EXTRINSIC AND INTRINSIC CONTROLS OF ZOOPLANKTON DIVERSITY IN LAKES

• DOI: 10.1890/05-0352
• Publication Date: 2007-06-04T23:36:24Z
• Authors: Dag O. Hessen; Bjørn A. Faafeng; Val H. Smith; Vegar Bakkestuen; Bjørn Walseng
• Keywords: Planktivore

Pelagic crustacean zooplankton were collected from 336 Norwegian lakes covering a wide range of latitude, altitude, lake area, mean depth, production (as chlorophyll a), and fish community structure. Mean species richness during the ice-free season was generally low at high latitudes altitudes. Further, lower recorded in western lakes, possibly reflecting constraints on migration dispersal. However, despite obvious spatial limitations, geographic boundaries only weak predictors richness. Similarly, surface area did not contribute positively to such as seen other ecosystem surveys. Rather, intrinsic factors primary (planktivore) structure identified by regression analysis major diversity, while positive correlation observed between total biomass. spite large number variables included this study, predictive power multiple models modest (<50% variance explained), pointing role for within-lake properties, yet unidentified forces, stochasticity, or dispersal diversity these lakes.