Zooplankton data from the 1988-2007 Station L4 time-series were used to determine inter-and intra-annual patterns of meroplankton community change at Station L4, Plymouth, UK. Abundances were calculated for five groups: Cirripedia, Decapoda, Polychaeta, Echinodermata and Bivalvia. Analyses showed that, while there is some annual variability, seasonal variation accounts for the major changes in the meroplanktonic community composition throughout the time-series. Cirripedia were the only group to show any significant change in abundance over the time-series. Further sampling at the study site produced data at a finer taxonomic resolution allowing for the analyses of the seasonal cycles of abundance of previously unresolved families and genera from the 1988-2007 time-series. A similar pattern was shown to that seen in the earlier time-series with no evidence of major changes in the meroplanktonic community being found. Comparison with historical data taken from Lebour (1947) showed little evidence of major variation in meroplanktonic species composition. The limitations of traditional methods of taxonomic resolution were highlighted during these analyses and led to the investigation of molecular techniques as a viable aid to identification. Bivalve larval samples were identified to species in many cases using PCR and sequencing reactions focussing on the 18S rRNA gene. Larvae of Phaxas pellucidus were shown to be the most common, and further analysis revealed the presence of two groups of species within the data over the time sampled, comprising the larvae of several hard-substrata species. Development of an RFLP technique focussing on the mtCOI gene, allowed for the successful discrimination of porcellanid larvae to species that were unable to be resolved morphologically. Long-term data-sets play an important role in revealing the long-term patterns of community composition and abundance of meroplanktonic larvae and should be continued to identify those patterns not evident over the time-period studied. Molecular techniques were valuable in aiding the taxonomic resolution of meroplanktonic larvae, allowing previously unknown patterns of species diversity and richness to be ascertained.

No description available.

This study examined the extent to which zooplankton in the James River Estuary (Virginia, USA) exploit the available algal-food resources. Zooplankton abundance, community composition and grazing rates were assessed at three locations which included a site with high algal production (near the VCU Rice Center) and two sites where algal production was lower. Grazing rates were measured by determining the rate of phytoplankton decline (as chlorophyll a) during 48-hour incubation experiments in the presence and absence of zooplankton. Significant differences in zooplankton abundance were observed among the three sites, with the greatest average zooplankton density (434 ± 69 ind/L) occurring at the phytoplankton maxima. There were no significant differences in zooplankton filtration or ingestion rates among the three sites. The amount of chlorophyll a consumed was low at all sites (< 5%), suggesting that only a small proportion of primary production was directly passed to higher trophic levels. Low grazing rates were attributed to poor food quality owing to the presence of non-algal particulate matter and a predominance of cyanobacteria comprising the phytoplankton community. These findings are consistent with prior studies showing that cyanobacteria are a poor quality food source for zooplankton and that non-algal particulates may interfere with grazing rates. Further, this study lends support to the hypothesis that food quality is an important determinant of trophic transfer efficiency in aquatic food webs.

This thesis focuses on ecological processes among plankton organisms. It especially questions the influence of food quality on growth and survival of freshwater plankton. I focused on the influence of various ratios of nitrogen and phosphorus in available food. I am also interested in finding out the food requirements of chosen consumer Daphnia longispina. Within this broad topic, I specify a question, whether various quality and quantity of food influences the life history parameters of the species Daphnia longispina and whether the absence of common species of Cladoceran Daphnia longispina in Plešné Lake is caused by unsuitable quality of food. I have bred Daphnia longispina in laboratory conditions for two years. I fed it by algae Monoraphidium dybowskii isolated from Plešné Lake and grown in two media P-limited (C:P 1174), P-unlimited (C:P 290) and three concentration (1,2, 4 mg C/L). Cladocerans fed by food from medium that had a C:N:P ratio approximately the same as can be found in Plešné Lake (C:P 1174) lived for a singificantly shorter period of time and during the experiment they did not reproduce even in the case with the largest amount of food (4 mg C/L). This is a possible reason why Daphnia longispina did not return to Plešné Lake after the period of strong acidification, climax of...

