Download THE SPECIES DIVERSITY OF ROTIFERS (ROTIFERA) OF

Roczniki Akademii Rolniczej w Poznaniu – CCCLXXIII (2005)
NATALIA KUCZYŃSKA-KIPPEN
THE SPECIES DIVERSITY OF ROTIFERS (ROTIFERA)
OF DIFFERENTIATED MACROPHYTE HABITATS
OF LAKE BUDZYŃSKIE
From Department of Water Protection
Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań
ABSTRACT. In the Budzyńskie Lake there were 147 taxa of rotifers in total identified. The species
composition differed significantly between various habitats. The pelagic zone was less diverse,
while the vegetated zones were much more differentiated. The most diverse genera were Lecane,
Trichocerca and Cephalodella. The mean index of species diversity was considerably high, reaching values between 2.7 and 4.3, depending on particular zone.
Key words: macrophyte habitat, rotifers, zooplankton, shallow lake
Introduction
There are over 2000 species of rotifers known in total, however, from Europe about
1350 until the 80’s of XX century (Dumont 1983) and about 1600 at present (including
over 500 species in Poland) (Radwan et al. 2004). So as the intensive examination
carried out within about 10 years contributed to enriching the taxonomical list of european rotifers of 250 new species, what indicated that the number of identified species is
mainly connected with the stage of fauna recognition in particular parts of earth but not
the real state.
The study conducted by Dumont and Segers (1992) revealed that as a result of astute analysis of zooplankton of freshwaters, including the seasonal aspects, in each lake
of the temperate climate a presence of 150 rotifer species may be found. This is why the
analysis of various areas and habitats as well as systematic examination within short
temporary spaces is so important (Chengalath and Koste 1983).
Representatives of rotifers are found in aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats, but are
predominantly freshwater inhabitants (Pejler 1995). Rotifers may also be abundant in
the interstitial water of soils. They contribute to a very important part of these ecosystems due to extremely fast reproductive rates. The rotifer fauna consists mainly of cosRocz. AR Pozn. CCCLXXIII, Bot.-Stec. 9: 171-176
 Wydawnictwo Akademii Rolniczej im. Augusta Cieszkowskiego w Poznaniu, Poznań 2005
PL ISSN 1896-1908
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N. Kuczyńska-Kippen
mopolitan species. Ecological barriers have stronger influence on their distribution than
geographical isolation. Rotifers also belong to pioneer organisms, which first appear in
new created water bodies.
Pelagic zone of lakes is the best documented environment, while the remaining water biocoenosis require still more studies. Therefore, the aim of my work was to describe
the relationship between the taxonomical richness of rotifer communities and particular
zones of aquatic vegetation zones of Lake Budzyńskie. Rotifers are evolutionary the
littoral forms (Pejler 1995) and this is why only some species managed to adapt to
living within the open water areas. They are then classified as pelagic or littoral forms
(Wetzel 1975).
Material and methods
The study was conducted on a shallow Lake Budzyńskie (52°14,8’N-16°49,5’E).
It has an area of 17.4 ha and mean depth of 1.4 m. This is a typical macrophytedominated lake with an extensive cover of aquatic vegetation.
Research on the spatial distribution of rotifers in the various phytocoenoses of water
vegetation, including two zones of submerged macrophytes (Chara tomentosa L. and
Myriophyllum verticillatum L.), one zone of floating macrophyte leaves (Potamogeton
natans L.), rush station (Typha angustifolia L. and Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud.)
and the zone of open water surrounding the vegetation beds was carried out at two week
intervals (including the spring, summer and autumn seasons) between 1996 and 1999.
The material was taken using a plexiglass core sampler (∅ 50 mm), concentrated using
a 45-µm plankton net and fixed immediately with 4% formalin.
To define the species diversity of rotifers inhabiting different types of water vegetation the Shannon-Weaver index was applied (Margalef 1957). The ANOVA test was
used in order to evaluate the differences in rotifera number of species between particular
habitats of Budzyńskie Lake.
Results and discussion
The analysis of the rotifers of the Budzyńskie Lake revealed the presence of 147
taxa, representing 41 genera, what accounts for 29% of the native fauna, since from the
area of Poland over 500 species have been identified so far (Radwan et al. 2004). However, it is probably only 50-90% of a real state (Polskie studium... 1996).
The number of species differed, depending on the investigated year or sampling station. In 1997 the poorest taxonomical structure (82 species) and in 1998 the richest
(127) was recorded. The number of species is a result of factors of the space (diversity
of explored habitats), of time (taking into consideration the seasonality of particular
species), as well as briefness of life cycles of some species. In 1998 the highest number
of samples was analysed as well as more habitats were examined, which reflected in the
highest taxonomical diversity of rotifer communities of this year. Chengalath and
Koste (1983) stated that the extent of species recognition depends on the sampling frequency as well as on seasonality of particular species.
