Temporal and spatial distribution of microcrustacean zooplankton in relation to turbidity and other environmental factors in a large tropical lake (L. Tana, Ethiopia)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Temporal and spatial distribution of microcrustacean zooplankton in relation to turbidity and other environmental factors in a large tropical lake (L. Tana, Ethiopia)

AU - Dejen, E.

AU - Vijverberg, J.

AU - Nagelkerke, L.A.J.

AU - Sibbing, F.A.

N1 - Reporting year: 2004 Metis note: 3323; CL; AFW ; AqE; file:///L:/Endnotedatabases/NIOOPUB/pdfs/Pdfs2004/Dejen_ea_3323.pdf

PY - 2004

Y1 - 2004

N2 - The spatial and seasonal distribution of microcrustacean zooplankton of Lake Tana (Ethiopia) was monthly studied for 2 years. Concurrently, various environmental parameters were measured and related to zooplankton distribution. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to estimate the influence of abiotic factors and chlorophyll a content in structuring the zooplankton assemblage. Among the environmental factors, zooplankton abundance correlated most strongly with turbidity. Turbidity was negatively correlated with species abundance, especially for Daphnia spp. and to the least extent for Diaphanosoma spp. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine spatial (littoral, sublittoral and pelagic zone) and temporal (four seasons) variation in zooplankton abundance. We observed significant temporal differences in zooplankton abundance, with highest densities during dry season (November–April). Only cladocerans showed significant differences in habitat use (highest densities in the sublittoral zone). [KEYWORDS: tropical limnology; high altitude lakes; Africa; copepods; cladocerans; silt load]

AB - The spatial and seasonal distribution of microcrustacean zooplankton of Lake Tana (Ethiopia) was monthly studied for 2 years. Concurrently, various environmental parameters were measured and related to zooplankton distribution. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to estimate the influence of abiotic factors and chlorophyll a content in structuring the zooplankton assemblage. Among the environmental factors, zooplankton abundance correlated most strongly with turbidity. Turbidity was negatively correlated with species abundance, especially for Daphnia spp. and to the least extent for Diaphanosoma spp. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine spatial (littoral, sublittoral and pelagic zone) and temporal (four seasons) variation in zooplankton abundance. We observed significant temporal differences in zooplankton abundance, with highest densities during dry season (November–April). Only cladocerans showed significant differences in habitat use (highest densities in the sublittoral zone). [KEYWORDS: tropical limnology; high altitude lakes; Africa; copepods; cladocerans; silt load]

U2 - 10.1023/B:hydr.0000018163.60503.b8

DO - 10.1023/B:hydr.0000018163.60503.b8

M3 - Article

SN - 0018-8158

VL - 513

SP - 39

EP - 49

JO - Hydrobiologia

JF - Hydrobiologia

IS - 1-3

ER -