D.W. Willis
C.P. Paukert
2003
<p><span>We sampled zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrate </span>assemblages<span> </span>in<span> 30 </span>shallow<span> natural </span>lakes<span> to determine the effects of the environment (i.e., habitat and </span>fish<span> abundance) on invertebrates. Zooplankters were identified to genus, and up to 120 individuals per genus were measured. Macroinvertebrates were identified to order, class, or family. </span>Fish<span> communities were also sampled. Relative abundances of zooplankton and macroinvertebrates were low at increased chlorophyll a concentrations, although mean zooplankton length increased with total phosphorus, possibly because of an increased proportion of microzooplankton (rotifers and copepod nauplii) at higher phosphorus levels. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that zooplankton and macroinvertebrate abundance was influenced by submersed vegetation coverage, whereas zooplankton abundance and size structure were also related to productivity (i.e., chlorophyll a and total phosphorus). However, relative abundance of </span>fish<span> species or </span>fish<span> feeding guilds was not strongly correlated with zooplankton or macroinvertebrate abundance or zooplankton size structure. Physical habitat (e.g., vegetation coverage) may exert substantial </span>influences<span> on </span>invertebrate<span> </span>assemblages<span> </span>in<span> these </span>lakes<span>, possibly providing a refuge from </span>fish<span> predation. </span></p>
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10.1080/02705060.2003.9663993
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Taylor & Francis
Aquatic invertebrate assemblages in shallow prairie lakes: Fish and environmental influences
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