Zooplankton development in two large lowland rivers, the Moselle (France) and the Meuse (Belgium), in 1993

Zooplankton population dynamics were studied along a 120 km section of the River Moselle, in France, and at one location along the Belgian course of the River Meuse. Community composition and population densities were assessed on fresh material. Rotifers overwhelmingly dominated the zooplankton of both rivers, especially in the Meuse where microcrustaceans were abundant only seasonally. The maximal densities recorded lie in the range of values commonly reported for large European rivers. Zooplankton dynamics in these two rivers are discussed in relation to their hydrological characteristics, d... Mehr ...