Distribution of rotifers in a Floridian saltwater beach, with a note on rotifer dispersal

Rotifera should be especially suited for an analysis of habitat relations because this group contains such a high number of species, inhabiting diverse environments . Furthermore, rotifers are to a large extent cosmopolitan, implying that ecological barriers, rather than geographical, are decisive of their distribution . In this review a short characterization of the rotifer fauna in different habitats is given, whereby macroenvironments and microenvironments are reported separately . The macroenvironments are classified as follows : `harmonious' lakes and ponds, arctic and antarctic waters, hot springs, hypertrophic-saprobic environments, mires, strongly acidic waters, saline waters, temporary water bodies, subterranean waters, running waters, oceans, terrestrial environments . The following microenvironments are distinguished : macrophytes (housing periphytic rotifers), open water (with planktic forms), minerogenous sediments (with psammon and hyporheos), organogenous sediments, other organisms (i .e . parasites and epizoans) .Many rotifers are more or less euryecious, while relatively few are strongly restricted in their choice of habitat . In extreme environments a low number of species is found, but often a high number of individuals within these species . These rotifers are usually primary consumers, and for natural reasons extreme environments are characterized by a low number of trophic levels .In environments with a high species number the separate species differ very much in their morphology, making it difficult to find common traits which may be interpreted as adaptations to the respective habitats . The most apparent adaptations ought to be found among the planktic rotifers, and these adaptations seem to constitute largely a protection against predators . Rotifers in extreme environments are usually not very apart in a morphological or taxonomical respect, with their most close relatives living in `normal' habitats and sometimes euryecious (an apparent exception from this rule is formed by the class Seisonidea) . Adaptations to deviating chemical and physical environments may develop relatively rapidly (seen from a geological perspective), while the more fundamental changes (occurring during a longer period of time) seem to be a response to biotic factors (e .g ., the development of different types of trophi for facilitating food collection) .

Section: The Oceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relation to habitat in rotifers

Pejler¹

1995

“…Although psammic rotifers have been investigated for many years ( Wiszniewski, 1932( Wiszniewski, , 1934aNeiswestnowa-Shadina, 1935) more attention has been paid to rotifers inhabiting marine beaches (Turner, 1990(Turner, , 1993Tzschaschel, 1983;SaundersDavies, 1998;Sørensen, 1998). Many papers have also been published on the sand and interstitial rotifers of rivers and streams (Zullini & Ricci, 1980;Pennak & Ward, 1986;Schmid-Araya, 1994, 1995Turner, 1996;Turner & Distler, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Influence of Biotic and Abiotic Factors on Psammic Rotifers in Artificial and Natural Lakes

Bielańska-Grajner

2005

The effect of sand grain size, porosity and the abundance of algae on the community structure of psammic rotifers was tested in three anthropogenic lakes (Upper Silesia) and compared with three natural ones (West Pomerania). The structure of grain size in the studied beaches of artificial and natural lakes was similar but differences were found in the abundance of algae. The structure of the psammic rotifer community in Upper Silesian lakes was different from natural lakes in West Pomerania. The structure of psammic rotifer communities in anthropogenic reservoirs and lakes (West Pomerania) differed in numbers of species and numbers of psammobiont species, and also diversity index. The most altered structure of rotifer assemblages was observed in the psammon rotifers of the strongly contaminated Dzier_ zno Du_ ze Lake.

“…plastic corer. Sample sand from this corer pushed down to approximately 9 cm from the surface of the sand (Turner, 1993) was sliced into 3 cm thick aliquots and fixed with 10% formalin . The fixed aliquots were placed in a jar, and extracted using a multiple decantation method, modified after Turner (1988) .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary data on rotifers in the interstitial of the Ninnescah river, Kansas, USA

Turner

1996

Self Cite

One-hundred five rotifer species were identified from a sandy, plains river in Kansas, USA (the Ninnescah river) . Of those rotifers identified, eighty occurred only in the interstitial sand, fifty-six in only the flow as plankton, and thirty-one from both habitats . Most species can be characterized as being more commonly found in littoral habitats, and not the interstitial or plankton . Lecane inermis (Bryce, 1892) had the highest density in the hygropsammon interstitial with an average 401 ind . 10 cm -3 at 1-3 cm depth in September 1993 .New records for the US include Encentrum wiszniewski Wulfert (1939), E. longidens Donner (1943) and E. (Parencentrum) longipes Wulfert (1960) . A small form of Lecane levistyla Olofsson (1917) is further examined and discussed .