Plankton are generally considered good indicators for ocean climate variability, but plankton data from the Arctic are still comparatively scarce. Due to this scarcity of information, the prevalence of vertical migration behaviour at high latitude is still debated. Atlantic inflow is a key process governing biological diversity in the Arctic Ocean, and the location of the Svalbard archipelago makes it an ideal study area to monitor this inflow. Comparing the zooplankton community within the fjords of Svalbard at various latitudes allowed us to assess the influence of Atlantic inflow and any subsequent changes in zooplankton composition that may have implications for higher trophic levels. Using sediment traps deployed on oceanic moorings, Chapter 3 of this thesis analysed long term observations from sea-ice dominated Rijpfjorden for the first time, and compared the zooplankton to Atlantic Water influenced Kongsfjorden. Chapters 4 and 5 investigated the spatial relevance of our moored observations using shipboard observations, and chapters 6 and 7 present observations of vertical migration across a range of conditions. Kongsfjorden was dominated by Calanus copepods associated with Arctic and Atlantic water, and strongly influenced by Atlantic Water advection. Rijpfjorden was largely influenced by sea-ice formation with higher proportional abundances of macrozooplankton species. Advection brought Atlantic associated species into Rijpfjorden during warmer years. Prevailing hydrology and bathymetry were highlighted as factors forcing zooplankton distribution, while advection was identified as responsible for much of the observed small scale spatial variation amongst weaker swimmers. At an aggregation scale of 0.5 nautical miles, zooplankton distribution was highly patchy and moored observations could only be reliably expanded outwards to a maximum of 1 nautical mile. Low amplitude diel vertical migration (especially by younger copepodids) was identified in surface waters when a food source was available. These observations must be considered within the dynamic framework of advection highlighted by this thesis.

O presente estudo foi realizado no reservatório Rio Grande (Complexo Billings), estado de São Paulo, com o objetivo de analisar a heterogeneidade espacial ao longo de seu eixo principal e com isso também saber se a comunidade zooplanctônica varia junto com o gradiente de condições ambientais encontrado no reservatório. Para tal, o reservatório foi dividido em quatro porções com base em informações anteriores a este estudo que mostravam um gradiente de trofia variando de eutrófico próximo de seus tributários a oligotrófico próximo à barragem. Assim, em cada porção foram escolhidos três pontos, totalizando 12 pontos de coleta amostrados em duas épocas do ano. Algumas variáveis como clorofila-a, fósforo total, materiais em suspensão e condutividade elétrica diminuíram em direção a barragem, outras como a transparência e profundidade aumentaram, o que indica também uma diminuição da eutrofização na porção próxima à barragem onde há captação de água para abastecimento, embora os valores do IET tenham indicado em geral um ambiente eutrófico, chegando a ser mesotrófico próximo à barragem. O zooplâncton apresentou maior riqueza de espécies e abundância total na parte alta do reservatório, diminuindo em direção à barragem. Os Rotifera foram os organismos com maior número de espécies, foram quase sempre mais abundantes e seguiram o padrão geral de heterogeneidade na abundância, já os Copepoda, formados apenas pela ordem Cyclopoida, apresentaram padrões diferentes do geral em ambos os períodos. Os Cladocera foram pouco presentes. Assim, a presença de certas espécies ou grupos do zooplâncton apontaram para um ambiente eutrofizado e instável, com a presença de espécies oportunistas. Sendo assim, a comunidade zooplanctônica acompanhou o gradiente de condições ambientais do reservatório com alterações em sua abundância e composição, mostrando ser um bom indicador de mudanças ambientais. Esse gradiente ao longo do eixo principal é comum em reservatórios por ser um sistema de transição, mas no reservatório Rio Grande também pode haver influência antrópica vinda do despejo de cargas poluidoras ou do manejo, com a aplicação de algicidas para tratamento da água. Por meio de ACPs, as variáveis limnológicas e as características do zooplâncton dividiram o reservatório em três compartimentos dentro desse gradiente encontrado; tais compartimentos variam suas dimensões constantemente com o passar do tempo, mostrando assim um ambiente dinâmico, mas com compartimentos bem definidos. / The present study was done in the Rio Grande reservoir (Billings Complex), São Paulo state, with the aim to analyze the spatial heterogeneity in the main axis and also to know if the zooplankton community varies with the gradient of environmental conditions found in the reservoir. To this end , the reservoir was divided in four portions based on previous information to this study that showed a trophic gradient varying from eutrophic near of its tributaries to oligotrophic near of the dam. Thus, in each portion it was chosen three points, totalizing 12 points sampled in two seasons. Some variables as chlorophyll-a, total phosphorus, suspension materials and electric conductivity decreased towards the dam, others such as the transparency and depth increased, what indicates a decrease of the eutrophication in the dams portion where there is a captation point for water supply, although the IET values have indicated, in general, a eutrophic environment being mesotrophic near of the dam. The zooplankton presented large richness of species and total abundance in the upstream zone of the reservoir decreasing towards the dam. The Rotifera were the organisms with the largest number of species, being almost always the most abundant group and followed the general pattern of the heterogeneity in the abundance. On the other hand, the Copepoda, only formed by the order Cyclopoida, presented different patterns of heterogeneity in both periods. The Cladocera were rarely present. Therefore, the presence of some species or groups of zooplankton pointed to a eutrophic and instable environment, with the presence of opportunist species. Hence, the zooplankton community accompanied the gradient of environmental conditions of the reservoir with abundance and composition changes showing to be a good indicator of the environmental changes. This gradient along the main axis is common in reservoirs inasmuch as it is a transitional system, but in the Rio Grande reservoir can also have anthropic influence due to the discharge of pollutant loads or management applying algicides to water treatment. Through PCAs, the limnological variables and zooplankton characteristics divided the reservoir in three compartments inside this gradient found; such compartments vary their sizes constantly during the time showing thus a dynamic environment, but still with well-defined compartments.

