Cladoceran density and age structure is highly variable through time in three ponds in Northwest Indiana.

Abstract

Zooplankton are important primary consumers in freshwater food webs. We aimed to identify common zooplankton genera and describe population dynamics through time in three ponds. We measured the presence, density, and age structure of zooplankton over three years (2016-2018) from spring to fall. We found three common genera in all ponds: <i>Daphnia</i> , <i>Ceriodaphnia</i> , and <i>Simocephalus</i> . The presence, density, and age structure of all three genera was highly variable through time. Ephemeral ponds had higher densities in 2017 when rainfall was higher than other sampled years. This work adds to the understanding of zooplankton population dynamics in small ponds.