Zooplankton abundance, hydrilla biomass, and physicochemical parameters were sampled for one year in a small central Florida lake. Annually, rotifers comprised most of the species collected and were the most abundant zooplankton group. Hydrilla biomass was lowest during winter and spring while orthophosphate and phtoplankton concentrations were highest. Zooplankton densities were highest when hydrilla biomass was low. Small-bodied limnetic herbivores comprised most of the zooplankton during the spring. Zooplanton abundances were lowest during summer and fall and may have been either directly or indirectly related to the hydrilla growth. Factors, such as lower phytoplankton and dissolved oxygen concentrations, possible increased predation by fish, and substances that may have been secreted by the hydrilla may have had a negative effect on the lake's zooplankton density. Littoral zooplankton species were frequently collected from the lake when hydrilla biomass was high. Species diversity (─æ) was lowest during winter and spring and ranged from 1.69 to 2.11; species diversity peaked during the summer reaching 3.04.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ucf.edu/oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:rtd-1512 |
| Date | 01 October 1980 |
| Creators | Schmitz, Don C. |
| Publisher | STARS |
| Source Sets | University of Central Florida |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Retrospective Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Public Domain |
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