Thesis (MTech (Oceanography))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Similarities in marine fauna found off the coasts of southern Madagascar and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN, South Africa) led to the development of the “Suitcase Project”, with the aim of establishing whether eddies that form off southern Madagascar may package and transport biological material, as if in a suitcase, across the Mozambique Channel. In pursuit of this question, sampling was conducted on the southern Madagascan shelf and along a transect across a cyclonic eddy which originated off the southern tip of Madagascar, between the 15th and 23rd of July 2013. Bongo nets (300 and 500 μm-mesh) and a neuston net (900 μm-mesh) were used to collect zooplankton within the upper 200 m and at the surface, respectively. Samples were sorted for meroplankton (larval stages of fish and benthic invertebrates) under a stereo microscope, particularly seeking species known to be common to both the east coasts of Madagascar and South Africa and, thus potential indicators of connectivity between these regions. Larvae of crabs, rock lobster, and fish were used for DNA barcoding. Zooplankton biovolume and abundance were compared between the eddy core, eddy periphery and outer regions of the eddy, as well as stations from the Madagascan shelf. Mean neuston biovolume on the Madagascan (0.08 mL m-3) was not significantly higher than that in the eddy (0.06 mL m-3). Mean bongo biovolume in the upper 200 m was much higher on the Madagascan shelf (0.62 mL m-3) than in the eddy (0.16 mL m-3) although only 2 stations were sampled on the shelf. Highest biovolume in the eddy was recorded in the west eddy zone (0.25 mL m-3) and west outer zone (0.23 mL m-3), which was not statistically significantly higher than the eddy core (0.12 mL m-3) and east eddy zone (0.17 mL m-3). Meroplankton was comprised of coastal origin taxa and was most abundant on the shelf and in the eddy perimeters. Larval goat-fish, Parupeneus fraserorum was identified, a newly described mullid, and has been recorded on both the coasts of Madagascar and KZN, SA. Larvae of coastal invertebrate species identified, include the squat lobster Allogalathea elegans and camel shrimp Rhynchocinetes durbanensis. Other larval fish identified, but not found in high abundance include the families of reef associated fishes, for example: Apogonidae, Labridae, Pomacentridae, Priacanthidae, Serranidae and Sparidae. Higher zooplankton biovolumes, larval abundances and reef-associated larval assemblages found on the Madagascan shelf and in the periphery of the cyclonic eddy compared to the core in this study provide support for the suitcase hypothesis that planktonic organisms are entrained within eddies as they propagate south-westwards of the Madagascan shelf. However, further studies are required to determine whether planktonic larvae are able to cross the Mozambique Channel and reach the KZN coast in time to settle.

