Biological Diversity of Lakes

Single Celled and Colonial Organisms

1. How are organisms in freshwater habitats classified? 2. What roles do bacteria play in aquatic ecosystems? 3. What are the similarities and differences between different divisions of phytoplankton? 4. What roles do fungi play in aquatic ecosystems?

Major groups of freshwater organisms

Single celled and colonial organisms: Archaea and Bacteria Protists (algae and protozoa) Fungi Invertebrates: Rotifers Annelids Branchiopod crustaceans Copepod crustaceans Insects Mollusks Larger Organisms: Fish Reptiles Amphibians Plants (macrophytes)

Minor groups of freshwater organisms

mosses liverworts ferns flatworms nematodes sponges gastrotrichs tardigrades jellyfish bryozoans
nema.cap.ed.ac.uk/teaching/ odl/odl2/odl_5.html

Craspedacusta sowerbyi

www.biologie.uni-ulm.de/ bio3/gmaier/project.htm

http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/zoolab/Table_of_Contents/Lab-3a/Freshwater_Sponges/freshwater_sponges.htm

Spongilla sp. tardigrade

Littoral zone
- area containing macrophytes - interface zone between land of drainage basin and open water area of lakes

Pelagic zone
- open water - also called planktonic

Organisms in lakes can be classified by their primary habitat: Littoral associated with the littoral zone Benthic (benthos) - associated with the bottom Planktonic (plankton) - organisms suspended in water with
little or no control over their own distribution
Phytoplankton Zooplankton Ichthyoplankton

Organisms in lakes can be classified by how they acquire energy:

Autotrophic organisms that collect their energy as sunlight (organisms that photosynthesize) algae macrophyes some bacteria Heterotrophic organisms that extract energy form the chemical energy stored in organic substances (predation or decomposition) protozoans animals fungi some bacteria A few organisms can both photosynthesize and eat other things

http://www.up.ac.za/academic/electron/bacteria.jpg

Archaea and Bacteria

Prokaryotes

Typically 0.1-2.0 mm long

Live as single cells or small colonies Look the same, but difference between groups (metabolic biochemistry, composition of the cell wall, ribosomal patterns, habitat). Very large surface-to-volume ratio

Importance of surface-to-volume ratio

r SA V SA:V

= 0.5 mm = 3.14 mm2 = 0.52 mm3 = 6 mm-1

r SA V SA:V

= 1.0 mm = 12.6 mm2 = 4.18 mm3 = 3 mm-1

Supply rate of nutrients is influenced by surface area

But, how nutrients are distributed in the cell depends on volume

All else being equal (rarely happens), smaller cells will be able to live in habitats with lower nutrient concentrations

Average abundance of bacteria in freshwater

From Wetzel 2001

Lake type

Number/ml

Oligotrophic Mesotrophic Eutrophic

500,000 1,000,000 3,700,000

In general, numbers increase with increasing productivity

Important bacteria in freshwater

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) Green and purple sulfur bacteria In guts of organisms

http://www.esf.edu/efb/schulz/Limnology/Laboratory/PurpleBacteriafromGreenLake.JPG

In general, bacteria play an important role in decomposition

Decomposition
Bacteria and fungi are fundamental in decomposition Biochemical transformation of particular and dissolved organic matter

Keeps lakes from filling in quickly

Generates a food source for many organisms

Decomposition
Rates of decomposition are governed by many things including:
Chemical composition of the organic matter Physical parameters (temperature and stratification patterns) Chemical parameters (availability of terminal electron acceptors, primarily oxygen)

Ecological importance of bacteria in freshwater

Some species at base of food chain

Fed on by zooplankton Important in decomposition Can cause disease

http://www.3dham.com/microgallery/amoebab8.jpg

Protista
Eukaryotic

Single-celled organisms living either alone or as simple colonies Most are 1 50 mm long
Protozoa are animal like, algae (phytoplankton) are photosynthetic

Protozoa
Include ciliates and most of the flagellates

All algae photosynthesize, but many species can also eat, making the distinction between protozoa and algae complicated
http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Antevs/nats104/giardia.gif

Examples include Giardia and Amoeba

Classification of the algae

Common name Diatoms Greens Chrysophytes Cryptomonads Blue-greens Dinoflagelates Euglenoids

Division (= Phylum) Bacillariophyta Chlorophyta Chrysophyta Cryptophyta Cyanophyta Dinophyta Euglenophyta

Classification of the algae

Classification scheme depends on reference and changes constantly Different authors use different classifications

Classification based on: Size and shape Genetic divergence Pigments Physiological requirements

Diatoms Greens Golden-brown Cryptomonads Blue-greens Dinoflagelates Euglenoids

Common name often reflect colors of different groups

Pigments absorb different wavelengths of light: Chlorophyll a, b, c, d and maybe e (green) Carotenoids (red, orange and yellow) Phycoerythrin (red) Phycocyanin (blue)

All algae have Chl a, but not all groups have all the other pigments

Phytoplankton Characteristics Why understand differences between these groups ?

