THE USE OF MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY CHYDORIDAE (ANOMOPODA, BRANCHIOPODA) AS AN INDICATOR OF LAKE ECOLOGICAL QUALITY IN IRELAND

摘要: ABSTRACTWe sampled chydorids (Branchiopoda, Anomopoda) from 29 Irish lakes between June 1996 andJuly 1997 in order to assess the usefulness of this group as an indicator lake ecological quality,as required by recently published EU Water Framework Directive. The represented awide range physicochemical conditions found lakes. We identified 31 species ofChydoridae and used multivariate analysis elucidate relationship thechydorids their environment. Groups were have distinct chydorid communi-ties, structure composition which depended on environmental variables such totalphosphorus, total nitrogen, alkalinity, conductivity size. study highlights potentialvalue a biotic change lakes.INTRODUCTIONIrish are generally considered be ofgood quality compared with those other Eu-ropean countries, more than 81% 120 Irishlakes surveyed classed oligotrophicor mesotrophic (Lucey