O presente estudo foi realizado no reservatório Rio Grande (Complexo Billings), estado de São Paulo, com o objetivo de analisar a heterogeneidade espacial ao longo de seu eixo principal e com isso também saber se a comunidade zooplanctônica varia junto com o gradiente de condições ambientais encontrado no reservatório. Para tal, o reservatório foi dividido em quatro porções com base em informações anteriores a este estudo que mostravam um gradiente de trofia variando de eutrófico próximo de seus tributários a oligotrófico próximo à barragem. Assim, em cada porção foram escolhidos três pontos, totalizando 12 pontos de coleta amostrados em duas épocas do ano. Algumas variáveis como clorofila-a, fósforo total, materiais em suspensão e condutividade elétrica diminuíram em direção a barragem, outras como a transparência e profundidade aumentaram, o que indica também uma diminuição da eutrofização na porção próxima à barragem onde há captação de água para abastecimento, embora os valores do IET tenham indicado em geral um ambiente eutrófico, chegando a ser mesotrófico próximo à barragem. O zooplâncton apresentou maior riqueza de espécies e abundância total na parte alta do reservatório, diminuindo em direção à barragem. Os Rotifera foram os organismos com maior número de espécies, foram quase sempre mais abundantes e seguiram o padrão geral de heterogeneidade na abundância, já os Copepoda, formados apenas pela ordem Cyclopoida, apresentaram padrões diferentes do geral em ambos os períodos. Os Cladocera foram pouco presentes. Assim, a presença de certas espécies ou grupos do zooplâncton apontaram para um ambiente eutrofizado e instável, com a presença de espécies oportunistas. Sendo assim, a comunidade zooplanctônica acompanhou o gradiente de condições ambientais do reservatório com alterações em sua abundância e composição, mostrando ser um bom indicador de mudanças ambientais. Esse gradiente ao longo do eixo principal é comum em reservatórios por ser um sistema de transição, mas no reservatório Rio Grande também pode haver influência antrópica vinda do despejo de cargas poluidoras ou do manejo, com a aplicação de algicidas para tratamento da água. Por meio de ACPs, as variáveis limnológicas e as características do zooplâncton dividiram o reservatório em três compartimentos dentro desse gradiente encontrado; tais compartimentos variam suas dimensões constantemente com o passar do tempo, mostrando assim um ambiente dinâmico, mas com compartimentos bem definidos. / The present study was done in the Rio Grande reservoir (Billings Complex), São Paulo state, with the aim to analyze the spatial heterogeneity in the main axis and also to know if the zooplankton community varies with the gradient of environmental conditions found in the reservoir. To this end , the reservoir was divided in four portions based on previous information to this study that showed a trophic gradient varying from eutrophic near of its tributaries to oligotrophic near of the dam. Thus, in each portion it was chosen three points, totalizing 12 points sampled in two seasons. Some variables as chlorophyll-a, total phosphorus, suspension materials and electric conductivity decreased towards the dam, others such as the transparency and depth increased, what indicates a decrease of the eutrophication in the dams portion where there is a captation point for water supply, although the IET values have indicated, in general, a eutrophic environment being mesotrophic near of the dam. The zooplankton presented large richness of species and total abundance in the upstream zone of the reservoir decreasing towards the dam. The Rotifera were the organisms with the largest number of species, being almost always the most abundant group and followed the general pattern of the heterogeneity in the abundance. On the other hand, the Copepoda, only formed by the order Cyclopoida, presented different patterns of heterogeneity in both periods. The Cladocera were rarely present. Therefore, the presence of some species or groups of zooplankton pointed to a eutrophic and instable environment, with the presence of opportunist species. Hence, the zooplankton community accompanied the gradient of environmental conditions of the reservoir with abundance and composition changes showing to be a good indicator of the environmental changes. This gradient along the main axis is common in reservoirs inasmuch as it is a transitional system, but in the Rio Grande reservoir can also have anthropic influence due to the discharge of pollutant loads or management applying algicides to water treatment. Through PCAs, the limnological variables and zooplankton characteristics divided the reservoir in three compartments inside this gradient found; such compartments vary their sizes constantly during the time showing thus a dynamic environment, but still with well-defined compartments.

