Seasonal zooplankton community variation in Karatas Lake, Turkey

This study was carried out to determine seasonal variation and zooplankton community structure in Karataş Lake, Southern Turkey. Zooplankton samples were collected seasonally between ۲۰۰۲ and ۲۰۰۳ in two stations using a zooplankton net of ۵۵-µm mesh size. A total of ۴۲ taxa were identified, including ۱۹ taxa (۴۵.۲ %) Rotifera, ۱۶ taxa (۳۸.۱ %) Cladocera, and ۷ taxa (۱۶.۷ %). Copepoda. Among them, Keratella quadrata, Asplanchna priodonta from Rotifera, Daphnia longispina, Ceriodaphnia quadrangula, Chydorus sphaericus, Coranatella rectangula from Cladocera, and Eudiaptomus drieschi, Eucyclops speratus from Copepoda were dominant species. Spring and autumn seasons were found to be the most similar by using Sorenson index value.

Keywords:

Zooplankton , Community , Seasonal change , Karatas Lake