The species diversity of rotifers (Rotifera)...
173
As a result of comparing the number of species statistically significant differences
were found between stations (F4, 101 = 26.15, p < 0.0001). The most diverse were
macrophyte habitats, while poorest the open water zone, however, there were 73 species
found here, which is quite a high number of species for a pelagic community. This station is not a typical open water zone but only a small area of unvegetated part of a lake,
surrounded by submerged macrophytes, which may provide this zone with littoral species being washed out from among plants. Among all the vegetated stations the lowest
taxonomical diversity (81 species) was recorded for Potamogeton zone, what was
probably due to the shortest vegetative period of this plant species in the examined lake
as well as examining this zone for only two years. Contrary, the Typha bed possessed
the richest species composition (117 species) compared to other zones of the Budzyńskie Lake.
The mean values of rotifer species diversity were considerably high and accounted
for between 2.7 and 4.3, depending on particular station. Zone of Myriophyllum was
characterised by highest values, than Potamogeton, Typha, Chara and open water. The
highest values of diversity index obtained from the Myriophyllum bed suggest the most
optimal conditions within this macrophyte stand, where the food conditions connected
with nutritional content of periphyton were best out of all habitats of the Budzyńskie
Lake (Kuczyńska-Kippen 2001). Moreover, this plant species was of greatest morphological complexity, what provided inhabiting organisms with numerous ecological
niches due to the fact that most physically and biologically complicated habitats create
more niches (Krebs 1996). Analysing seasonal variation in the diversity index it was
found that the summer period, when macrophytes reached their optimal development,
was characterised by highest values at all the stations. The lowest values were recorded
in the spring, when macrophytes were slowly developing (Fig. 1).
In the investigated material the most species (20) were found among genus Lecane
with most often occurring L. aculeata (Harring), L. closterocerca (Schmarda), L. hamata (Stoces), L. luna (Müller), L. bulla (Gosse), L. furcata (Murray), L. flexilis (Gosse)
and L. lunaris (Ehrenberg). Segers et al. (1993) examining zooplankton in six lakes,
four rivers, rice field and forest pond in the area of the Niger delta have also found the
highest species diversity among the Lecane spp. This genus constitute a group of both
freshwater and saline rotifers. They mainly remain in the littoral environments, although
some can frequently be found in the open water zone of lakes. This group reaches its
highest diversity in the tropics and subtropics, where communities may contain up to 40
different species (Pejler and Bērziņš 1994, Segers 1995). There are 163 species of this
genus recorded from the whole world, so the Budzyńskie Lake contributed to over 12%
of the total Lecane fauna, which is considerably high for the temperate climate. Some of
the species (eg. L. bulla, L. luna, L. closterocerca, L. lunaris) are among the most common Rotifera. In the studied material these species also belonged to most often occurring species. The remaining species (L. hamata, L. furcata, L. flexilis) are also cosmopolitan, often eurytopic form. Lecane aculeata, occurring frequently in Lake Budzyńskie is cosmopolitan, but uncommon. It is encountered more often in tropical and subtropical than in temperate waters (Segers 1995).
The second most diverse genus was Trichocerca (13 species), whose most representatives were characteristic for vegetated areas – T. capucina Wierzejski & Zacharias,
T. cylindrica (Imhof), T. elongata (Gosse), T. longiseta (Schrank), T. porcellus (Gosse),
T. rattus (Müller), T. rattus f. minor (Fadeew), T. rouselleti Voigt, T. vernalis Hauer
and T. tigris (Müller), apart from T. pusilla, whose single specimen were found in open
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N. Kuczyńska-Kippen
water zone. This is a typical pelagic form (Pejler and Bērziņš 1993 a). In the Budzyńskie
Lake T. similis belonged to most common species, often being a dominant. There were
52 Trichocerca species identified in total from Sweden, where research was carried out
between years 1945-1982 on a number of differentiated water bodies. Most of those
species were found in relation to variety of habitats, only some were a part of periphytic
environments. The presence of littoral representatives of Trichocerca genus within the
pelagic zone is often accidental connected with washing them out from among aquatic
plants or as a result of the trophy increase (Pejler and Bērziņš 1993 a).
Typha
Potamogeton
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
0
0
1997
1998
1999
1997
1998
1999
Chara
Water – Woda
5
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
0
0
1997
1998
1999
1997
1998
1999
Myriophyllum
5
4
3
spring – wiosna
2
summer – lato
1
autumn – jesień
0
1997
1998
1999
Fig. 1. The value of the species diversity index in particular seasons in the Budzyńskie Lake
in the period of 1997-1999
Ryc. 1. Wartość współczynnika różnorodności gatunkowej w poszczególnych sezonach
w Jeziorze Budzyńskim w latach 1997-1999
The third genus that had an impact on the taxonomical structure of Rotifera community of the Budzyńskie Lake was Cephalodella consisting of nine species (with most
often occurring C. ventripes Dixon-Nuttall, C. auriculata (Müller), C. forficula (Ehrenberg) and C. gibba (Ehrenberg)). There are about 190 species belonging to this genus.