O zooplâncton possui grande sensibilidade ambiental e responde rapidamente a alterações ambientais com alterações na abundância e riqueza de organismos. Ainda se conhece muito pouco sobre os organismos aquáticos do Cerrado, assim como há poucos estudos sobre o zooplâncton de ambientes lóticos no Brasil. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar dois córregos da bacia do Rio Preto, médio São Francisco, pela avaliação de comunidades zooplanctônicas e suas relações com características físicas, químicas e biológicas da água, comparando córregos em áreas de vegetação nativa conservada e sob influência de áreas agrícolas. Foram amostradas duas sub-bacias do Rio Preto, localizadas em área de Cerrado (DF e GO) durante quatro semanas nos períodos seco e chuvoso. Em dois pontos de amostragem por córrego, foram coletadas amostras de zooplâncton e de água. Variáveis físicas e químicas da água e a concentração de a clorofila a foram determinadas. Os dois córregos apresentaram tendência de aumento de íons no período chuvoso. O córrego Estanislau (em área agrícola) apresentou maiores concentrações de nitrato, sódio, cloreto e clorofila a em relação ao córrego Pindaíba (em área de vegetação nativa). O zooplâncton se caracterizou por densidades muito baixas e alta riqueza de espécies, com 63 táxons registrados ao todo. A riqueza de espécies e a densidade de organismos do zooplâncton foram maiores no córrego Pindaíba. O córrego Estanislau possui indícios de estar sofrendo impactos negativos do uso rural de sua bacia. / The zooplankton community has high environmental sensitivity and quickly responds to changes in the environment with changes in its abundance and diversity. Yet, little is known about the aquatic organisms of the Cerrado, as well there had been few investigations on the zooplankton of Brazilian lotic environments. This work had the aims to characterize two streams of Rio Preto watershed, part of the Rio São Francisco watershed; to assess their zooplankton communities and the relationships between chlorophyll a and physical and chemical characteristics of water; and to contrast forested and agricultural streams. Two streams, located in the Cerrado Biome (Federal District and the state of Goiás), were sampled for four weeks in dry and rainy seasons. Zooplankton and water samples were taken in two sampling points per stream. Physical and chemical characteristics of water and chlorophyll a concentration were determined. Ionic concentration was higher on rainy season in both streams. The agricultural stream (Estanislau) had higher concentrations of nitrate, sodium, chloride, and chlorophyll a than the forested stream (Pindaiba). Zooplankton was characterized by very low densities and high species richness, with a total of 63 taxa recorded on both streams. Zooplankton density and species richness were higher in Pindaiba stream. Estanislau stream has signs to be suffering negative impacts from the agricultural land use of its watershed.

Tema importante no estudo da ecologia, a competição inter-específica é a demanda ativa por indivíduos de duas ou mais espécies de mesmo nível trófico por um recurso comum que é potencialmente limitante. Esse estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorrência de competição entre espécies de microcrustáceos cladóceros e seu papel na estruturação da comunidade zooplanctônica. Este elo é o que faltava para completar o modelo conceitual sobre interações no Lago Monte Alegre. Foram selecionadas duas espécies de microcrustáceos cladóceros coexistentes e abundantes no lago, Ceriodaphnia richardi e Daphnia gessneri. Dois experimentos de competição foram realizados, sendo utilizadas concentrações diferentes de alimento (0,70 mgC.L-1, 0,25 mgC.L-1 da clorofícea cultivada, Scenedesmus spinosus) para alimentar os cladóceros. Os tratamentos foram (3 réplicas cada): a. controle com Ceriodaphnia richardi em frascos individuais; b. controle com Daphnia gessneri em frascos individuais; c. duas espécies colocadas no mesmo frasco. Todos os experimentos foram conduzidos sob temperatura controlada de 23ºC, que representa a temperatura média anual no lago. A taxa de crescimento (r) por dia foi calculada pela equação exponencial: r = (ln Nt - ln No)/t, onde No e Nt são as densidades inicial e final, respectivamente, e t é o tempo em dias. A maior concentração de alimento favoreceu o crescimento populacional das duas populações estudadas. C. richardi não teve seu crescimento influenciado pela presença de D. gessneri, superando-a em termos de densidade e taxas de crescimento. Já D. gessneri teve sua taxa de crescimento populacional influenciado pela presença de C. richardi, na menor concentração de alimento. Para melhor compreender as razões da superioridade competitiva de C. richardi e o papel da predação com relação a essa espécie, foram feitos experimentos adicionais. Um deles testou a hipótese de que essa espécie pode alimentar-se de outros recursos além de algas, com os tratamentos (3 réplicas): a. água filtrada do lago e b. água filtrada, com adição da alga S. spinosus. Os resultados deram suporte à hipótese. O experimento de predação, com 5 cladóceros e 2 larvas IV de Chaoborus por réplica, mostrou que essa espécie é predada por elas. Flutuações das populações de microcrustáceos zooplanctônicos e dos predadores invertebrados (larvas de Chaoborus brasiliensis e o ácaro aquático Krendowskia