Planktonic rotifers in mining lakes in the Silesian Upland: Relationship to environmental parameters

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe effects of coal-mine waters on the structure and the density of planktonic rotifer communities were studied in lakes formed as a result of subsidence due to mining (collapse of underground tunnels). Water samples were collected according to the standard methods from four mining lakes in TychyCzu"ów (near Katowice, southern Poland), twice a month from June till October in [2004][2005][2006]. Two of the studied lakes were fed by mine waters but differed in flow rate, conductivity, water pH, and the amount of aquatic vegetation. The effects of those factors on the planktonic rotifer communities were analysed. In total, 83 species and forms of rotifers were recorded. The highest diversity of rotifers was found in the lakes with the largest patches of aquatic vegetation, while the highest density of rotifers was observed in the smallest and the most eutrophicated lake. High-water conductivity limited both species diversity and densities of rotifers. The rotifer communities of the studied lakes differed significantly in species diversity, although all the lakes were dominated by eurytopic species: Keratella cochlearis, Brachionus angularis, Brachionus calyciflorus, and Polyarthra sp. In the largest lake, characterized by the lowest conductivity and pH, the superdominant was Polyarthra luminosa, which in the other lakes was rare or absent. Higher conductivity was correlated with a lower density of P. luminosa, Brachionus diversicornis, K. cochlearis f. tecta, and a higher density of B. calyciflorus. In the lakes with the largest patches of aquatic vegetation, conductivity affected the number of dominant rotifer species. Apparently no other abiotic factors (pH, phosphates, and nitrates) affected the rotifer communities.

Hydrology driven changes in the rotifer trophic structure and implications for food web interactions

“…However, species within the A3 and B4 group also flourished under such conditions due to their ability to utilize alternative food sources. Moreover, conductivity also appeared an important driver in structuring rotifer assembly (Bielańska‐Grajner & Gladysz, ; Kirk & Gilbert, ) during HP2. According to Bielańska‐Grajner and Gladysz (), some rotifer species were confined to areas with specific conductivity values.…”

Structure of rotifer assemblages in shallow waterbodies of semi-arid northwest Iran differing in salinity and vegetation cover

“…Rotifera have been studied in a wide variety of aquatic ecosystems including rivers and estuaries (Neschuk et al, 2002;Wang et al, 2009), deep and shallow lakes (Branco et al, 2002;Š poljar et al, 2005), saline lakes , mining lakes (Bielańska-Grajner & Gładysz, 2010), bogs and peatlands (Bielańska-Grajner et al, 2011), and rice paddy and fish ponds (Segers & Sanoamuang, 2007). They have also been investigated across different geographical regions including tropical (Dagne et al, 2008), subtropical (Havens et al, 2007), and temperate (Kuczyńska-Kippen, 2005) areas globally.…”

“…These ecosystems collectively support considerably more species and more rare species than other freshwaters (Neschuk et al, 2002;Williams et al, 2004). Moreover, during the investigation, we were focused on moderately to intensely vegetated waterbodies known to carry high biodiversity relative to unvegetated waterbodies (Bielańska-Grajner & Gładysz, 2010).…”

Planktonic Rotifers in a Subtropical Shallow Lake: Succession, Relationship to Environmental Factors, and Use as Bioindicators

“…Nutrient elements indirectly affect rotifers via the food chain. Moreover, apart from trophic conditions, other abiotic factors [47] as well as food composition (esp. algae species), vegetation cover [48], and predation [3] also play important roles in determining the abundance and species composition of the rotifer community.…”