Zooplankton occurrences and abundance in the Lake Albert system, Uganda
Citation
Kiggundu V, Egessa R, Mwebaza-Ndawula L (2022). Zooplankton occurrences and abundance in the Lake Albert system, Uganda. National Fisheries Resources Research Institute. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/wq98m3 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-08-15.Description
The dataset presents occurrences and abundance of zooplankton taxa obtained from different surveys conducted between 2002 and 2020. The surveys were conducted in different water bodies and habitat types within the Lake Albert system. The water bodies include Lake Edward, associated lagoons and rivers.Sampling Description
Study Extent
The water bodies covered were sampled within 2002 to 2020. However, sampling was not consistent for the water bodies over that period. Data is available for specified water bodies for a periods; 2002, 2007, 2013-14, 2016 and 2020.Sampling
Zooplankton samples were collected with a conical plankton net (Nansen type; mesh size 60 µm and mouth diameter of 0.25 m), towed vertically through the water column, as described by Fernando (2002) and Mwebaza-Ndawula (1994). Three hauls were taken and combined to make composite samples, preserved in 5% formalin and transferred to laboratory for taxonomic analysis and generation of abundance. In the laboratory, each sample was washed with tap water over a 53 µm sieve to remove the preservative and then diluted to a suitable volume, depending on the concentration of organisms in each sample. Sub-samples of 2, 2, 5 and 10 mL were taken with a wide bore automatic pipette from a well agitated sample. The sub-sample series were performed to consider the more abundant organisms in 2, 2 mL series, and the rarer organisms in 2, 2, 5, 10 mL series. Each sub-sample was put into a counting chamber and examined under inverted microscope (Hund, Wetzlar, Germany) at X100 magnification for taxonomic determination, and X40 for counting and organism body measurements.Quality Control
Some zooplankton were able to be identified to species level using published taxonomic keys (Sars 1895; Pennak 1953; Brooks 1957; Rutner-Kolisko 1974; Koste 1978; Boxshall & Braide 1991; Korinek 1999). Taxonomic names were cross-checked using the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Volume densities of organisms were calculated from the counts data, with reference to the sample net mouth diameter and water column depth at each sampling site as per Fernando (2002).Method steps
- Collection of the zooplankton A conical plankton net (Nansen type; mesh size 60 µm; mouth diameter 0.25 m) was used to collect the zooplankton. It was towed vertically through the water column to have an integrated sample. Three hauls were taken per site and were combined to make a composite sample. Preserving the samples Samples were preserved in a sugar-formalin mixture. The sugar was to stop the ballooning of cladocerans for easy identification. Identification of zooplankton taxa In the laboratory, samples were washed using a sieve of 53 µm to remove the fixatives. Organisms were identified to the smallest taxonomic level possible using taxonomic keys (Sars, 1895, Pennak, 1953, Brooks, 1957, Rutner-Kolisko, 1974, Koste, 1978, Boxshall and Braide, 1991, Korinek, 1999). Density of organisms were calculated from the counts data, with reference to the sample net mouth diameter and water column depth at each sampling site.
