POPULATION DYNAMICS AND
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY OF
ZOOPLANKTON
Range of Food Sizes for Flagellates
Seasonal and Vertical Changes in
Grazing
Rotifer Population Dynamics
Comparison between simulated
and observed population and
clonal dynamics. Simulated (A
and B) and observed (C–F)
population dynamics of total
algal cells (open circles, 2 × 106
cells per liter) and rotifers (open
diamonds, females per liter) and
clonal frequency dynamics of
defended clone (UTEX 265,
solid squares) and competitive
clone (UTEX 396, solid
triangles). (C and D) Chemostat
results using 80 μM nitrogen
medium. (E and F) Chemostat
results using 160 μM nitrogen
medium. Both chemostats run at
a dilution rate, δ, of 0.85.
Justin R. Meyer*, Stephen P. Ellner, Nelson G. Hairston, Jr., Laura E. Jones, and Takehito Yoshida.
2006. PNAS. 103(28): 10690-10695.
Fig. 3. – Abundance of L.
decipiens, B. variabilis and
K. tropica in the Schelde
estuary in 2002. Stations
in the Schelde are
denoted according to
their distance (in km) to
the mouth, at Vlissingen.
Stations in the tributaries
were called “Ru” for
Rupel, “Du” for Durme,
“De” for Dender and “Bo”
for Boven Schelde. The
black line indicates the
brackish area of the
estuary.
Frédéric Azémar, Stefan Van Damme, Patrick Meire & Micky Tackx. 2007. Brit. J. Zool. 2013: 75-83.
Keratella tropica
Fig. 7. – Diversity of patterns in posterior spines of Keratella
tropica in the Schelde estuary.
Frédéric Azémar, Stefan Van Damme, Patrick Meire & Micky Tackx. 2007. Brit. J. Zool. 2013: 75-83.
How do the three taxa of zooplankton
occupy the same lake?
Polymorphism of Brachionus in
response to Asplanchna
Figures 16-24 to 16-26
Daphnia galeata and Leptodora kintdii
Population density of Daphnia galeata
mendotae in Base Line Lake
Base Line Lake, MI
General Model of Seasonal Succession
Simona, M., A. Barbieri, M. Veronesi, S. Malusardi, and V. Straskrabova. 1999.
Seasonal dynamics of plankton in a mountain lake in the southern Alps. J.
Limnol. 58(2): 169-178.
Fig. 7. Seasonal changes of
zooplankton abundance [animals m-2].
Fig. 8. Seasonal changes of zooplankton
biomass [mg fresh weight m-2].
Hairston, N. G., Jr., and E. J. Olds. 1986. Partial photoperiodic control of diapause in three
populations of the freshwater copepod Diaptomus sanguineus. Biological Bulletin 171:135-142.
Life Cycle of Cyclops scutifer
Life Cycle of Diaptomus reighardi
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.
Sarvala, J. 1998. Ecology and the role of benthic copepods in northern lakes.
Journal of Marine Systems. 15: 75-86.
Fig. 4. Daily production of certain species of benthic copepods in Lake Pääjärvi (Sarvala, unpublished). (a)
Attheyella crassa at 2 m depth. (b) Moraria brevipes at 2 m depth. (c) Bryocamptus echinatus at 40 m depth.
Vertical distribution of Daphnia
retrocurva in Lake Michigan
Orientation of Daphnia relative to the
shore and open water
Horizontal distribution of rotifer and
crustacean zooplankters in a Swedish lake
The Alewife in Crystal Lake, Conn
Trophic production in plankton and
nekton in Lake Erken
Lacustrine food web
Zooplankton production in Mirror Lake, NH
Zooplankton production in Mirror Lake, NH
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