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Organization of crustacean epizoan communities in a chain of subalpine ponds
Author(s) -
Willey Ruth L.,
Threlkeld Stephen T.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1993.38.3.0623
Subject(s) - crustacean , zooplankton , ecology , biology , daphnia , predation , substrate (aquarium) , zoology
Crustacean zooplankton in high altitude ponds in Colorado support two suites of epizoans. Epizoans on Daphnia consisted of Colacium calvum, Characium gracilipes, and peritrich ciliates. Epizoans on Ceriodaphnia, Scapholeberis, and Eucyclops involved Colacium vesiculosum and the peritrich ciliates. Frequent, regular molting of most of the substrate organisms keeps attachment surfaces unoccupied. Epizoan attachment is site‐specific rather than a function of epizoan‐epizoan interaction. The presence of phototrophic epizoans may contribute to increased susceptibility of their substrate organisms to fish predation.