Zooplankton and Benthos Robert Owen and Leah Taylor EFB 525

Background Zooplankton: Planktonic animals ranging in size from rotifers to jellyfish – Nutrient cycling machine – Increases feeding efficiency Benthos: aggregation of organisms living on the bottom of a body of water – Break down settled organic matter

Indicators? Zooplankton and Benthos: high sensitivity to environmental change and short life span – Zoop is an indicator of future fisheries health they are a food source for organisms at higher trophic levels – Benthos is an indicator of environmental stress live in sediments where they are exposed to environmental stressors with limited mobility

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Unique Cases

Species Richness Hall of Fame Number of zooplankton in whole lake sampling

Benthic Trends Not data for all lakes

Benthic Trends Not data for all lakes Similar organisms found in two Adirondack lakes

Benthic Trends Not data for all lakes Similar organisms found in two Adirondack lakes Oneida lake was the most diverse

Benthic Richness Number of Benthic organisms in all samples

Adirondack Benthos Chaoborus Also called “glassworms” or “phantom midges”

Adirondack Benthos Chaoborus Also called “glassworms” or “phantom midges” Black structures are air bladders

Adirondack Benthos Chaoborus Also called “glassworms” or “phantom midges” Black structures are air bladders Tolerant of poor water conditons

Adirondack Benthos Chironomus Also called “bloodworms”

Adirondack Benthos Chironomus Also called “bloodworms” Contain hemoglobin

Oneida Lake Benthos samples contained : - True fly larvae - Aquatic earthworms - Snails, Scuds, and Side Swimmers

Questions?