ABSTRACT

Plankton are key components of wetland ecosystems, comprising different food web levels. In the present study, we assessed temporal plankton diversity patterns in three temporary wetland systems over winter inundation periods. We examined taxon relationships with environmental variability associated with wetland inundation phase changes, over six consecutive sampling events (i.e. T1–T6; or until the ponds dried). Fifty-nine phytoplankton species belonging to 36 genera were identified across the three wetlands, with 21, 22 and 19 taxa being identified for Wetlands 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Twenty-five zooplankton taxa were also identified across the three wetlands. Significant differences in environmental variables were found across sampling events. Ammonium, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, turbidity, nitrates (NO₃–N) and zooplankton abundances were identified as important variables structuring phytoplankton communities, whereas, NO₃–N, phosphates and chlorophyll-a concentration were identified as important environmental variables for zooplankton. No significant differences were, however, observed in plankton community structure over time or among wetlands. Accordingly, hydroperiod phases did not have any significant influence on the plankton taxa richness in this study, in contrast to other seasons in the region and other parts of the world. The present study highlights that where temporary wetlands are characterised by both summer and winter inundation events, community succession dynamics may be seasonally distinct and require sampling in both periods to fully understand propagule and emergent community dynamics.

摘要

浮游生物是湿地生态系统的关键组成部分，包括不同的食物网水平。在本研究中，我们评估了三个临时湿地系统在冬季淹没期间的时间浮游生物多样性模式。我们在六个连续的采样事件（即T1-T6；或直到池塘干涸）中检查了与湿地淹没阶段变化相关的环境变异性与分类群的关系。在三个湿地中鉴定出属于 36 属的 59 种浮游植物物种，其中湿地 1、2 和 3 分别鉴定了 21、22 和 19 个分类群。在这三个湿地中还发现了 25 个浮游动物类群。在采样事件中发现了环境变量的显着差异。铵盐、电导率、溶解氧、水温、浊度、硝酸盐（NO₃ -N) 和浮游动物丰度被确定为构成浮游植物群落的重要变量，而 NO ₃ -N、磷酸盐和叶绿素a浓度被确定为浮游动物的重要环境变量。然而，随着时间的推移或湿地之间的浮游生物群落结构没有观察到显着差异。因此，与该地区和世界其他地区的其他季节相比，水文期阶段对本研究中的浮游生物类群丰富度没有任何显着影响。本研究强调，在临时湿地以夏季和冬季淹没事件为特征的地方，群落演替动态可能具有季节性差异，需要在两个时期进行采样以充分了解繁殖和新兴群落动态。