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The impact of year-to-year changes in the weather on the dynamics of Daphnia in a thermally stratified lake

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Abstract

The factors influencing the seasonal dynamics of Daphnia in a thermally stratified lake (Esthwaite Water) are described and related to long-term changes in the weather. The Daphnia produced three cohorts in the year and the strength of the cohorts was determined by year-to-year variations in the physical characteristics of the lake and the abundance of edible algae. Food was most abundant in early summer when small, fast-growing flagellates were particularly common. In late summer, the phytoplankton community was dominated by large, inedible species but edible forms re-appeared when nutrients were entrained by wind mixing. Examples are presented to demonstrate the effect that year-to-year variations in the weather have on the growth of the phytoplankton and the dynamics of the Daphnia. In ‘good’ years, when the lake stratifies early and there are periods of episodic mixing in summer, there are two ‘pulses’ of edible algae and two strong cohorts of Daphnia. In ‘bad’ years when stratification is delayed and there is little episodic mixing, the growth of the edible algae is suppressed and the Daphnia produce two weak cohorts. The results are discussed in relation to the impact of intermediate disturbances on growth of phytoplankton and current theories of population regulation in Daphnia. The evidence suggests that the dynamics of the Daphnia in the lake are strongly influenced by seasonal variations in the mixing regime, the recycling of nutrients and the episodic growth of edible algae.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank W.J.P. Smyly for organizing the sampling programme and Mr T. Furnass for counting the zooplankton samples. The phytoplankton counts are taken from an earlier publication prepared in collaboration with Dr J.W.G. Lund. This study was part funded by the European Union Environment and Climate projects REFLECT (ENV4-CT97-0453) and CLIME (EVK-CT-2002-00121).

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  1. D. P. Hewitt

    Present address: The Freshwater Biological Association, The Ferry House, Far Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA 22 OLP, UK

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  1. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK

    D. G. George & D. P. Hewitt

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  1. D. G. George
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  2. D. P. Hewitt
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Correspondence to D. G. George.

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George, D.G., Hewitt, D.P. The impact of year-to-year changes in the weather on the dynamics of Daphnia in a thermally stratified lake. Aquat Ecol 40, 33–47 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-005-9013-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-005-9013-3

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