Abstract
We compared three methods for calculating the standing stock biomass ofDaphnia hyalina galeata population in Lago Maggiore during a single year. We applied body length/carbon regression equations (LCR) obtained under controlled laboratory conditions and directly from field data on carbon and body length to field data on length-specific abundance. Laboratory-derived equations satisfactorily described our field estimates of length-specific carbon content in spring. As the length-standardized carbon content decreased exponentially along the season, we included time of the year as an auxiliary variable, and tested whether it affected slope, intercept or both. The decrease had no effect on slope but reduced the intercept of the LCR. We also calculated biomass, using a single mean value from the literature. By comparing the results with those obtained by simple conversion of individuals number into carbon we might discriminate between the effect of changes in the size frequency distribution of the population and the decrease with time of the length-standardized carbon content. Although we tested the different models for non-ovigerous females, the results did not change when we included also data on females with eggs in the first three developmental stages, whereas they changed substantially when we included females with embryos. We formulate two hypotheses to explain this result and discuss possible implications for the calculation of the standing stock biomass ofDaphnia population.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Berberovic, R., 1990. Elemental composition of two coexistingDaphnia species during the seasonal course of population development in Lake Constance. Oecologia 84:340–350.
Bottrell, H.H., A. Duncan, Z.M. Gliwicz, E. Grygierek, A. Herzig, A. Hillbricht-Illkowska, H. Kurasawa, P. Larsson, T. Weglenska, 1976. A review of some problems in zooplankton production studies. Norw. J. Zool. 24:419–456.
Boersma, M., J. Vijverberg, 1994. The effect of preservation methods on the carbon content ofDaphnia. Arch. Hydrobiol. 130:129–142.
Culver, D.A., 1980. Seasonal variations in the sizes at birth and first reproduction in Cladocera. In: W.C. Kerfoot ed. The evolution and ecology of zooplankton communities. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Special Symposium n. 3. University Press of New England, Hanover, pp. 358–366.
Culver, D.A., M.M. Boucherle, D.J. Bean, J.W. Fletcher, 1985. Biomass of freshwater crustacean zooplankton from length-weight regression. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42:1380–1390.
de Bernardi, R., G. Guissani, M. Manca, D. Ruggiu, 1988. Long-term dynamics of plankton communities in Lago Maggiore (N. Italy). Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 23:729–733.
Dumont, H.J., I. Van de Velde, S. Dumont, 1975. The dry weight estimate of biomass in a selection of Cladocera, Copepoda and Rotifera from the plankton, periphyton and benthos of continental waters. Oecologia 19:75–97.
Duncan, A., 1985. Body carbon in Daphnids as an indicator of the food concentration available in the field. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih. 2:81–90.
Geller, W., H. Müller, 1985. Seasonal variability in the relationship between body length and individual dry weight as related to food abundance and clutch size in two coexistingDaphnia species. Journal of Plankton Research 7:1–18.
Green, J., 1956. Growth, size and reproduction inDaphnia (Crustacea: Cladocera). Proceedings Zoological Society of London 126:173–204.
Manca, M., T. Spagnuolo, P. Comoli, 1994. Variation in carbon and nitrogen content with body length ofDaphnia hyalina-galeata s.1. from laboratory and field observations. Journal of Plankton Research 16:1303–1314.
Manca, M., P. Comoli, 1995. Seasonal changes in size of the feeding basket ofLeptodora kindtii (Focke) as related to variations in prey size selection. Limnol. Oceanogr. 40:834–838.
Manca, M., 1996. The decline ofDaphnia in Lago Maggiore: predation or food limitation? Mem. Ist. Ital. Idrobiol.: submitted.
Sokal, R.R., F.J. Rohlf, 1969. Biometry, W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 776 pp.
Winberg, G.G., 1971. Methods for estimation of production of aquatic animals, Soviet National Committee of I.B.P. Minsk. Transl. A. Duncan, Academic Press, London, 175 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manca, M., Comoli, P. & Spagnuolo, T. Length-specific carbon content of theDaphnia population in a large subalpine lake, Lago Maggiore (Northern Italy): The importance of seasonality. Aquatic Science 59, 48–56 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02522550
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02522550