Crustacean zooplankton community in relation to physicochemical factors and phytoplankton of 13 waterbodies located in the Yangtze River delta

Abstract

The relationship between crustacean zooplankton community and environmental factors remains a hot topic in eutrophication bio-monitoring subject. Most water bodies in the Yangtze River delta are mesotrophic/eutrophic, which has attracted much attention from ecologists. Nevertheless, previous studies on crustacean zooplankton community in this region only focused on their relation to physicochemical factors excluding phytoplankton. In this study, the crustacean zooplankton abundance and environmental factors (physicochemical factors and phytoplankton abundance) were investigated in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter in 13 waterbodies (8 lakes and 5 reservoirs) located in the Yangtze River delta. Results showed that NO2−–N and TN in Spring, SD and TP in Summer had significant difference (P < 0.05) between 8 lakes and 5 reservoirs. That may be related to microbial communities and macrophytes. All 13 studied water bodies were dominated by cyanophyta, whose Microcystis may determine the dominance of Bosmina fatalis. Moreover, eutrophic level should be in relation to the significant difference of plankton between 8 lakes and 5 reservoirs. Finally, five factors (cyanophyta, SD, WT, pH and DO) were significantly correlated with crustacean zooplankton abundance. That indicated the metabolism, reproduction, development and competitors of crustacean zooplankton were affected by these five factors. This research provided basic data of the 13 water bodies and studied the relationship between zooplankton and physicochemical factors as well as phytoplankton, providing scientific basis for the monitoring of eutrophic waterbodies located in the Yangtze river delta.