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Summer dynamics of egg-ratio of the rotifer Keratella cochlearis (Gosse, 1851) in a eutrophic reservoir: a field study on affecting factors

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Abstract

The relative strength of factors affecting the egg-ratio (ER) of field rotifer populations and the interactions among them remain poorly studied, nevertheless such knowledge is essential to understand rotifer population dynamics, and production. We present the results of a field study of the summer ER dynamics of the cosmopolitan rotifer Keratella cochlearis (Gosse, 1851), in a eutrophic central Texas reservoir, USA. Relationships between ER and water temperature, Secchi depth, population density, food resources, and potential competitors and predators were studied by single correlation and multiple regression analyses. Low values of ER were concurrent with low and decreasing numbers of the edible phytoplankton fraction and with the increasing number of the inedible fraction suggesting food limitation. ER was significantly correlated inversely with population density and positively with free bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates. No significant correlations were found with abiotic factors and competitors and predators. Significant multiple regression models with the best predictive variables highlighted the importance of intraspecific interactions on ER. Thus, intraspecific interactions and food resources emerged as the main controls acting on the summer ER dynamics of K. cochlearis in this reservoir.

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Acknowledgements

This research was partially funded by a City of Waco contract: Lake Waco Comprehensive Lake Management Study. CL and LMS acknowledge Universidad del Zulia and Baylor University for financial support during their stay at Baylor University as visiting research professors. Special thanks to D. Clubbs and C. Filstrup for assistance in fieldwork. Corrections and suggestions from anonymous referees greatly improved an early version of manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Zooplancton, Departamento de Biología, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias, Universidad del Zulia, Apdo. 526, Maracaibo, 4011-A, Venezuela

    Carlos López

  2. Laboratorio de Microbiología Acuática, Departamento de Biología, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias, Universidad del Zulia, Apdo. 526, Maracaibo, 4011-A, Venezuela

    Luz Marina Soto

  3. Laboratorio de Limnología, Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, México and Department of Biology and Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, One Bear Place # 97388, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Laura Dávalos-Lind

  4. Limnology Laboratory, Department of Biology and Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, One Bear Place # 97388, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Owen Lind

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  1. Carlos López
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Correspondence to Carlos López.

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López, C., Soto, L.M., Dávalos-Lind, L. et al. Summer dynamics of egg-ratio of the rotifer Keratella cochlearis (Gosse, 1851) in a eutrophic reservoir: a field study on affecting factors. Hydrobiologia 589, 175–185 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-0737-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-0737-z

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