Environmental variables affecting small-scale distributions of five rotifer species in Lancaster Lake, Michigan

TitleEnvironmental variables affecting small-scale distributions of five rotifer species in Lancaster Lake, Michigan
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1977
AuthorsFairchild GWinfield, Stemberger RS, Epskamp LC, Debaugh HA
JournalInternationale Revue der Gesamten Hydrobiologie
Volume62
Pagination511-521
KeywordsZOOPLANKTON
Abstract

The small-scale distributions of the rotifers Polyarthra vulgaris, Synchaeta stylata, Conochilus unicornis, Hexarthra mira, and Asplanchna priodonta were investigated in Lancaster Lake, Cheboygan County, Michigan, July 21, 1974. Measurements were taken for 13 depths (at 1-m intervals) and at 4 times of the day (1:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 7:00 PM). In addition, the abundances of 6 crustacean, 2 planktonic dipteran, and 10 algal species, as well as temperature, light, oxygen, chlorophyll a, alkalinity, pH and free carbon dioxide were measured. Whereas abiotic factors appeared to control large scale occupation of the lake, and excluded most species from the deeper portions of the hypolimnion, small-scale distributional variation of the rotifers depended upon biotic interactions, particularly with the crustacean zooplankton.