Welcome to the zooplankton ecology web site in the Program for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. This site provides general information about zooplankton, a complex assemblage of microscopic animals in the water column of lakes, ponds, rivers, estuaries and the open ocean. Zooplankton plays a pivotal role in the aquatic food web, having the potential to affect water transparency, levels of suspended algae (phytoplankton), and the fishery. Many economically important fish depend on a diet of zooplankton during some stage in their life cycle. The main focus of this site is on the zooplankton of lakes and ponds, and includes information regarding taxonomy, biology, and ecology. Basic methods for sampling, counting, and evaluation of other ecological attributes also are provided, along with links to useful sites on the internet and selected photographs of freshwater species.
My research program is focused on the dynamics of freshwater zooplankton, on their role in transferring carbon and energy from phytoplankton, bacteria and protozoa to higher trophic levels in lake and river food webs, and on how the structure and function of plankton communities are affected by natural and anthropogenic stressors, including hurricanes, drought, toxic algae, fish predation, nutrients and anthropogenic pollutants.
Current research projects include a comparative analyses of plankton and water chemistry in large shallow lakes of the World -- including lakes in the USA, China, Denmark and Italy, and evaluation of the effects of fish predation and nutrients on zooplankton communities in subtropical lakes.
I teach a graduate level independent study course on Zooplankton Ecology. This is an experiential learning course for students with a solid background in ecology. Click on the tab for 'Course' for more details.
Click on these links for more information:
Program for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
These photos were taken at Lago Trasimeno, Italy, one of the lakes being investigated in
the shallow lakes project with co-investigator Professor Mina Taticchi, University of Perugia.
Left to Right: A commercial fisherman heading out to collect his catch; Professor Taticchi, Elia, and Havens at the lake; a 15th century castle.
