The influence of aquatic macrophytes on distribution and feeding habit of two Asplanchna species (A. priodonta and A. herrickii) in shallow wetlands, South Korea

Submitted: 31 October 2013
Accepted: 19 May 2014
Published: 11 June 2014
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We tested the hypothesis that the spatial distribution and diet composition of Asplanchna species might be affected by the presence of aquatic macrophytes in 33 wetlands in South Korea. We estimated the densities of Asplanchna and other rotifer and crustacean, together with environmental parameters, in both vegetated and open water zones, from May to June 2011. In the present study, two species of Asplanchna, A. priodonta and A. herrickii, were observed and significantly more abundant in open water zones lacking macrophytes. In particular, the density of A. priodonta was higher than that of A. herrickii, and the density of A. priodonta was strongly positively correlated with the area of open water. In addition, gut content analysis was used to determine their dietary preferences, with the finding that there was apparent differentiation in food source utilisation between the two Asplanchna species; A. priodonta consumed some protozoa, phytoplankton, and exclusively pelagic rotifer, while A. herrickii consumed primarily Euglena. In particular, Keratella and Polyarthra were most commonly consumed by A. priodonta in open water. Macrophytes represent a suitable habitat for epiphytic rotifer but not for pelagic rotifer; this characteristic drives pelagic rotifer such as Asplanchna towards open water and may be responsible for the significant negative correlation that we observed between macrophyte and Asplanchna densities.

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Jong-Yun Choi, Pusan National University
Department of Biological Sciences
Kwang-Seuk Jeong, Pusan National University
Institute of Environmental Technology & Industry
Geung-Hwan La, Sunchon National University
Department of Environmental Education
Kwang-Hyeon Chang, Kyung-Hee University
Dept. of Environmental Science and Engineering
Gea-Jae Joo, Pusan National University
Department of Biological Sciences

How to Cite

Choi, Jong-Yun, Kwang-Seuk Jeong, Geung-Hwan La, Kwang-Hyeon Chang, and Gea-Jae Joo. 2014. “The Influence of Aquatic Macrophytes on Distribution and Feeding Habit of Two Asplanchna Species (A. Priodonta and A. Herrickii) in Shallow Wetlands, South Korea”. Journal of Limnology 74 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2014.896.

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