Factors influencing the distribution and abundance of diaptomid copepods in high-elevation lakes in the Pacific Northwest, USA

We investigated the impact of abiotic factors and trout density on distribution and abundance of diaptomid copepods in high-elevation lakes in North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA), Washington, USA. The most common large diaptomid, D. kenai (mean length = 1.88 mm), was able to persist...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 1998-01, Vol.379 (1-3), p.63-75
Main Authors: LISS, W. J, LARSON, G. L, DEIMLING, E. A, GANIO, L. M, HOFFMAN, R. L, LOMNICKY, G. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abiotic factors
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Calanoida
Copepoda
Diaptomidae
Diaptomus arcticus
Diaptomus kenai
Diaptomus tyrrelli
Elevation
Fresh water ecosystems
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Lakes
National parks
Nutrient concentrations
Salmonidae
Synecology
Water depth
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We investigated the impact of abiotic factors and trout density on distribution and abundance of diaptomid copepods in high-elevation lakes in North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA), Washington, USA. The most common large diaptomid, D. kenai (mean length = 1.88 mm), was able to persist over a wide range of abiotic factors, but the small herbivorous diaptomid, D. tyrrelli (mean length = 1.18 mm), was restricted to shallow lakes (maximum depth < [asymptotically =] 10 m) with relatively high concentrations of total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorous. There was a significant negative relationship between the density of D. tyrrelli and the density of large diaptomids ( D. kenai and D. arcticus), which could imply interaction between large and small diaptomids. The abundance of large diaptomids was significantly lower in shallow lakes with high densities of reproducing trout (> 250 fish ha-1) than in fishless lakes, in deep lakes with reproducing trout, or in lakes where trout do not reproduce and are 0periodically stocked with fry at low densities (average 179 fry a-1). In lakes where chemical conditions were suitable for D. tyrrelli, the small diaptomid was often abundant when trout density was high and large diaptomids were either absent or in low abundance. Our research suggests that trout density, nutrient concentration, and lake depth influence the abundance of diaptomid copepods in high lakes in NOCA.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1023/A:1003453611464