Zooplankton: A Valuable Environmental Indicator Tool in Reservoir Ecological Management?

Abstract

This work was carried out in collaboration between both authors. Author AMG designed the study, carried out the sample collections and experimental work during 2010 to 2015 and also drafted the preliminary manuscript. Author RP joined in the sample collections during 2015, managed the analyses of the study and reviewed the final manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.

The Use of Zooplankton Metrics to Determine the Trophic Status and Ecological Potential: An Approach in a Large Mediterranean Watershed

“…This is in accordance with our results: in lower trophic levels, daphnids abundance and biomass were lower, and there was an increase at higher levels. Furthermore, it is important to point out that within this group, there is a species that considered to be an indicator for both low (Daphnia longispina) and high eutrophic levels (Daphnia cucullata) [26,27,37]. These species were present only in reservoirs with low and high trophic status, respectively.…”

“…Nevertheless, in natural lakes, this group is a useful tool to determine the trophic status using abundances [30,31] or biomass [31,33]. Moreover, not only biomass and abundances are related to trophic gradient, but several studies in natural and man-made waterbodies have pointed to the rotifer species as being good indicators of trophic status and water quality [22,26,27,29,35,37,70]; therefore, this group can provide valuable data and should not be overlooked.…”

“…Studies focused on the use of zooplankton biomass, abundance, and ratios to determine trophic state have recently increased in several parts of the European Union [8,9,[30][31][32][33]. However, in natural lakes [34][35][36] and man-made reservoirs in the Mediterranean region, there are fewer studies [37,38]. Finally, studies on the use of zooplankton biomass and abundance as indicators of ecological status under the WDF criteria are scarce in scientific research.…”