1. Going to talk about specifics such as seasonal succession

2. Different groups are better or worse under different conditions e.g. phosphorous levels or other nutrients 3. Vary in nutritional value with implications for the overall food web 4. Impact human health and recreation

Diatoms

Division Bacillariophyta

Common genera Cyclotella Asterionella

Excellent food source for zooplankton (highly nutritious) even though many are sessile and associated with littoral substrates

Heavy (sink) strongly tied to mixing patterns of lakes

Cell is contained in a silica frustule (cell wall is made of glass)

Cells reproduce asexually (epitheca and hypotheca) until a small size threshold when they reproduce sexually

Diatoms

Reproduction:

Same size as parent cell epitheca cell division hypotheca Smaller Keep getting smaller each generation

Sexual reproduction produces a zygote that grows back to full size

Diatoms
Two main groups

Centric radial symmetry

Pennate bilateral symmetry

Green algae

Division Chlorophyta

Common genera Chlamydomonas Volvox

Most chlorophytes are aquatic, but some can live on the surface of snow, tree trunks, in soil, or symbiotically with protozoans, hydras, or fungi

Morphologically and taxonomically diverse group - Thousands of described species of green algae

Both sexual and asexual reproduction is known from this group

Green algae

Can be single cells

Volvox
http://www.biologie.uni-regensburg.de/Biochemie/Sumper/bilder/Volvox-Titel-end.jpg

Or colonies

Green algae
Some green algae are filamentous
Oedogonium
Spirogyra
www.cnas.smsu.edu/.../ Biology/Bio122/week1.htm

Green algae
http://www.naturalways.com/graphics/chorell1.gif

Other common genera

Chlorella Scenedesmus

Pediastrum

www.zum.de/.../Materialien/ beck/12/bs12-17.htm

http://art.horizons.k12.mi.us/Ecology/public_html/plankton/Pediastrum.jpg

Green algae
Desmids are a group of less common green algae Various shapes, but all show bilateral symmetry
ebiomedia.com/prod/ ProtistsVideoDVD.html

Cosmerium

Micrasterias

Chrysophytes (Golden-brown algae)

Division Common Genera Chrysophyta Dinobyron Mallomonas

Most are unicellular, but some are colonial Flagellated, but have unequal flagella Phagotrophy obtain appreciable amount of energy and nutrients by ingesting bacteria Rate of clearance can clear water of bacteria, thus competing with rotifers and cladocerans

Particular well adapted to low temperature and low light levels

Chyrsophytes
Dinobryon genus in which the individual cells are surrounded by vase-shaped lorica

Widely distributed and may become major components of phytoplankton under certain conditions (temperature, oligotrophic)

Chyrsophytes
Mallomonas has coating of silica and pectin plates

Cryptomonads
Single cell

Division Common genera Cryptophyta Cryptomonas

Mobile - flagella pull the cell through the water Small and not much is known about ecology and physiology Ecologically significant - High quality food for zooplankton (high nutrient quality) - occur in almost all lakes - ability to grow at low light levels - capable of rapid growth creating pulse in population size

Cryptomonads
Cryptomonas

Blue - green algae

Division Cyanophyta

Common genera Anabeana Aphanizomenon Microcystis

Prokaryotic - lack certain membrane structures including nuclear membrane, mitochondria, and chloroplasts Unlike bacteria have Chlorophyll a, thus posses capability to photosynthesize as higher plants

STRUCTURALLY LIKE BACTERIA

FUNCTIONALLY LIKE PLANTS

Blue - green algae

In filamentous species, cells are arranged end to end to form long trichomes

Two types of specialized cells: akinetes - resting stages heterocysts sites of nitrogen fixation
Generally poor food for zooplankton - some are encased in a gelatinous sheath - others are toxic Many species can form nuisance blooms - most often happens in eutrophic lakes - can serve as an indicator of pollution

