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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 620

Galina A. Galkovskaya and Inessa F. Mityanina; Morphological structure and functional patterns of Keratella cochlearis (Gosse) populations in stratified lakes. Hydrobiologia 186/187:119-128, 1989

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Vertical distribution of the rotifer Keratella cochlearis in stratified water columns of mesotrophic and eutrophic lakes during summer stagnation has been studied. Coexisting morphs K. cochlearis hispida (Lauterborn, 1898), K. c. tecta (Gosse, 1851) and K. c. cochlearis (Gosse, 1851) inhabit different layers in the water column and are vertically subdivided. The distribution of morph abundance and reproductive potential indicate that substitution of morphs within the vertical water column may be due to trophic conditions. The maximum population productivity is observed at the epi-metalimnion border. The maximum density zone lies below the zone of the highest productivity. The principle of 'sliced functioning' is used to explain the adaptive significance of the morphological structure of populations under heterogeneous environmental conditions.