POPULATION DYNAMICS AND
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY OF
ZOOPLANKTON II
Often see coexistence of several
congenerics.
Mechanisms which promote their coexistence:
• Seasonal separation
• Vertical separation
• Size differences in prey
An oxbow (Varza Lake) was examined
for vertical migration by zooplankters
Rejas, D., L. de Meester, L.
Ferrufino, M. Maldonado, and F.
Ollevier. 2007. Diel vertical
migration of zooplankton in an
Amazonian varzea lake. Studies
on Neotropical Fauna and
Environment. 42(1): 71-81.
Vertical Migration by Microcrustaceans
Figure 3. Vertical distribution of the
microcrustacean taxa (Mesocyclops and
Notodiaptomus) in Laguna Bufeos. Abundance
is expressed as percentage of total number of
individuals in vertical profile. White bars: day;
dark bars: night. Error bars equal twice the
standard error of the mean.
Rejas, D., L. de Meester, L. Ferrufino, M.
Maldonado, and F. Ollevier. 2007. Diel vertical
migration of zooplankton in an Amazonian
varzea lake. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and
Environment. 42(1): 71-81.
Vertical Migration by Rotifers
Figure 4. Vertical distribution of the rotifer taxa
in Laguna Bufeos. Abundance is expressed as
percentage of total number of individuals in
vertical profile. White bars: day; dark bars:
night. Error bars equal twice the standard error
of the mean.
Rejas, D., L. de Meester, L. Ferrufino, M.
Maldonado, and F. Ollevier. 2007. Diel vertical
migration of zooplankton in an Amazonian
varzea lake. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and
Environment. 42(1): 71-81.
Rangel, L.M., L.H.S. Silva, M.S. Arcifa, and A. Perticarrari. 2009. Driving forces of the diel
distribution of phytoplankton functional groups in a shallow tropical lake. Brazilian Journal of
Biology. 69(1): doi: 10.1590/S1519-69842009000100009.
Vertical distribution of Daphnia
retrocurva in Lake Michigan
Williamson et al. (2011). Toward a
more comprehensive theory of
zooplankton diel vertical migration
Williamson et al. (2011). Toward a more
comprehensive theory of zooplankton diel
vertical migration
Orientation of Daphnia relative to the
shore and open water
Horizontal distribution of rotifer and
crustacean zooplankters in a Swedish lake
Jeppesen, et al. (1997). Top-down
control in freshwater lakes
Jeppesen, et al. (1997). Top-down
control in freshwater lakes
The Alewife in Crystal Lake, Conn
Messner, et al. (2013) Higher temperatures
enhance the effects of invasive sports fish on
mountain zooplankton communities
Messner, et al. (2013) Higher temperatures
enhance the effects of invasive sports fish
on mountain zooplankton communities
Trophic production in plankton and
nekton in Lake Erken
Lacustrine food web
Zooplankton production in Mirror Lake, NH
Zooplankton production in Mirror Lake, NH
Ricciardi et al. (2012). Forecasting the ecological
impacts of the Hemimysis invasion in North America
Summary for Zooplankton in
Freshwater Systems
Rivers
Reservoirs
Lakes
Zooplankton
community structure
Dominated by small
forms with rapid,
mostly benthic, life
cycles
Gradient from riverine
to lacustrine forms
Complex communities
with protistan
mesozooplankton and
macrozooplankton
Zooplankton
community
development
Low development;
mainly derived from
lakes and floodplain
Highest development
in transitional zone
Vertical and seasonal
gradients; stable and
abundant
Zooplankton feeding
Mainly particulate
detritus; some
planktonic or benthic
algae
Detritus and
phytoplankton
Phytoplankton
dominant food source
Zooplankton growth
Low, but highest in
high-order streams;
limited by
displacement by
unidirectional flow
Low to moderate; but
variable with changing
food availability and
quality
Moderate to high