engleski

Factors influencing rotifer assemblage in shallow lakes at different climate conditions

Shallow lakes increased habitat heterogeneity and, in particular, invertebrate biodiversity. Macrophyte stands often cover littoral zone of these waterbodies, change environmental conditions and biotic interactions. In this study rotifers´ assemble was assessed in shallow lakes of different macrophyte coverage and in diverse climate conditions: temperate, in north (Poland) and south (Croatia) Europe, and Mediterranean (Adriatic Sea, Croatia). During the spring season we selected in each of three climate regions complementary ponds (15 waterbodies) related to macrophyte coverage and fish. Significant difference among studied waterbodies in the view of environmental conditions and rotifer assemblage were observed. Rotifers (98 species in total) were confirmed as most diverse zooplankton group in each region, and positively related with habitat complexity, i.e. macrophyte coverage. Fish predation mitigated both, rotifer abundance and diversity. We underline finding of higher similarity of environmental conditions and rotifer assemblage between northern temperate ponds and Mediterranean ponds, probably due to lower depth and extended macrophyte coverage, in comparison to the inland ponds in southern temperate climate. Further comparison of rotifer and zooplankton assemblage among different climate conditions should include synchronize study and experiment to discern general or climate specific drivers in shallow lake ecosystems.

fish, macrophytes, plankton, temperate and Mediterranean climate, trophic interactions

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