Zooplankton assemblages in Crater Lake, Oregon, USA

Lake and Reservoir Management
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

The zooplankton community in Crater Lake was comprised of 11 rotifer species and 2 species of cladocerans. Most zooplankton taxa were distributed in winter and spring from the lake surface to a depth of about 200 m, the maximum depth of mixing of lake waters by wind energy. The distribution of zooplankton species was partitioned in the water column to a depth of 200 m during summer and fall, which corresponded to the period when the lake was thermally stratified. At that time of year, zooplankton density in die upper 20 m of the water column was very low, whereas highest densities were found in the depth interval between 80 and 120 m. Closely related or competing species were found in different portions of the water column. Daphnia pulicaria the largest cladoceran species, was cyclic in abundance, and its density corresponded to patterns of lake productivity and fish predation. When D. pulicaria was abundant, abundances of rotifers and Bosmina longirostris declined and changes in the vertical distribution of Bosmina were observed. Relationships between variations in Secchi disk clarity and zooplankton abundances in the upper 40 m of the water column were not obvious.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Zooplankton assemblages in Crater Lake, Oregon, USA
Series title Lake and Reservoir Management
DOI 10.1080/07438149609354073
Volume 12
Issue 2
Year Published 1996
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Description 17 p.
First page 281
Last page 297
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details