<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The research of zooplankton diversity, abundance and trophic structure was conducted during the summer period in pelagial zone on the longitudinal profile of the Sutla River Backwater. Investigated site consists of two interconnected basins: transparent Upper Basin with submerged macrophytes and turbid Lower Basin without macrophytes in the littoral zone. In the Upper Basin, abundance and diversity of zooplankton in the pelagial was higher in comparison to the Lower Basin, with prevailing species of genus <italic>Keratella</italic> as microfilter-feeder, and genera of <italic>Polyartha</italic> and <italic>Trihocerca</italic> as macrofilter-feeder rotifers. On the contrary, in the Lower Basin, crustaceans dominated in abundance. Microfilter-feeder cladoceran (<italic>Bosmina longirostris</italic>) and larval and adult stages of macrofilter-feeder copepod (<italic>Macrocyclops albidus</italic>) prevailed in the Lower Basin. Fish predation pressure was more pronounced in the pelagial of the Upper Basin, indicated by low cladoceran abundance in the surface layer. Although the studied basins were interconnected, results indicate significant (Mann-Whitney U test, p &lt; 0.05) differences in the zooplankton structure as a potential result of the macrophyte impact on environmental conditions and fish predation pressure.</p></abstract>

The research of zooplankton diversity, abundance and trophic structure was conducted during the summer period in pelagial zone on the longitudinal profile of the Sutla River Backwater. Investigated site consists of two interconnected basins: transparent Upper Basin with submerged macrophytes and turbid Lower Basin without macrophytes in the littoral zone. In the Upper Basin, abundance and diversity of zooplankton in the pelagial was higher in comparison to the Lower Basin, with prevailing species of genus Keratella as microfilter-feeder, and genera of Polyartha and Trihocerca as macrofilter-feeder rotifers. On the contrary, in the Lower Basin, crustaceans dominated in abundance. Microfilter-feeder cladoceran (Bosmina longirostris) and larval and adult stages of macrofilter-feeder copepod (Macrocyclops albidus) prevailed in the Lower Basin. Fish predation pressure was more pronounced in the pelagial of the Upper Basin, indicated by low cladoceran abundance in the surface layer. Although the studied basins were interconnected, results indicate significant (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05) differences in the zooplankton structure as a potential result of the macrophyte impact on environmental conditions and fish predation pressure.

Zooplankton structure in two interconnected ponds: similarities and differences

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zoology, Zagreb, Croatia

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game Management and Special Zoology, Zagreb, Croatia

Ministry of construction and physical planning, Directorate for construction and energy efficiency in the buildings sector, Zagreb, Croatia

Croatian Journal of Fisheries

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Zooplankton structure in two interconnected ponds: similarities and differences"}

The research of zooplankton diversity, abundance and trophic structure was conducted during the summer period in pelagial zone on the longitudinal profile of...

Zooplankton structure in two interconnected ponds: similarities and differences

Data publikacji: 31 mar 2016

Zakres stron: 6 - 13

Otrzymano: 11 sty 2016

Przyjęty: 03 lut 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjf-2016-0002

Słowa kluczowe
Submerged macrophytes, Transparency, Turbidity, Predation, Fish

© 2016 Maria Špoljar et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Zooplankton structure in two interconnected ponds: similarities and differences

Data publikacji: 31 mar 2016

Zakres stron: 6 - 13

Otrzymano: 11 sty 2016

Przyjęty: 03 lut 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjf-2016-0002

Słowa kluczoweSubmerged macrophytes, Transparency, Turbidity, Predation, Fish

© 2016 Maria Špoljar et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Słowa kluczowe
Submerged macrophytes, Transparency, Turbidity, Predation, Fish