OBSERVATIONS ON CRUSTACEAN ZOOPLANKTON IN TWO CONNECTED NORTH PATAGONIAN LAKES (CALAFQUEN-PELLAIFA, 39 degrees S, CHILE)
OBSERVATIONS ON CRUSTACEAN ZOOPLANKTON IN TWO CONNECTED NORTH PATAGONIAN LAKES (CALAFQUEN-PELLAIFA, 39 degrees S, CHILE)
Authors
De los Rios, Patricio
Farias-Avendano, Jorge
Suazo, Maria J.
Farias-Avendano, Jorge
Suazo, Maria J.
Authors
Date
Datos de publicaciĆ³n:
10.1163/15685403-00003870
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Abstract
The northern Patagonian lakes (38-41 degrees S), are characterized by their location in catchment basins that have been markedly altered through human intervention. In those basins, the original native, perennial forest has been replaced by towns, villages and agricultural zones. The present study was done in two interconnected north Patagonian lakes (the lakes Calafquen and Pellaifa), where the species composition of the crustacean zooplankton community was compared, using a biodiversity index and size-structure null models. The results denoted the presence of marked differences between both sites, Calafquen lake being inhabited by less species and in general showing lower abundances of individuals in comparison to Pellaifa lake. The results of size-structure null models revealed the absence of interspecific competition for both sites. The obtained results would agree with similar observations for other northern Patagonian lakes in Argentina and Chile.