curriculum in natural environmental science, vol. 2, 2010

1. Plankton and benthic fauna Theodora Maria Onciu Ovidius University Constanta, Romania curriculumin natural environmental science, vol. 2, 2010

2. FOOD CHAIN in AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS • ….for review…. • Autotrophic organismsutilize inorganic CO2 to produce organic matter; • Heterotrophic organisms depend on performed organic carbon (glucose); • Phototrophs derive energydirectly from sunlight in photosynthesis; • Chemotrophs utilize a chemical energy source. • In aquatic ecosystems: CARNIVORES SECONDARY CONSUMMERS PRIMARY CONSUMMERS herbivores and filter-feeding organisms PARTICULATE ORGANIC MATER and decomposers PRIMARY PRODUCTION unicellular algae living in plankton and benthic flora

3. CRITERIA FOR PLANKTON CLASSIFICATION

4. CRITERIA FOR PLANKTON CLASSIFICATION

5. Desmidiacea Microcystis aeruginosa Bacillariophyta Chydorus sphaericus Cyclops furcifer Brachionus quadridentatus

6. CRITERIA FOR BENTHIC PLANTS CLASSIFICATION

7. Zonation of aquatic macrophytes

8. Free floating plants: ferns Marsilea quadrifolia Salvinia natans Azolla

9. Emergent plants: Phragmitesaustralis

10. Plants wits vegetative and reproductive parts partially under water Nymphaea alba Stratiotes aloides Trapa natans Sagittaria sagittifolia Hydrocharis morsus ranae

11. The importance of plankton’s and benthic plant’s study consist in: • knowledge of biological diversity; • ascertainment of plankter’s adaptations on flotation and of pondweeds to the abiotic conditions; • explaining the food web in ecosystem, pointing out feeding behaviours and interactions between predators and their prey and among algae and the herbivores; • determination of wetland’s features and boundaries; • diagnose of the health of the aquatic ecosystem or wetland;

12. Protocol of scientific study • global comparison and evaluation of results • consulting references and metadata • conclusions drawing • database realisation • statistical analysis of results • establishing of a quantitative structure of each association • taxonomical analysis of organisms (using identification keys) • appreciation of area covered by certain plant/plant association • sampling activity (in the field) and realisation of photographs • selection of sampling methods • establishing of physical and chemical water parameters to be analyzed • setting of sample locations and photographic points • (points marked by GPS) • drawing up of a thorough sketch of the research zone • spatial and temporal scale of investigations • identification of scientific problems

13. Collecting water for FPK sample Marking the point with a GPS device Alisma plantago

14. Filtering ZPK through a net Collecting ZPK with net for vertical tows Schindler-Patalas trap

15. Filtering ZPK through a sieve Collecting ZPK with net for horizontal tows

16. Collecting by hand benthic flora

17. Works cited Cole, G., A. 1983 Textbook of Limnology, C.V. Mosby Company, Toronto. Damian-Georgescu, A. 1963 CopepodaFamCyclopidae(forme de apădulce) FaunaRPR, EdituraAcademiei RPR, Bucureşti: 4(6). Damian-Georgescu, A. 1966 CrustaceaCopepodaCalanoida (forme de apădulce) Fauna RPR, EdituraAcademiei RPR, Bucureşti: 4(11). Dussart, B. 1966 Limnologie : l’étude des eauxcontinentales, Gauthiers-Villars, Paris. Friedrich, J., Dinkel, Ch., Grieder, E., Radan, S., Steingruber, S. and Wehrli, B. 1999 Delta lakes as nutrient sinks – a process study in the Danube Delta. Geo-Eco-Marina, 4: 5-19 Goldman, Ch.,R. and Horne, A.J. 1983 Limnology, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Toronto. Kalff, J. 2003 Limnology, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Mitsch, W., J. and Gosselink, J.,G. 2007 Wetlands, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. Negrea, St. 1983 Cladocera, Fauna R.S.R., Ed. Academiei RSR, Bucureşti, 4(12). Nybakken, J., W. and Bertness, M., D. 2005 Marine biology; an ecological approach, Pearson, San Francisco. Parsons, J., K., Hamel, K., S., Madsen, J., D. and Getsinger, K.,D. 2001 The use of 2,4-D for selective control of an early infestation of Eurasian watermilfoil in Loon Lake, Washington.J.Aquat.Plant Manage, 39: 117-125

18. Pérès, J.-M. and Devèse, L. 1963 Océanographiebiologique et biologie marine, Presses universitaires de France, Paris. Rudescu, L. 1960Trochelminthes. Rotatoria, Fauna R.P.R. EdituraAcademiei RPR, Bucureşti, 2(2). Sameoto, D., Wiebe, P., Runge, J., Postel, L., Dunn, J., Miller, C. And Combs, S. 2000 Collecting zooplankton. In: Harris, R., Wiebe, P., Lenz, J., H.-R., Skjoldal and Huntley, M. [Eds] ICES Zooplankton methodology manual, Elsevier Skjoldal, H.-R., Wiebe, P., H. and Foote, K.,G. 2000 Sampling and experimental design. In: Harris, R., Wiebe, P., Lenz, J., H.-R., Skjoldal and Huntley, M. [Eds] ICES Zooplankton methodology manual, Elsevier

19. Thank you !