The species diversity of rotifers (Rotifera)...
175
In the material collected from swedish lakes the presence of 80 species was recorded
(Pejler and Bērziņš 1993 b). However, much poorer taxonomical structure from Lake
Budzyńskie was connected with examining only one water body, not investigating the
bottom habitats where species of the genus Cephalodella find most optimal conditions
as well as problems with identification to species level, since determination is often
hindered by preserving artifacts and also due to the fact that many Cephalodella representatives are closely related and therefore reveal a striking resemblance to each other.
It is a known fact that family Notommatidae, where genus Cephalodella belongs, is the
group of Rotifera most difficult for identification (Guides... 1995). This genus, comprising illoricate or partly loricate forms, is found in many habitats, mainly in macrophytes and psammon (Guides... 1995).
The remaining genera of rotifers were represented only by single species.
Rotifers of Lake Budzyńskie created taxonomically rich composition due to a wide
variety of habitats they can inhabit. Rotifer distribution is often related to different habitat conditions present, providing differences in the suitability for typically littoral and
pelagic species (Preissler 1977) as well as the morphological adaptations of rotifers
inhabiting particular zones of the lake (Preissler 1983).
References
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Canada. Hydrobiologia 104: 49-56.
Dumont H.J. (1983): Biotic factors in the population dynamics of rotifers. Biogeography of
rotifers. Hydrobiologia 104: 19-30.
Dumont H.J., Segers H. (1992): Estimating lacustrine zooplankton species richness and complementarity. Hydrobiologia 341, 2: 125-132.
Guides to the identification of the microinvertebrates of the continental waters of the world.
(1995). Ed. T. Nogrady. Vol. 3. The Notommatidae by T. Nogrady & R. Pourriot and The
Scaridiidae by H. Segers. Academic Publishing B.V. The Hague, Belgium.
Krebs Ch.J. (1996): Ekologia. Eksperymentalna analiza rozmieszczenia i liczebności. PWN,
Warszawa.
Kuczyńska-Kippen N. (2001): Struktura przestrzenna zespołów Rotifera w wybranych fitocenozach roślinności zanurzonej i szuwarowej Jeziora Budzyńskiego (The spatial structure of Rotifera communities in the chosen phytocoenosis of the submerged and rush vegetation of the
Budzyńskie Lake). Typescript. PhD thesis. Zakład Hydrobiologii UAM, Poznań.
Margalef R. (1957): Information theory in ecology. Gen. Syst. 3: 36-71.
Pejler B. (1995): Relation to habitat in rotifers. Hydrobiologia 313-314: 267-278.
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55-59.
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Polskie studium różnorodności biologicznej. (1996). Eds R. Andrzejewski, A. Weigle. NFOS, Warszawa.
Preissler K. (1977): Do rotifers show ‘avoidance of the shore’. Oecologia 27, 3: 253-260.
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Radwan S., Bielańska-Grajner I., Ejsmont-Karabin J. (2004): Wrotki Rotifera. A. Część
ogólna, Monogononta – część systematyczna, B. Monogononta atlas gatunków. Oficyna Wydawnicza Tercja, Polskie Towarzystwo Hydrobiologiczne i Uniwersytet Łódzki, Łódź.
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Segers H. (1995): Rotifera. Vol. 2. The Lecanidae (Monogononta). Guides to the identification of
the microinvertebrates of the continental waters of the world. SPB Academic Publishing bv.,
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Segers H., Nwadiaro Ch.S., Dumont H.J. (1993): Rotifera of some lakes in the floodplain of the
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Wetzel R.R. (1975): Limnology. Sauders, Philadelphia.
RÓŻNORODNOŚĆ GATUNKOWA WROTKÓW (ROTIFERA)
ZRÓŻNICOWANYCH SIEDLISK MAKROFITÓW JEZIORA BUDZYŃSKIEGO
Streszczenie
Ogółem stwierdzono występowanie 147 taksonów wrotków, reprezentujących 41 rodzajów.
Strefy roślinne charakteryzowały się większym zróżnicowaniem taksonomicznym niż otwarta toń
wodna. Rodzaje Lecane, Trichocerca i Cephalodella były najbogatsze jakościowo w badanym
materiale. Średnia wartość wskaźnika różnorodności gatunkowej osiągnęła stosunkowo duże
wartości (w zakresie od 2,7 do 4,3), w zależności od analizowanej strefy Jeziora Budzyńskiego.
Author’s address:
Natalia Kuczyńska-Kippen, Zakład Ochrony Wód, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza
w Poznaniu, ul. Drzymały 24, 61-613 Poznań