Abstract
The natural diet of herbivorous zooplankton was analyzed for a better understanding of the trophic relationships in Lake Xolotlán (Managua). Gut content of the most common zooplankton species (Arctodiaptomus dorsalis, Moina micrura andDiaphanosoma fluviatile) were analyzed. The quality and the relative abundance of ingested algae was studied. The most consumed algae during the dry season (February) wereCyclotella, Oocystis andLyngbya, and during the rainy season (November)Cyclotella, Oocystis andChroococcus. The kind of food ingested byA. dorsalis andM. micrura was similar in both periods. There was no similarity with the diet ofD. fluviatile. During the dry season, when algal biomass in the lake was high,A. dorsalis andM. micrura ingested a higher proportion of diatoms. During the rainy season, when food was scarce, the diet was more diverse and bluegreen algae (Chroococcus) were ingested in a larger proportion.Diaphanosoma fluviatile ingested predominantly tiny particles (bacteria and detritus) and algal food consisted mainly of green algae (Oocystis) and probably (not studied) nanoplanktonic algae. The results were consistent with those obtained in other lakes, indicating the importance of diatoms and green algae for zooplankton nutrition.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ARNOLD, D.E., 1971. Ingestion, assimilation, survival and reproduction byDaphnia pulex fed seven species of blue-green algae. Limnol. Oceanogr., 16:906–977.
COMITA, G., 1964. The energy budget ofDiaptomus siciloides Lilljeborg. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 15:646–653.
EDMONDSON, W.T., 1957. Trophic relations of the zooplankton. Trans. Amer. Microsc. Soc., 76:225–246.
EDMONDSON, W.T., 1965. Reproductive rate of planktonic rotifers as related to food and temperature in nature. Ecol. Monogr., 35:61–111.
ELBOURN, C.A., 1966. Some observations on the food ofCyclops strenuus strennuus (Fisher). Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 13:227–231.
FRYER, G., 1957. The food of some freshwater cyclopoid copepods and its ecological significance. J. Anim. Ecol., 26:263–286.
GANNON, J.E. and S.A. GANNON, 1975. Observations on the narcotization of crustacean zooplankton. Crustaceana, 28:220–224.
HOOKER, E. and S. HERNANDEZ, Phytoplankton biomass in Lake Xolotlán (Managua): its seasonal and horozontal distribution. Hydrobiol. Bull., 25: 125–131.
INFANTE, A., 1978. Natural food of herbivorous zooplankton of Lake Valencia (Venezuela). Arch. Hydrobiol., 82:347–358.
INFANTE, A., 1981. A method for the study of food of herbivorous zooplankton. Trans. Amer. Micros. Soc., 97:256–258.
INFANTE A. and W.T. EDMONDSON, 1985. Edible phytoplankton and herbivorous zooplankton in Lake Washington. Arch. Hydrobiol., Beih. Ergebn. Limnol., 21:161–171.
KAWABATA, K., 1988. Ecology ofOocystis spp in Lake Biwa. Abundance, colony composition, viability, and food relations inEudiaptomus japonicus andDaphnia longispina. Mem. Fac. Sc., Kyoto Univ. (Ser. Biol.), 13:41–47.
KNIZELY, K. and W. GELLER, 1986. Selective feeding of four zooplankton species on natural lake phytoplankton. Oecologia (Berlin), 69:86–94.
LEFEVRE, M., 1942. L'utilization des algues d'eau douce par les cladocères. Bull. Biol. Fr. Bel., 76:250–276.
TOTH, L.G. and N.P. ZANKAI., 1985. Feeding of Cyclops vicinus (Uljanin) (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) in Lake Balaton on the basis of gut content analysis. Hydrobiologia, 122:251–260.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cisneros, R., Hooker, E. & Velasquez, L.E. Natural diet of herbivorous zooplankton in Lake Xolotlán (Managua). Hydrobiological Bulletin 25, 163–167 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291249
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291249