Seasonal changes and abundance of rotifers in a shallow Manzalah lake (Egypt)

• Published in: Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 243 - 252
• Main Authors: El-Shabrawy, Gamal M., Germoush, Mousa O.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o 2014
• Subjects: Brachionus angularis; Brachionus plicatilis; Keratella quadrata; Marine; Polyarthra vulgaris; Rotifera; Shallow Nile Delta lake; Synchaeta oblonga; Zooplankton structure; MED, Egypt, Arab Rep; MED, Egypt, Arab Rep., Nile Delta, Manzalah L; Rotifera; Zooplankton structure; Shallow Nile Delta lake
• ISSN: 1642-3593; 2080-3397
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecohyd.2014.06.001

Manzalah lake is a eutrophic coastal lake that has been flooded by excessive agriculture drainage over the last 30 years, changing its ecological status. Fifty-two taxa of rotifers were identified, of these Brachionus angularis, Brachionus plicatilis, Keratella quadrata, Polyarthra vulgaris and Synchaeta oblonga were abundant. The maximum population density (lake average 490individualsL−1) occurred in winter, while the taxa were low in abundance during summer and autumn. The participation of rotifers has increased from 16 species, forming 24% of the total zooplankton in 1971–1973 to 52 species, accounting for 85.1% now. This was concurrent with the progressive dulcification and eutrophication of the lake water.