sp.) foram acompanhadas semanalmente no lago, durante um ano, entre maio de 2011 e abril de 2012, bem como fatores físicos, químicos e biológicos, como temperatura, oxigênio dissolvido, condutividade elétrica, pH, transparência na coluna dágua e clorofila-a, na tentativa de estabelecer conexão entre os resultados de laboratório e campo. Os resultados mostraram que um período de estratificação térmica mais nítida ocorreu no lago entre outubro e abril (estação quente-chuvosa), sendo mais acentuada a partir de dezembro, enquanto circulação freqüente da coluna dágua foi registrada nos meses mais frios do ano, de maio a setembro (estação fria-seca). A distribuição vertical de outras variáveis ambientais mostrou relação com o padrão de circulação do lago, refletindo na dinâmica populacional das populações zooplanctônicas. Cladóceros foram mais abundantes na estação fria-seca, enquanto copépodos aumentaram no início da estação quente-chuvosa. Porém, ambos os grupos apresentaram as menores densidades entre os meses de fevereiro e abril de 2012. O aumento das larvas de caoborídeos e dos ácaros aquáticos na estação quente-chuvosa parece ser a principal causa do declínio de cladóceros neste período, devido à predação. Já o alimento e temperatura parecem ter maior influência sobre as populações na estação fria-seca. Além da predação, temperatura e alimento, os resultados de competição inter-específica também mostraram ser esse um dos fatores potencialmente controladores da dinâmica populacional do zooplâncton no Lago Monte Alegre, particularmente no período frio, quando o alimento é mais escasso. / Competitive interactions are an important topic in the study of ecology. The interspecific competition is the demand for active individuals of two or more species of the same trophic level for a common resource that is potentially limiting. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of competition between species of cladocerans and their role in structuring the zooplankton community. This is the missing link to complete the conceptual model on interactions in the Lake Monte Alegre. Two species of abundant cladocerans that coexist in the lake were selected, Ceriodaphnia richardi and Daphnia gessneri. Two competition experiments were carried out, using different concentrations (0.70 mgC.L-1 and 0.25 mgC.L-1) of the cultivated chlorophycean Scenedesmus spinosus. The treatments were (with 3 replicates each): a. control with Ceriodaphnia richardi in individual bottles; b. control with Daphnia gessneri in individual bottles; c. the two species placed in the same bootle. All experiments were conducted under controlled temperature of 23 ºC, which represents the average annual temperature in the lake. The growth rate (r) per day was calculated by the exponential equation: r = (ln Nt - ln No)/t, where No and Nt are the initial and final densities, respectively, and t is time in days. Increased population growth of the two populations occurred in the highest concentration of food. The growth of C. richardi was not influenced by the presence of D. gessneri, exceeding it in terms of density and growth rates. The population growth of D. gessneri was also influenced by the presence of C. richardi in the lowest concentration of food. For a better understanding of the reasons for the competitive superiority of C. richardi and the role of predation related to this species, two additional experiments were made. For testing the hypothesis that the species exploits other food resources, the treatments were (3 replicates): a. with lake filtered water and b. with filtered water + alga S. spinosus. The results supported the hypothesis. The predation experiment with 5 cladocerans and 2 larva IV of Chaoborus per replicate showed that the species is preyed on by the larvae. The fluctuations of zooplanktonic microcrustaceans and invertebrate predators (Chaoborus brasiliensis larvae and aquatic mite Krendowskia sp.) were monitored weekly in the lake during one year, from May 2011 to April 2012. Physical, chemical and biological factors, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, transparency in the water column and chlorophyll-a were monitored in an attempt to establish a link between the results of laboratory and field. The results showed that the period of more stable thermal stratification in the lake occurred between October and April (warm-wet season). A more stable stratification started in December, while more frequent circulation of the water column was recorded during the coldest months of the year, from May to September (cold- dry season). The vertical distribution of other environmental variables are a consequence of the lake circulation pattern. Cladocerans were more abundant in the cold-dry season, while copepods increased in early warm-wet season. However, both groups had the lowest densities between February and April 2012. Increased densities of chaoborid larvae and water mites in the warm-wet season seem to be the main cause of the decline of cladocerans in this period due to predation. Food and temperature can exert greater influence on populations in the cold-dry season. In addition to predation, temperature, and food, the results of interspecific competition indicated that it may be one of the factors controlling the population dynamics of zooplankton in the Lake Monte Alegre in periods of food shortage, particularly in the cool period.