ILPLA   05424
INSTITUTO DE LIMNOLOGIA "DR. RAUL A. RINGUELET"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Effect of salinity and food concentration on competition between Brachionus plicatilis (Müller, 1786) and Brachionus calyciflorus (Pallas, 1776) (Rotifera)
Autor/es:
FERRANDO, N.; SARMA, S. S. S.; NANDINI, S.; CLAPS, M. C.
Revista:
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
Editorial:
CSIRO PUBLISHING
Referencias:
Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2020 vol. 71 p. 493 - 504
ISSN:
1323-1650
Resumen:
Natural populations of planktonic rotifers are affected by salinity and food density, among other stressors. Moreover, competition among congeneric species limits the abundance of certain rotifers in ecosystems without spatial heterogeneity and environmental fluctuations. We isolated Brachionus plicatilis and B. calyciflorus from Salado-River?basin water bodies and studied the demographic characteristics and competition between them at three salinity levels and at two food concentrations. The minimum salinity proved to be unfavorable for the population growth of B. plicatilis, but at higher levels the growth was similar to that of the controls even in the presence of the competitor and at either food concentration. In contrast, the competitor almost always decreased the density of B. calyciflorus. Salinity greatly affected the peak density of B. plicatilis, while the effects of salinity and competition on B. calyciflorus were similar. The biomass was inversely related to salinity for both species and was also significantly affected by competition in B. plicatilis. These results showed that B. calyciflorus was more adversely affected than B. plicatilis by competition and high salinity but also explained why both species could coexist in eutrophic saline lowland rivers and pampean shallow lakes.