Environmental Variables and Planktonic Communities in Two Ponds of El Hondo Wetland (SE Spain)

Rodrigo, María A.; Armengol-Díaz, X.; Oltra, Ricardo; Dasí, M. J.; Colom, William

doi:10.1002/1522-2632(200106)86:3<299::aid-iroh299>3.0.co;2-w

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…We have conducted laboratory experiments with the three sibling rotifer species belonging to the wellcharacterized B. plicatilis complex (Ciros-Pérez et al 2002). As a predator, we used the cyclopoid copepod Diacyclops bicuspidatus odessanus (Schmankevitch 1875), one of the most abundant microcrustaceans inhabiting the ponds where the studied rotifers occur (Rodrigo et al 2001;unpubl. data).…”

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Predation as a factor mediating resource competition among rotifer sibling species

Ciros‐Pérez

Carmona

Lapesa

2004

Limnology & Oceanography

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The relevance of predation as a factor mediating the competitive interaction among ecologically very similar species is investigated by experimentally analyzing the effect of the copepod predator Diacyclops bicuspidatus odessanus on three sibling rotifer species belonging to the Brachionus plicatilis species complex. These rotifer species are similar in shape but show notable differences in body size. Predator and prey species co-occur in brackish waterbodies close to the Mediterranean coast of Spain. First, we characterized differential vulnerability of rotifers to predation. A consistent tendency of higher predation rates on smaller prey (i.e., smaller species and younger individuals) was observed. Analysis of predation showed that predator contact rate did not differ significantly among prey species, but that attack, capture probabilities, and handling time did. Second, we performed population dynamics experiments with two prey species competing for a single resource at different levels of predation. Predation extended coexistence of the competing rotifers, whereas the inferior competitor was excluded in the absence of the predator. In some pairwise experiments, we found that the greater the predation level, the larger the relative increase in density of the inferior competitor. Our results suggest that predation can affect the dynamics of very similar competing species in natural aquatic communities, promoting coexistence.

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Predation as a factor mediating resource competition among rotifer sibling species

Ciros‐Pérez

Carmona

Lapesa

2004

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…Based on chlorophyll and nutrient contents, the ponds can be classified as "eutrophic" (Margalef, 1983). Also, the composition of the phytoplankton and zooplankton assemblages (Rodrigo et al, 2001) were typical of eutrophic water bodies. Nevertheless, the WP had a lower trophic status at the end of the study period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical and Chemical Characterization of a Protected Wetland Area in El Fondo d'Elx (Alicante, Spain)

Rodrigo¹

2002

Limnetica

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Two shallow ponds (Southeast and Southwest ponds) of El Fondo d'Elx wetland and their contributing intlows are described in their physico-chemical features during one year (November 1994 to October 1995. Conductivity increased as water leve1 decreased due to high evaporation and minimal water inputs under drought conditions caused both by the weather and overexploitation of groundwater resources in the area. lnitially considered mesohaline, the waters were re-classitied as polyhaline from July 1995. Extensive agricultura1 activities and the intensive use of nitrogenous fertilizers occur in surrounding lands have resulted in high nitrate concentrations, and frequently high NIP ratios, in inflow waters. Other human activities, such as reed burning and the opening of paths have disturbed the sediment, also leading to phosphorus enrichment, which has also been followed by large alga1 blooms at some sites. The Southeast Pond was subject to successive dessication-flooding cycles. After the flooding of the dry sediment, high concentrations of nitrogen compounds and soluble reactive phosphorus were detected, which were quickly depleted, possibly dueto uptake by phytoplankton. The Southwest Pond, which did not dry out had lower nutrient concentrations, lower salinity, higher water transparency and the continuous presence of aquatic macrophytes throughout the year.

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“…1) one small pond was sampled: Contacto Pond (GC), which was filled with freshwater from a sewage treatment plant without tertiary treatment. More information about the study area is detailed in Rodrigo et al (2001), Vin˜als et al (2001), Armengol et al (2008) and Atienzar et al (2012).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…They mainly come from sewage waters and runoff from agricultural areas, as found in previous studies in the study area (Lo´pez and Toma`s, 1989). For example, Rodrigo et al (2001) calculated an average nitrate concentration of 1.4 mg.L x1 in WP, similar to the values found in the present work. The multivariate analyses revealed that the variables related to trophic state were strongly influencing the invertebrate assemblages, determining the presence of species tolerant to eutrophic conditions, especially micro-and macrozooplankton, as B. plicatilis (Quintana, 2002) or the invasive copepod A. americanus (Alekseev et al, 2002).…”

Section: Relationships Between Invertebrate Assemblages and Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic invertebrate assemblages in ponds from coastal Mediterranean wetlands

Antón-Pardo

Armengol

2014

Ann. Limnol. - Int. J. Lim.

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-Invertebrate aquatic assemblages in ponds from Mediterranean wetlands are composed of organisms belonging to different taxonomic groups, which present a wide range of sizes (from small rotifers to large crustaceans or insects). Although they are often sampled and analyzed separately, the ecological links among these organisms should be considered, especially in very shallow waters. In our study, invertebrate assemblages (including micro-, macrozooplankton and macroinvertebrates) were characterized in eight shallow lakes from Mediterranean wetlands in Southeastern Spain. A great spatial and temporal variability in the assemblages and in some environmental features was observed. The community was dominated in abundance and species richness by rotifers in most of the water bodies. Fish greatly contributed to the differences in community composition, as fishless ponds presented abundant and diverse cladoceran populations. Nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentration, conductivity and macrophyte cover had also a great influence on these assemblages, especially in micro-and macrozooplankton. The temporal changes observed in some of these variables affect the proportion of invertebrate biomass of the different groups along the study period. All this environmental heterogeneity produces similar responses in the invertebrate groups, in general well adapted to salinity changes or high trophic conditions. Although the heterogeneity and human disturbances can increase regional diversity, they can cause the disappearance of valuable habitats, and finally, the homogeneity in invertebrate assemblages.

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Environmental Variables and Planktonic Communities in Two Ponds of El Hondo Wetland (SE Spain)

Cited by 15 publications

References 16 publications

Predation as a factor mediating resource competition among rotifer sibling species

Predation as a factor mediating resource competition among rotifer sibling species

Physical and Chemical Characterization of a Protected Wetland Area in El Fondo d'Elx (Alicante, Spain)

Aquatic invertebrate assemblages in ponds from coastal Mediterranean wetlands

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