Vertical distribution of the dominant planktonic crustaceans in a mesotrophic reservoir, Xujiahe reservoir (central China)

The day and night vertical distributions of the dominant planktonic crustaceans in Xujiahe Reservoir were investigated on July 7, 1998. Sampling was carried out at Station D in the upstream region, Doupuohe, and Stations LI and LII in the downstream region, Lujiaodao. At Station D and Station LI, Leptodora kindti showed diel vertical migrations. In Daphnia galeata and Diaphanosoma dubia a limited reverse diel vertical migration was found at Station D, and large individuals tended to stay in lower layers during the day. Neutrodiaptomus incongruens seemed to avoid the water column of 0–6 m by day, but a detectable proportion of the population moved upwards at night. Mesocyclops thermocyclopoides showed a clearly defined diel vertical migration behavior at all three stations. The vertical distribution of Thermocyclops crassus was similar at different stations: in daylight hours it was found almost exclusively in the water column below 6 m and during the night a significant proportion of the population shifted upwards.