Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Micro-invertebrates in our lakes

As far as I know (limited specialization here) I am not sure how many of the colonization techniques I suggest have been proven with experimental research. I may have to literature search this a little more.

Proven- Many of the crustacean plankters esp the cladocerans produce ephippium (resting eggs) and rotifers produce mictic haploid resting eggs. Ephippia and resting eggs can withstand freezing, drying, anoxia and passing unharmed through digestive tracts of fish. Because of the resistant ephippial eggs Cladocera are easily transported overland to new habitats. It has been speculated that newly exposed soil contains relic ephippia and when inundated with water the ephippia hatch. Ephippia are also small enough to be lifted from dried up wet areas, carried in dust and wind storms and deposited on land and water sites. Wind rows of ephippia and resting eggs can pheasably be easily entangled in/on or eaten by birds and transported and then deposited. It is much easier to enision birds moving and transporting sporulated microparticles than birds transproting live fish. Many microalgae and pollen are transported this way which has been proven scientifically. Many of the zooplankton in a new water body are represented by a community of very low diveristy. Aging increases the diversity.

Generalists are usually responsible for early colonization. Aging processes, animal and human activities and evolution usually add to the diversity. Initially generalists and maybe an occassional specialists depending of conditions and evolution causes specialists that adapt to niche situations. Some niches are not filled and diversity is relatively low in some isolated waters.

I am not sure about what you are asking or saying about impact of resources on complex and simple ecosystems. Do you have a specific example in mind. It all depends in many situations. As I understand it higher diversity is always better and the ecosystem becomes more stable as divesity increases.

I will see what else I can find on zooplankton dispersal.