Zooplankton Seasonal Abundance and Vertical Distribution of Highly Alkaline Lake Burdur, Turkey

Abstract

During the period from December 2003 to November 2004 a study has been held to examine the water quality and zooplankton of highly alkaline Lake Burdur. The lake showed thermal stratification between June and October. Six zooplankton taxa were determined, Hexarthra fennica, Brachionus plicatilis from Rotifera and Arctodiaptomus burduricus from Copepoda were the dominant species. Average zooplankton density was 399,074 ind.m-3 and they were 51% H. fennica, 9% B. plicatilis and 40% A. burduricus. In addition, vertical zooplankton distributions have been investigated in this study. Generally, zooplankton groups were concentrated between 5-20 m. However, rotifers and A. burduricus were determined to have the highest density at 5 and 15 m, respectively.