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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 1697

Linda May, A.E. Bailey-Watts, and A. Kirika; The ecology of Synchaeta kitina Rousselet in Loch Leven, Scotoland. Hydrobiologia 255/256:305-315, 1993

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Synchaeta kitina Rousselet reached population densities of up to 5000 ind.l-1 in Loch Leven, between January 1977 and December 1982. The species was found over the entire range of temperatures recorded (0.4-21.4 degrees C), but was most abundant at temperatures above 7 degrees C. Embryo development times, determined under laboratory conditions, ranged from 122 hr at 2 degrees C to 12.5 hr at 20 degrees C. There was a marked inverse relationship between populations of S. kitina and Daphnia hyalina var. lacustris in the loch. It seems likely the this was due to interference competition from Daphnia. S. kitina can be cultures on Rhodomonas minuta var. lacustris and there is some evidence that this rotifer also feeds on small flagellates in its natural environment.