Comparative analysis of the spatio-temporal dynamics of rotifer community structure based on taxonomic indices and functional groups in two subtropical lakes

Abstract

Little research has focused on how rotifer communities respond to eutrophication based on their combined taxonomic and functional indices. In this research, the relationship of the environment and rotifer communities was comparatively investigated in two subtropical lakes over one year. The taxon-based indices, including species number (S), Margalef index (D), Simpson index (d), Shannon-wiener index (H′), and functional traits relying on the guild ratio (GR) and the modified guild ratio (GR′) from the moderately eutrophic Lake Xiyanghu were significantly lower than those from the slightly eutrophic Lake Jinghu. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that both lakes were distinct from each other. Taken together, the findings indicate that trophic state was an important factor affecting rotifer community structure. In addition, the average annual GR′ of Lake Xiyanghu was <0, suggesting the dominancy of microphagous rotifers. Over time, S, D, d, and H′ were positively correlated with temperature and phosphorus levels in Lake Jinghu, but were negatively correlated with NH4 +-N levels in Lake Xiyanghu. Only GR′ was negatively associated with chlorophyll-a in Lake Xiyanghu, implying that the functional index (GR′) might be an effective tool to explore the relationship between trophic state and the rotifer community in seriously eutrophic lakes.

Seasonal dynamics of zooplankton functional group and its relationship with physico-chemical variables in high turbid nutrient-rich Small Xingkai Wetland Lake, Northeast China

“…The last possible reason could be environmental factors. Studies have shown that change in physico-chemical factors such as nutrients, pH, turbidity and temperature can affect rotifer community structure (Armengol et al 1998;Duggan et al 2002;Wen et al 2017). Changes in rotifer community structure could in turn lead to wavering of foodwebs and stability of the wetland lake.…”

Population growth potential of rotifers from a high altitude eutrophic waterbody, Madín reservoir (State of Mexico, Mexico): The importance of seasonal sampling

“…For example, in nature, one or more genera such as Anuraeopsis, Keratella, Kellicottia, Brachionus, Polyarthra, Liliferotrocha, Trichocerca, Synchaeta, Cephalodella, Conochilus, Lepadella, Lecane and Ptygura often become highly abundant. They reach >1 ind mL -1 , at least in certain seasons (Duggan et al, 2002;Smith et al, 2009;Nandini et al, 2016;Wen et al, 2017). On the other hand, certain other rotifer genera such as Tripleuchlanis, Cyrtonia, Microcodides, Tetrasiphon, Lindia and Asplanchna rarely exceed 500 ind L -1 (Fontaneto and Melone, 2003;Wallace et al, 2006).…”

Sessile rotifers (Rotifera) exhibit strong seasonality in a shallow, eutrophic Ramsar site in Mexico

“…Our data on the TSI showed no clear relation between this index and the Shannon–Wiener diversity index. It has been reported that microphages dominate under eutrophic conditions and raptorial rotifers dominate in bodies of water with low TSI (Ŝpoljar, Tomljanović, & Lalić, ; Wen, Zhai, Feng, Yang, & Xi, ). However, in our study the opposite was observed: raptorial sessile rotifers dominated during much of the year.…”