Seasonal dynamics of microcrustacean and rotifer communities in Malaysian rice fields used for rice-fish farming

Abstract

The abundance, seasonal dynamics and species composition of microcrustacean and rotifer communities in rice fields used for rice-cum-fish culture were examined. The shallow littoral-like nature of rice fields resulted in the presence of cladoceran and rotifer species, but copepods were numerically more abundant. Abundance and seasonal dynamics were affected by factors such as pesticides and herbicide use, predator-prey relationships, presence of hydrophytes and interactions among microcrustaceans and rotifers. The implications of microcrustacean and rotifers abundance and seasonal dynamics on rice-fish farming are discussed.

Seasonal variation of microcrustaceans and microbial flora on their surface in the overlying water of a Japanese paddy field

“…These results were consistent with those obtained by Taira and Hogetsu (1987), who reported that cladocerans were the predominant microcrustaceans in Japanese rice fields. On the contrary, Ali (1990) reported that copepods were the predominant microcrustaceans in Malaysian rice fields. Simpson et al (1994) reported that copepods and ostracods were the predominant micro crustaceans in the rice fields of the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, and that population densities of aquatic invertebrates, including microcrustaceans, fluctuated considerably among locations, stages of crop development, sampling methods, and authors.…”

“…Since Moina spp. are known to be susceptible to insecticides (Takaku et al 1979;Ali 1990), this decrease may be due to the effect of the insecticide, buprofezin. The second topdressing did not bring about any remarkable change in the numbers of cladocerans in the C-and O-plots (Fig.…”

Epibiotic bacteria associated with microcrustaceans in the overlying water of paddy fields

“…Although paddy fields harbor a large amount and a variety of microcrustaceans during the flooded period (Takamura and Yasuno 1986;Ali 1990), no reports have focused on the association of bacteria with micro crustaceans occurring in paddy fields.…”

Populations, Community Composition and Biomass of Aquatic Organisms in the Floodwater of Rice Fields and Effects of Field Management

“…Tropodiaptomus vicinus KIEFER was specific to rice fields (Lai andFernando 1978, 1979). 3) In rice fields under fish cultivation, 38 species of microcrustaceans and 33 species of rotifers were detected, and cladocerans, copepods and rotifers accounted for 61, 5 and 34% of the species composition. However, copepods accounted for more than 80% in terms of number of individuals among the microcrustaceans, respectively (Ali 1990). 4) Moina micrura, Diaphanosoma maexcisum, Alona guttata and Macrofhrix spinosa predominated among 1 1 cladoceran species in a rice field in Tanjung Karang, Malaysia, and limnetic M. micrura appeared first, followed by eurytopic D .…”