Abstract
Littoral and planktonic microcrustacean populations were sampled in Post Oak Lake, Brazos County, Texas, from 19 June 1978 to 21 June 1979. Samples were taken in the pelagic and in two littoral habitats (Typha and Ludwigia) using a Homelite-XLS 3.17 cm piston-powered pump, and passing the water through a No. 10 plankton net. A distinct littoral microcrustacean community was found and was dominated by the following species: Chydorus brevilabris, Alona affinis, Macrocyclops albidus, Notodromus monacha, Macrothrix laticornis, and Simocephalus serrulatus. The planktonic community was dominated by Daphnia parvula, Ceriodaphnia lacustris and Diaptomus pallidus. Tropocyclops prasinus mexicanus was equally abundant in both the littoral and the limnetic habitats. Littoral species had population maxima in the Spring but the planktonic species exhibited Fall maxima. Sida crystallina, Chydorus brevilabris and Macrothrix laticornis preferred the Ludwigia habitat while other littoral species showed no preference for either the Ludwigia or Typha habitat. The littoral populations inhabiting 5% of the pond volume, accounted for 15 to 42 percent of the total microcrustacean standing crop during the Spring and early Summer; seasons of maximum fish reproduction. Conceptual models are presented of trophic relationships for large and small fish in the Post Oak Lake ecosystem.
Allard, David Wayne (1982). Littoral microcrustacean population dynamics in Post Oak Lake. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -394853.