Mysids Biotic Communities in

Aquatic Environment and

The mysids can attain a maximum length of about 3 cm. They are filter feeders and their Interrelationship
are size-selective in their predation of zooplankton. Sometimes, they consume algae
and detritus but are preferentially carnivores.

Isupods
Occasionally isopods form a significant part of the benthic community of lakes and
streams. These small organisms (< 2 cm) are flattened dorsoventrally and are well
adapted to living on substrata exposed to water movements.
Decapods
The number of benthic &Quinn's are few freshwater crayfish and shrimps which are
characterized by their approximately cylindrical body, heavily sclerotized translucent
shell, and laterally composed rostrum. Crayfish are omnivorous but primarily
herbivorous and feed on algae and larger aquatic plants: occasionally, they are scavengers.
Amphipods
The Amphipods or scuds, are represented in freshwaters by a few important species.
Most of the Amphipods live on the sediments. Most species are small (5 to 20 mm),
with a laterally compressed, many-segmented body. Amphipods are generally omnivorous
substrate feeders that consume bacteria. algae. fungi and animal and plant remains.
Molluses
The freshwater Molluscs (Fig. 9.12) are separable into two distinct groups, the univalve
snails (Gastrpods) and the bivalve clams and mussels (Pelecypods). Among the
univalve molluscs, the shells of snails generally are spirally coiled, while t
the few fresh water limpets are conically shaped. Locomotion in snails is by

muscular movements of the "foot-.

9
S
The
body
is

enclosed by menibrani)us tis.. e, t

mantle, which secretes the shell valves. Food

Y
particles are removed from the water
by filtration through the gills and cilia.

%4
IOU '% 'uk I
(
II

(e) II. ) (g)

Fig.9.12: Benthic freshwater mollusks. (a) Viviparus, (b) Gyraulus, (c) Corbicula, Id) Lymnaea, (e) Pisitlium, (1) Potamopyrgus
and (g) Elminius.
Aquatic insects
The aquatic insects are very abundant and diverse, some times they are entirely
aquatic sometimes, they inhabit aquatic life only during certain life stages. 71
Aquatic Environment The common benthic insects include dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) nymphs,
for Aquaculture' Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) the Stoneflies (Plecoptera) nymph stages, few hemipterans,
the flies, midges, mosquitoes (Diptera), chironomid larvae, larval stages of the moths
(Lepidoptera), spongeflies (Neuroptera), alderflies, dobsonflie ,s (Megaloptera)
megalopteran larvae and beetles.

SAQ 3
Fill up the blanks and compare your answers with those given at the end of the unit.
a. If benthos live within the sediments they are called ......
and they are found at the surface of the sediments they are called
b. On the basis of size, benthos are classified into three categories
i) ................................. ii) ......................................( i i i ) . . . .
c. The commonly visible major benthos found in freshwater ponds are
1)
ii)
iii)

93 MACROVEGETATION
Aquatic macrovegetation can be defined as plants whose habitat is water or very wet
places. They are commonly called aquatic macrophytes or aquatic weeds. Plant
communities, in general, have been classified on the basis of their dependence on
water (Fig.9.13). The aquatic macrophytes are classified in the following way:

Zone of emergent
vegetation
chard'

Zone of
wiiElfloatinglikav
Zone of
submergent
S
cat
bulrushe

weeds

Fig. 9.13: Different types of macrophytes growing in different zones of a water body.

9.5.1 Emergent Macrophytes

Emergent macrophytes occur on water-saturated or submerged soils, from the point at
which the water tahle is shout 0_5 m below the soil surface to where the sediment is
covered with approximately 1.5 m of water. They are primarily heterophyllous
species, submerged andior floating leaves precede mature aerial leaves; many species
may exist as submerged forms; all produce aerial reproductive organs. E.g.,
Sagittaria, Typha, Ranunculus, Cyperus, Scirpus etc. (Fig_91.14).

7
 Biotic Communities in
Aquatic Environment and
their Interrelationship

(a) (b)

(d)
Fig.9.14: Emergent macruphytes. (a) Scbpus, (b) Sagiitaria, (c) Typha, (d) Operas.

9.5.2 Floating-leaved Macrophytes

These are primarily angiosperms that occur attached to submerge se i at water 'Alma 9

depths from about 0.5 to 3 m. In heterophylous species, submerged leaves precede or

accompany the floating leaves: reproductive organs are floating or aerial; floating
leaves are on long. flexible petioles (e.g., the water lilies Nelumbo. ,Vriphar.and
Nvmphaea) or on short petioles from long ascending sterns Bra_keltia
Putamogeton, Marselia) (Fig.9.15).

(c) id)
Fig.9.15: Fluting leaved macrophyes. ia1 Nvmphaea, (b) Nelumba, (ci Trapa. (d) tWarselia. 73
(a)
9.5.4 Freely Floating Macrophytes Biotic Communities in
Aquatic Environment and
Freely floating macrophytes (Fig.9.18) are typically not rooted to the substratum, but their Interrelationship
live unattached within or upon the water. They are diverse in form and habit. ranging
from large plants with rosettes of aerial and/or floating leaves and well-developed •
submerged roots (e.g., Eichhornia, Trapa, Hydrocharis) to minute surface-floating or
submerged plants with few or no roots (e.g., Lemna, Wolffia, Pistia, Salvinia),
reproductive organs are floating or aerial.

(a) (b )

Fig. 9.18: Free floating macrophytes. (a) Azolla sp., (I)) Lemna minor Spirodella sp., (c) Pistea sps.,
(d E Eiclriwrnia crassipes.

Light availability is a major factor regulating the growth and competitive interactions
of aquatic macrophytes. Among submersed macrophytes, Light intensity limits the
vertical distribution of plant growth. Photosynthesis takes place commonly at l to
3 percent of full sunlight. Considerable photosynthetic and respiratory adaptation to
low light and differing temperatures is found among submerged species. Many
macrophytes are perennial, with varying degrees of biomass turning over from year to
year. Growth of aquatic macrophytes is generally higher on organic-rich sediments
than it is on sandy sediments. On a unit-area basis, the net primary productivity of
aquatic macruphytes is among the highest of any community in the biosphere_
Emergent macrophyte productivity is the highest (1500 — 4500 g cm2 year2),
submerged macrophytic productivity is considerably less (50 — 1000 g cm` year' but
often equals or exceeds that of phytoplankton (50 — 450 g cm .).

SAQ 4
Fill in the blanks and compare your answers with those given at the end of the unit.
a Sagittaria and Rananculus belong to the macrophyte group ...........
b. Azolla and Eichhanzia belong to the macrophyte. group ..................................................................................... 75