On the relationship between oxygen microstratification in a pond and the distribution of the benthic chironomid fauna
Int Panis, L.; Goddeeris, B.; Verheyen, R. (1993). On the relationship between oxygen microstratification in a pond and the distribution of the benthic chironomid fauna. Belg. J. Zool. 123(Suppl. 1): 36
In: Belgian Journal of Zoology. Koninklijke Belgische Vereniging voor Dierkunde = Société royale zoologique de Belgique: Gent. ISSN 0777-6276; e-ISSN 2295-0451, meer
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| Auteurs | | Top |
- Int Panis, L.
- Goddeeris, B., meer
- Verheyen, R.
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| Abstract |
Our objective is to elucidate the influence of the oxygen microstratification in shallow waters on the distribution of the benthic fauna. Our research was focused on the Chironomidae, abundant in our study site: a small eutrophic pond at Niel (near Boom, Belgium). It is well known that oxygen controls the specific occurrence and distribution of chironomid larvae in standing waters (1). However, it is not clear how the "respiratory environment" (2) of these organisms is defined. Oxygen concentrations in the water column were measured with a Clark Au-Ag electrode (WTW EO 196). Oxygen at the sediment-water interface and in the sediment was measured in core samples with Clark-style micro-electrodes (Diamond 737GC). The sediment microprofiles demonstrate a sharp dropping of the oxygen concentration to zero in the upper sediment film of maximum 2 mm The composition of the chironomid community appears to be correlated to the oxygen concentration in the water column. The correlation between the chironomid fauna and the sediment oxygen microprofiles is lower than expected and more complex. The results suggest species-specific behaviour: some species are supposed to ventilate oxygen rich water from above the sediment-water interface, but other, more digging species, appear to depend on the oxygen in the sediment.[{L. Int Panis is Research assistant of the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (N.F.W.O.)].(1)F. HEINIS (1993). Univ. Amsterdam, PhD disertation, 155pp. (2) L. BRUNDIN(195l). Rep. Freshw. Res. Drottningholm.32:32-43. |
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