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The population dynamics of Chydoridae and Macrothricidae (Cladocera: Crustacea) from the River Thames, U.K.
Author(s) -
ROBERTSON ANNE L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1990.tb00717.x
Subject(s) - cladocera , predation , littoral zone , abundance (ecology) , ecology , biology , crustacean , benthic zone , population , invertebrate , zooplankton , predator , branchiopoda , demography , sociology
SUMMARY.1 A study was made of the population dynamics of benthic cladocerans in the River Thames, U.K. These included three species of Chydoridae (Alona affinis Leydig, Disparalona rostrata (Koch 1841) and Leydigia leydigi Schodler) and one species of Macrothricidae Iliocryptus sordidus (Lievan). 2 The pattern of chydorid abundance was similar to that found in many lakes: a midsummer peak followed by a sharp decrease in numbers and subsequent low abundance. This was caused by a temporary decrease in natality, possibly due to food limitation, and a more permanent increase in mortality, thought to be due to predation. 3 Iliocryptus sordidus differed considerably from the chydorids, the major population peak occurring in the autumn. The lifestyle and adult size of Iliocryptus sordidus (Lievan) must render adults less vulnerable to invertebrate and fish fry predation. 4 A literature survey showed that the assemblage of species found in the unvegetated littoral of lakes and rivers included a taxocene of cladocerans.