Zooplankton Abundance and Diversity in Spring Lake, Florida, 1973-1976

Seasonal variation in zooplanton abundance and diversity in Spring Lake, Florida was studies between 1973 - 1976. This clear, sand bottom lake is considered among the most oligotrophic in central Florida. Sixty rotifer species, sixteen cladoceran species, and seven copepod species were collected during the three year study. Annual mean zooplanton abundances ranged between 70 individuals/l and 80 individuals/l. Rotifers were more abundant than either cladocerans or adult copepods. Rotifers and immature crustaceans comprised nearly 75% of the annual mean zooplankton abundance. There was no significant difference (P \u3c 0.05) between years for the annual mean abundance of zooplankton. The monthly mean abundance of cladocerans and adult copepods was generally less than 5 individuals/l. The greater abundance of rotifers in comparison to other zooplankton was mainly responsible for the variation in the values of the Shannon and Simpson Indices. The monthly mean Shannon Index was usually between 3.0 and 4.0. Seasonal differences in zooplankton abundance were apparently due to water temperature and specific conductivity for the 1974 - 1975 and 1975 - 1976 study years. Shannon diversity was significantly correlated with dissolved oxygen for the 1973 - 1974 and 1974 - 1975 study years