Effects of slight salinity increases on Moina micrura (Cladocera) populations: field and laboratory observations
Jayme M. Santangelo A , Reinaldo L. Bozelli A C , Adriana de M. Rocha A and Francisco de A. Esteves A BA Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, CEP 21941-902, PO Box 68020, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
B Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ecologia e Desenvolvimento Sócio-ambiental de Macaé (NUPEM/UFRJ), Av. Rotary Club S/No, CEP 28970, PO Box 119331, Macaé, RJ, Brasil.
C Corresponding author. Email: bozelli@biologia.ufrj.br
Marine and Freshwater Research 59(9) 808-816 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF08026
Submitted: 7 February 2008 Accepted: 30 June 2008 Published: 7 October 2008
Abstract
Salinity is a well-recognised factor that shapes population dynamics and community structure through direct and indirect effects. The responses of Moina micrura (Cladocera) to slight salinity increases (up to 6.0) were evaluated through laboratory manipulative experiments and field observations at Cabiúnas lagoon (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). From the field data, a positive relationship between M. micrura density and salinity was observed, whereas the opposite was found for other co-occurring microcrustaceans. Life-table observations from laboratory experiments showed better performance of individuals exposed to control conditions (no salt addition) and 1.0 and 2.0 of salinity. The difference between field and laboratory results may be explained considering possible direct and indirect effects of salinity on M. micrura populations. Salinity may have direct negative physiological effects in individuals. However, under natural conditions, M. micrura might benefit from reduced invertebrate predation and interspecific competition. This balance between negative and positive effects of salinity is probably more positive under natural conditions, explaining the success of M. micrura in Cabiúnas lagoon under mild salinity conditions. Although salinity negatively affects many species living in freshwater systems, slight increases may be beneficial for some species under natural conditions.
Additional keywords: biotic interactions, coastal lakes, fitness, marine intrusion, salinization.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the staff of the Laboratório de Limnologia da UFRJ and NUPEM/UFRJ, especially João Marcelo Souza for field assistance. Luciana Carneiro, Paloma Lopes and Juliana Marsico helped in the laboratory routine. Ana C. Petry helped with statistics. We also thank Professor Andrew Boulton, two anonymous reviewers and numerous members of the Laboratório de Limnologia da UFRJ who read early versions of this manuscript. Financial support and fellowships were provided by CAPES, CNPq, CNPq-Peld, Petrobras, Pronex, and Faperj.
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