Blue - green algae

Anabaena

Division Cyanophyta

Aphanizomenon

Microcystis

Oscillatoria

http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/images/algae4.JPG

Dinoflagellates

Division Common Genera Dinophyta Ceratium

Unicellular flagellated algae, many are mobile, relatively large-bodied

Asexual reproduction predominates

In addition to photosynthesis can take up dissolved organic molecules and bacteria by phagocytosis Some species are tolerant (Ceratium), most are restricted by calcium, pH, temperature, etc. Most are too big (400 mm) to be eaten by zooplankton

Dinoflagellates
Ceratium

Gymnodinium

Euglenoids

Division Common genera Euglenophyta Euglena

Large and diverse group but only a few are planktonic Flagellated Most are photosynthetic and facultative heterotrophic (nutrition supplemented by uptake of dissolved organic compounds) Most often found in shallow water rich in organic matter (polluted lakes or farm ponds)

Euglenoids
Euglena

Phytoplankton Characteristics
1. Primary characteristics a. presence of photosynthetic pigments, including Chla b. autotrophic photosynthesis is primary mode of nutrition and results in major synthesis of new organic matter 2. Despite diversity (taxonomic and physiological), hundreds of species coexist 3. Dominate groups change spatially and seasonally as physical, chemical and biological conditions change

Ecological importance of protists

Major food items for herbivorous invertebrates

Algae can be a nuisance, especially bluegreens

Can cause disease in both people and aquatic organisms

Fungi
Diverse but understudied component of freshwater ecosystems Grow either as single cells or as cells joined end to end as hyphae

All are heterotrophic, absorb organic compounds from the environment

Very important in decomposition

Metschnikowia in Daphnia

http://www.stroudcenter.org/lpn/more/images/natlp.jpg

Ecological importance of Fungi

Decomposers
Can cause disease

Terms to know
Archaea protist protozoa algae littoral pelagic benthic planktonic phytoplankton zooplankton ichthyoplankton autotrophic heterotrophic prokaryote eukaryote surface-to-volume ratio Green & Purple Sulfur Bacteria decomposition frustule epitheca hypotheca Diatoms centric Greens pennate Golden-brown phagotrophy Cryptomonads lorica Blue-greens trichome Dinoflagelates akinetes Euglenoids heterocyst

Invertebrates

1. Which groups of aquatic invertebrates dominate in lakes? ponds? rivers? 2. What are the 3 major groups of lake zooplankton? How are they similar/different? 3. What do zooplankton eat? How do they feed?
4. What 4 things influence feeding rate in zooplankton?

Invertebrates
Represent the majority of animal diversity Zooplankton Insects Annelids Mollusks Other crustaceans

Most zooplankton belong to one of four major groups

Protists
www.ac-rennes.fr/pedagogie/svt/ photo/microalg/ceratium.htm http://www.eeb.cornell.edu/hairston/hairston.html

Cladocerans

Copepods

Ceratium
www.uv.es/~ciros/zoopl_en.html

Rotifers

(2-3 mm)

Daphnia

Diaptomus (< 2 mm)

Brachionus (300 mm)

Other groups include: Ostracods Water mites

www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/ mag/artdec99/mite3.html www.marksimmons.org/closeup/ microimg/pages/ostracod.htm

Jellyfish (Craspedacusta)
www.biologie.uni-ulm.de/ bio3/gmaier/project.htm

Flatworms

ebiomedia.com/gall/classics/ Plan/planaria.html

Amphipods

www.ittiofauna.org/webmuseum/ invertebrati/

Fairy Shrimp

nature.org/.../states/oregon/ science/art1587.html

Tadpole shrimp
www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/ artjul00/dwtriops.html

Clam shrimp

mailbox.univie.ac.at/ ~edere6/UZK/

Chaoborusphantom midgeInsect
www.zi.biologie.uni-muenchen.de/ .../feinstruktur/em.htm

Protists (Kingdom Protista) Flagellates

Ciliates

Eukaryotes, but unicellular

Many can both photosynthesize and feed on bacteria and other organisms
Have a major role in the cycling of organic carbon and other nutrients in the plankton

Rotifers (Phylum Rotifera)

Very common and diverse in freshwater

Probably the only phylum that evolved in freshwater Small animals, typically <100-1000 um long, easily confused with ciliates
www.sams.ac.uk/dml/ projects/microeco/ www.sacsplash.org/critters/ rotifer.htm

Rotifer

Ciliate

Two Main Groups of Rotifers Monogononta

http://fresc.fsl.orst.edu/graphics/zooplankton/kcochlearis.jpg

Bdelloidea
http://www.mcb.harvard.edu/meselson/Proseola.jpg

Bdelloid rotifers reproduce by obligate parthenogenesis no males

Philodina roseola (~ 400 mm)

Can also undergo cryptobiosis females can dry out and be rehydrated.