Taxonomic Coverages
The taxa include three broad groups of zooplankton: Copepoda, Cladocera and Rotifera
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Alonarank: genus
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Ascomorpharank: genus
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Asplanchnarank: genus
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Brachionus angularisrank: species
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Brachionus bidentatarank: species
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Brachionus budapestinensisrank: species
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Brachionus calyciflorusrank: species
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Brachionus falcatusrank: species
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Brachionus patulusrank: species
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Brachionus quadridentatusrank: species
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Calanoidaerank: family
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Ceriodaphnia cornutarank: species
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Ceriodaphnia dubiarank: species
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Chydorusrank: genus
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Cyclopoidaerank: family
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Daphnia barbatarank: species
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Daphnia longispinarank: species
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Daphnia lumholtzirank: species
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Diaphanosoma excisumrank: species
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Euclanisrank: genus
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Eucyclopsrank: genus
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Filinia longisetarank: species
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Filinia opoliensisrank: species
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Hexanaupliarank: class
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Hexathrarank: genus
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Keratella cochlearisrank: species
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Keratella tropicarank: species
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Lecane bullarank: species
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Lecane signiferarank: species
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Macrothrixrank: genus
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Mesocyclopsrank: genus
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Moina micrurarank: species
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Platyias quadricornisrank: species
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Polyarthra vulgarisrank: species
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Simocephalusrank: genus
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Synchaetarank: genus
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Synchaeta pectinatarank: species
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Testudinella parvarank: species
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Thermocyclops incisusrank: species
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Thermocyclops neglectusrank: species
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Thermodiaptomus galeboidesrank: species
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Trichocerca cylindricarank: species
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Tropocyclops confinnisrank: species
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Tropocyclops tenellusrank: species
Geographic Coverages
This work was part of research and monitoring studies done in predetermined localities of Lake Albert, Luzira lagoon, and river mouths of Rivers Nkusi, Waki, Muzizi, and Wambabya.
Bibliographic Citations
- Boxshall, G. A. & Braide, E. I. 1991. The freshwater cyclopoid copepods of Nigeria, with an illustrated key to all species. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (zool), 57, 185-212. -
- Brooks, J. L. 1957. The systematics of North American Daphnia. Memoirs of the connecticut academy of Arts and Sciences, 13, 1-18. -
- Fernando, C. H. 2002. A Guide to Tropical Freshwater Zooplankton. Identification, Ecology and Impact on Fisheries, Leiden, The Netherlands, Backhuys Publishers. -
- Korinek, V. 1999. A guide to limnetic species of Cladocera of African inland waters (Crustacea, Branchiopoda). The International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology. SIL. -
- Koste, W. 1978. Rotatoria. Die Radertiere Mitteleuropas. Ein Bestimmungwerk, begrundet vo Max Voig. Uberrordnung Monogononta. Gebruder Borntraeger, Berlin, Stuttgart. -
- Pennak, R. W. 1953. Fresh-water invertebrates of the United States, New York, John Wiley & Sons. -
- Rutner-Kolisko, A. 1974. Planktonic rotifers: Biology and taxonomy, Biological Station Lunz of the Austrian Academy of Science. E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. -
- Sars, G. O. 1895. An account of the Crustacea of Norway, Christiania and Copenhagen Alb. Cammermeyer Forlag -
Contacts
Vincent Kiggunduoriginator
position: Senior Research technitian
National Fisheries Resources Research Institue
Nile Crescent, Plot 39/45, Jinja Opposite the wagon ferry terminal
Jinja
343
UG
Robert Egessa
originator
position: Senior Research technitian
National Fisheries Resources Research Institue
Nile Crescent, Plot 39/45, Jinja Opposite the wagon ferry terminal
Jinja
343
UG
Lucas Mwebaza-Ndawula
originator
position: Senior Research Officer
National Fisheries Resources Research Institue
Nile Crescent, Plot 39/45, Jinja Opposite the wagon ferry terminal
Jinja
343
UG
Vincent Kiggundu
metadata author
position: Senior Research technitian
National Fisheries Resources Research Institue
Nile Crescent, Plot 39/45, Jinja Opposite the wagon ferry terminal
Jinja
343
UG
Laban Musinguzi
user
position: Research Officer
National Fisheries Resources Rsearch Institute
Jinja
UG
email: labanmusinguzi@firi.go.ug
Vincent Kiggundu
administrative point of contact
position: Senior Research technitian
National Fisheries Resources Research Institue
Nile Crescent, Plot 39/45, Jinja Opposite the wagon ferry terminal
Jinja
343
UG
Laban Musinguzi
administrative point of contact
position: Research Officer
National Fisheries Resources Research Institue
Nile Crescent, Plot 39/45, Jinja Opposite the wagon ferry terminal
Jinja
343
UG