Ecophysiology of Lake Kinneret (Israel) Zooplankton

Moshe Gophen^*

Migal-Scientific Research Institute, Kiryat Shmone, Israel.

DOI: 10.4236/oje.2015.55016                

Abstract

A summary of a long-term research of Lake Kinneret zooplankton distribution is presented. During 1969-2002 several prominent changes have been recorded in the Kinneret ecosystem. This paper is an attempt aimed at analyzing the impact of these ecological changes on the zooplankton communities. The impacts of Phytoplankton, Bacteria, Protozoa, Temperature, Nutrient composition and fish predation on zooplankton dynamics are analyzed. It was found that periodical fluctuations of zooplankton density were mostly affected by fish predation as well as by temperature increase and food availability. Ecological conditions in Lake Kinneret have been modified since early 1990’s and the new conditions were consequently accompanied by zooplankton Homeostatic response. Moreover, as a result of the ecological changes fish intensified their pressure on zoo-plankton. The flexibility of food resource preference by zooplankton enabled its existence but fish predation predominantly controlled their density.

Keywords

Kinneret, Zooplankton, Ecophysiology, Food-Web

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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