Crustacean and rotifer seasonality in a Mediterranean temporary pond with high biodiversity (Lavajo de Abajo de Sinarcas, Eastern Spain)

• Main Author: Maria Rosa Miracle
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Copepods; Rotifer
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.688.1005; http://limnetica.net/Limnetica/Limne29/L29a075_crustacean_rotifer_Mediterranean_pond.pdf

Crustacean and rotifer seasonality in a Mediterranean temporary pond with high biodiversity (Lavajo de Abajo de Sinarcas, Eastern Spain) A follow-up study was made of planktonic and periphytic crustaceans and rotifers during two hydroperiods of consecutive years in a Mediterranean temporary pond. The pond is relatively large with quite long hydroperiods in wet years (6-8 months) and it has a very rich community (4 large branchiopods, 12 cladocerans, 9 copepods, 36 rotifers). Three phases in faunal composition, quite consistent from year to year, were distinguished: (1) Filling phase in autumn-winter is dominated by anos-tracans (endemic Branchipus cortesi, with low proportions of Branchipus schaefferi) and diaptomids, two univoltine species (Hemidiaptomus ingens inermis, Diaptomus cyaneus intermedius) and one multivoltine (Mixodiaptomus laciniatus atlantis). (2) Middle phase in spring dominated by cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia n.sp., Simocephalus vetulus, Ephemeroporus pinthoni-cus, Chydorus sphaericus, Alona azorica) in this phase is also abundant the conchostracan Maghrebestheria maroccana and the notostracan Triops cancriformis. A shift toward insects occurs in the later part of this phase. (3) Desiccation phase in sum-mer with lower diversity (Moina micrura, Alona rectangula and cyclopoids). Rotifers showed a low contribution to biomass and were more important in the middle phase. These phases are also marked by an increase of nutrients and phytoplankton chlorophyll in the lling and desiccation phases and a decrease of these variables in the middle phase, resulting in phytoplank-