EJPAU 2006. Bowszys M. , Hirsz E. , Paturej E. THE ROLE OF MACROPHYTES IN THE DIURNAL DISTRIBUTION OF CRUSTACEAN ZOOPLANKTON IN A LITTORAL OF A SHALLOW, MACROPHYTE-DOMINATED LAKE

Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.

2006
Volume 9
Issue 2/volume9

Topic:

Biology

ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES

Bowszys M. , Hirsz E. , Paturej E. 2006. THE ROLE OF MACROPHYTES IN THE DIURNAL DISTRIBUTION OF CRUSTACEAN ZOOPLANKTON IN A LITTORAL OF A SHALLOW, MACROPHYTE-DOMINATED LAKE, EJPAU 9(2/volume9), #18.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume9/issue2/volume9/abs-18.html

THE ROLE OF MACROPHYTES IN THE DIURNAL DISTRIBUTION OF CRUSTACEAN ZOOPLANKTON IN A LITTORAL OF A SHALLOW, MACROPHYTE-DOMINATED LAKE

Magdalena Bowszys, Ewa Hirsz, Ewa Paturej
Department of Applied Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland

ABSTRACT

In a mesotrophic, shallow, macrophyte-dominated lake, stable plant cover can be attractive for zooplankton species being a grazer or a prey; dense submerged vegetation, Chara beds in particular, can offer a day-time refuge for cladocerans and some adult copepods. The former use this shelter also at night; on the contrary, young stages of Copepoda distinctively avoided both types of plant covered areas during the day and migrated towards open water. That might resulted from the increased grazing upon zooplankton. The pressure of predatory fish in open water probably forced young fish to seek for a shelter. As Chara beds are too dense to be penetrated, they preferred emergent plant zone. That might encourage copepods to undertake reversed DHM. The present study suggests a significant role of plant cover on diurnal zooplankton distribution. Dense charophyte patches could offer a daytime refuge for cladocerans, and some adult forms of Copepoda, while both groups of planktonic invertebrates did not take the advantage of emergent macrophytes cover to avoid fish predation.

Key words: zooplankton migration, shallow lakes, macrophytes.

Magdalena Bowszys
Department of Applied Ecology,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland
phone +48 89 523 41 43
fax +48 89 523 35 17
email: mbowszys@uwm.edu.pl

Ewa Hirsz
Department of Applied Ecology,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland

Ewa Paturej
Department of Applied Ecology,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland
email: epaturej@uwm.edu.pl

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