Monogonant Rotifers have a slightly more complicated lifehistory Cyclical Parthenogenesis: combination of sexual and asexual reproduction
home-4.tiscali.nl/~t936927/ folio/1/galleryframe4.html

Most of the time, females reproduce asexually and produce genetically identical daughters

Both mother and daughter are diploid (2N)

Cyclical Parthenogenesis: When conditions begin to decline, the so-called amictic females produce mictic females
home-4.tiscali.nl/~t936927/ folio/1/galleryframe4.html

Amictic female (2N)

Mictic female (2N)

Rotifers can be herbivorous

Brachionus

Keratella

Lecane

Kelicottia

Other rotifers are predatory

Synchaeta

Asplanchna

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/wimsmall/extra/rotif2.html

Cladocerawater fleas Taxonomy not well resolved

Very common in freshwater, not so in marine systems

Both large and small cladocera but in general, larger than rotifers. 1-3 mm is typical, but can be up to 4-6 mm (predators are even bigger). Major grazers and major food item for fish in many freshwater systems

Some are herbivores

www.uv.es/~ciros/ zoopl_en.html ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ gpmatthews/chydorus.jpg

Chydorus

Bosmina
http://www.cnn.com/NATURE/9910/01/pollution.eaters.enn/daphnia.jpg

http://www.cnas.smsu.edu/zooplankton/images/dbir1.jpg

Diaphanosoma

Daphnia

Some are predators

http://www.potomacriver.org/images/biology/Leptodorabig.jpg

Bythotrephes
http://www.foodwebdisruption.org/images/cercopagis.gif

Leptodora Polyphemus

Cercopagis

Some are predators

http://www.esf.edu/efb/schulz/exoticspecies.htm

Copepods Three Orders: Calanoida Cyclopoida

www.biologie.uni-ulm.de/ bio3/gmaier/project.htm

Herpacticoida
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/salton/sscletocam3_250sm.gif

Note general body shape, placement of eggs, antenna length

Can be herbivorous
www.cnas.smsu.edu/zooplankton/ diaptomus.htm

Or predatory
dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/waterres/ lakes/biolake.htm

Epischura

Diaptomus

Sexual dimorphism, males have geniculate antenna, and an asymmetrical 5th leg used for capturing and attaching the spermatophore
www.vvm.com/~jevans/ cope01.html

www.cnas.smsu.edu/zooplankton/ diaptomus.htm

Diaptomus siciloides Diaptomus reighardi

Some freshwater calanoids produce dormant eggs Hairston et al. (1995) recorded eggs at 300+ years for Diaptomus

sanguinious

Not all calanoids produce dormant eggs

Cyclopoids do not make dormant eggs, instead diapause as subadults.

What are the main similarities and difference between the life cycles of: Rotifers Cladocera Copepods (cyclopoid vs. calanoid)?

The time to maturity, clutch size, switch to dormancy will be governed by the selection pressures of the particular systems.

For example, zooplankton in temporary ponds need dormancy, whereas is role in permanent systems is not as obvious.
How will variation in life-history traits among species influence population dynamics and community structure? How will sexual vs. asexual reproduction influence population dynamics?

Before zooplankton can grow or reproduce, they have to eat

Grazing is more precisely called suspension feeding because the grazers eat other things besides algae.

3 Step process (three different rates): Capture (selection) Ingestion (selection, loss by sloppy feeding) Assimilation

Mollusks (Phylum Mollusca)

Class Bivalvia
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/musselmanual/page128_9.html

Class Gastropoda

fat pocketbook pearly mussel

Pomatiopsis lapidaria

Potamilus capax

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://members.aol.com/Martinkcl/Shells/Bithytentac300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://members.aol.com/mkohl1/Rissoacea.html&h=138&w=191&sz=6&tbnid=ACQu1TinaNAJ:&tbnh=70&tbnw=96&start=17&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2BBithynia%2Btentaculata%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26

Clams and Mussels

Snails

Can be small and inconspicuous or as large as a fist

Have either 2 shells (bivalves) or 1, coiled shell (snails) Need CaCO3 for their shells, so not found in very soft water Freshwater species are herbivorous, either scrape or filter feed. Currently, more than 70% of native mussel species are listed as recently extinct, endangered, threatened, or of special concern

Concepts to know
Compare relative body-sizes of different species of zooplankton and understand how this influences ecological interactions. Compare the life-cycles of the different types of zooplankton. Understand how the life-cycle will influence the potential for population growth and long-term persistence. Compare the diets and feeding strategies of the different types of zooplankon.