect of selective mortality and conclusions for the stability of the system

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Data are presented which make it most probable that selection according to relative visibility (represented by body size and egg ratio) and relative mortality stabilize the coexistence of Daphnia hyalina hyalina Leydig, D. galeata gracilis Hellich and D. cucullata Sars in the prealpine Klostersee. The results are based on multiple and partial correlation analyses which showed positive partial correlation between relative size and/or relative egg ratio and/or relative abundance, and the index of selectivity (W) according to Vanderploeg and Scavia (1979). Further it turned out that besides size, abundance, and egg ratio, the lake temperature but not other environmental parameters are related with the mortality of Daphnia. From these data a verbal descriptive model is derived which explains the seasonal segregation and stable coexistence of the three species.

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

  • Archibald CP (1975) Experimental observations on the effects of predation by goldfish Carassius auratus on the zooplankton of a small saline lake. J Fish Res Board Can 32: 1589–1594

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohl E (1974) Untersuchungen über die Mortalität der sympatrischen Daphnienarten D. hyalina und D. cucullata (Crustacea, Cladocera) durch Fischfraß unter besonderer Berücksichtigung ihrer Abhängigkeit von der Lichtintensität. Diploma thesis University of Munich

  • Bohl E (1979) Mechanismen der Nahrungsselektivität planktivorer Cypriniden. Doctoral thesis University of Munich

  • Bohl E (1980) Diel pattern of pelagic distribution and feeding in planktivorous fish. Oecologia (Berl) 44: 368–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks JL, Dodson SI (1965) Predation, body size and composition of plankton. Science 150: 28–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Confer JL, Blades PI (1975) Reaction distance to zooplankton by Lepomis gibbosus. Verh Internat Verein Limnol 19: 2493–2497

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper WE (1965) Dynamics and production of a natural population of fresh water amphipod, Hyalella azteca. Ecol Monogr 35: 377–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Gessner F (1953) Die Limnologie des Naturschutzgebietes Seeon. Arch Hydrobiol 47: 553–624

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall DJ (1964) An experimental approach to the dynamics of a natural population of Daphnia galeata mendotae. Ecol 45: 94–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall DJ, Cooper WE, Werner EE (1970) An experimental approach to the production dynamics and structure of freshwater animal communities. Limnology and Oceanography 15: 839–928

    Google Scholar 

  • Hrbacek H, Hrbackova-Esslova M (1960) Fish stock as a protective agent in the occurrence of the slow developing dwarf species and strains of the genus Daphnia. Int Rev Hydrobiol 45: 355–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs J (1967) Untersuchungen zur Funktion und Evolution der Zyklomorphose bei Daphnia, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Selektion durch Fische. Arch Hydrobiol 62: 467–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs J (1977a) Coexistence of similar zooplankton species by differential adaptation to reproduction and escape in an environment with fluctuating food and enemy densities. II. Field data analysis of Daphnia. Oecologia (Berl) 30: 313–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs J (1977b) Coexistence of similar zooplankton species by differential adaptation to reproduction and escape in an environment with fluctuating food and enemy densities. I. A model. Oecologia (Berl) 29: 233–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs J (1978) Coexistence of similar zooplankton species by differential adaptation to reproduction and escape in an environment with fluctuating food and enemy densities. III. Laboratory experiments. Oecologia (Berl) 35: 35–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs J (1979) The influence of prey size, light intensity, and alternative prey, on the selectivity of plankton feeding fish. Verh. Internat Verein Limnol 20 (Kopenhagen), 2461–2466

    Google Scholar 

  • Kettle D, O'Brien WJ (1978) Vulnerability of arctic zooplankton species to predation by small lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) J Fish Res Board Can 35: 1495–1500

    Google Scholar 

  • Kucklentz V (1975) Untersuchungen über selectives Fressen bei Forellen und Elritzen. Doctoral thesis, University of Munich

  • Lampert W (1971) Untersuchungen zur Biologie und Populationsdynamik der Coregonen im Schluchsee. Arch Hydrobiol/Suppl 38: 237–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellors WK (1975) Selective predation of ephippial Daphnia and the resistance of ephippial eggs to digestion. Ecol 56: 974–980

    Google Scholar 

  • Metz JP (1974) Die Invertebratendrift an der Oberfläche eines Voralpenflusses und ihre selektive Ausnutzung durch die Regenbogenforellen (Salmo gairdneri). Oecologia (Berl) 14: 247–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Murdoch WW, Avery S, Smyth EB (1975) Switching in predatory fish. Ecol 56: 1094–1105

    Google Scholar 

  • Neill WE (1975) Resource partitioning by competing microcrustaceans in stable laboratory microoecosystems. Verh Internat Verein Limnol 19: 2885–2890

    Google Scholar 

  • Nie NH, Hull CH, Jenkins JG, Steinbrenner K, Bent DH (1975) SPSS Statistical package for the social sciences. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Northcote TG, Clarotto R (1975) Limnetic macrozooplankton and fish predation in some coastal British Columbia lakes. Verh Internat Verein Limnol 19: 2378–2393

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Brien WJ, Slade NA, Vinyard GL (1976) Apparent size as the determinant of prey selection by bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus). Ecol 57: 1304–1310

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy SR (1975) Effect of water temperature on the predatory efficiency of Gambusia affinis. Experientia 31: 801–802

    Google Scholar 

  • Seghers BH (1975) Role of gill rakers in size-selective predation by lake white fish Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill). Verh Internat Verein Limnol 19: 2410–2405

    Google Scholar 

  • Seitz A (1977) Die Bedeutung von Umweltfaktoren, Konkurrenz und Räuber-Beute-Beziehungen für die Koexistenz dreier Daphnienarten. Eine Freilandanalyse im Seeoner Klostersee. Doctoral thesis in Biology. University Munich

  • Seitz A (1979) On the calculation of birth rates and death rates in fluctuating populations with continuous recruitment. Oecologia (Berl) 41: 343–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Seitz A (1980) The coexistence of three species of Daphnia in the Klostersee. I. Field studies on the dynamics of reproduction. Oecologia (Berl) 45: 117–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Stavn RH (1975) The effects of predator pressure on species composition and vertical distribution of Daphnia in Piedmont Lakes of North Carolina, U.S.A. Verh Internat Verein Limnol 19: 2891–2897

    Google Scholar 

  • Tappa DW (1965) The dynamics and the association of six limnetic species of Daphnia in Aziscoos Lake. Maine Ecol Monogr 35: 395–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Threlkeld ST (1979) The midsummer dynamics of the two Daphnia species in Wintergreen Lake, Michigan Ecol 60: 165–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderploeg HA, Scavia D (1979) Two electivity indices for feeding with special reference to zooplankton gracing. J Fish Res Board Can 36: 362–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner EE, Hall DJ (1974) Optimal foraging and the size selection of prey by the bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) Ecol 55: 1042–1052

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright JC (1965) The population dynamics and production of Daphnia in Canyon Ferry reservoir, Montana. Limnology and Oceanography 10: 583–590

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaret TM (1972) Predators, invisible prey and the nature of polymorphism in the Cladocera. Limnology and Oceanography 17: 171–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaret TM, Kerfoot WC (1975) Fish predation on Bosmina longirostris: Body size versus visibility selection. Ecol 56: 232–237

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Tierökologie der Universität Bayreuth, Postfach 3008, D-8580, Bayreuth, Federal Republic of Germany

    Alfred Seitz

Authors
  1. Alfred Seitz
    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

Seitz, A. The coexistence of three species of Daphnia in the Klostersee. Oecologia 47, 333–339 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398526

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00398526

Keywords

Search

Navigation