The influence of aquatic macrophytes on distribution and feeding habit of two Asplanchna species (A. priodonta and A. herrickii) in shallow wetlands, South Korea
<p>We tested the hypothesis that the spatial distribution and diet composition of <em>Asplanchna </em>species might be affected by the presence of aquatic macrophytes in 33 wetlands in South Korea. We estimated the densities of <em>Asplanchna</em> and other rotifer and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
PAGEPress Publications
2014-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Limnology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jlimnol.it/index.php/jlimnol/article/view/896 |
| Summary: | <p>We tested the hypothesis that the spatial distribution and diet composition of <em>Asplanchna </em>species might be affected by the presence of aquatic macrophytes in 33 wetlands in South Korea. We estimated the densities of <em>Asplanchna</em> and other rotifer and crustacean, together with environmental parameters, in both vegetated and open water zones, from May to June 2011. In the present study, two species of <em>Asplanchna</em>, <em>A. priodonta </em>and <em>A. herrickii</em>, were observed and significantly more abundant in open water zones lacking macrophytes. In particular, the density of <em>A. priodonta </em>was higher than that of <em>A. herrickii</em>, and the density of <em>A. priodonta</em> was strongly positively correlated with the area of open water. In addition, gut content analysis was used to determine their dietary preferences, with the finding that there was apparent differentiation in food source utilisation between the two <em>Asplanchna</em> species; <em>A. priodonta</em> consumed some protozoa, phytoplankton, and exclusively pelagic rotifer, while <em>A. herrickii </em>consumed primarily <em>Euglena</em>. In particular, <em>Keratella</em> and <em>Polyarthra</em> were most commonly consumed by <em>A. priodonta</em> in open water. Macrophytes represent a suitable habitat for epiphytic rotifer but not for pelagic rotifer; this characteristic drives pelagic rotifer such as <em>Asplanchna</em> towards open water and may be responsible for the significant negative correlation that we observed between macrophyte and <em>Asplanchna</em> densities.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1129-5767 1723-8633 |