Zooplankton Community in MEIKTILA Lake, MEIKTILA, Central Myanmar

Title

Author Dr. Thynn Thynn Aung

Issue Date 2015

Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7 1

Zooplankton Community in Meiktila Lake, Meiktila, Central

Myanmar

Thynn Thynn Aung1,Thant Zin2

Abstract

Zooplankton community in Meiktila Lake, Meiktila , Central Myanmar

investigated during October 2009 to August 2011 revealed a total of 16
species of zooplankton and one copepod nauplius larva Zooplankton
community represented with 11species of rotifers (68.75%), three species
of cladocerans (18.75%) and two species of copepods (12.5%). Among the
species recorded ceriodaphnia rigudii, Macrocyclops fuacus, Mesocyclops
leckurti and copepod nauplius are considered very common and very
thrived well in the study area because they were observed throughout the
study period.
Keywords: zooplankton community, Meiktila Lake.

Introduction
Zooplankton are minute aquatic animals that are non motile or very
weak swimmers and they drift in water column of ocean, seas or freshwater
bodies to sunlight zone where food resources are most abundant and they
are also found in deep ocean water ( Ferdous and Muktadir, 2009).
Zooplankton are minute aquatic animals that are non motile or very
weak swimmers and they drift in water column of ocean, seas or freshwater
bodies to sunlight zone where food resources are most abundant and they
are also found in deep ocean water ( Ferdous and Muktadir, 2009).
Zooplankton plays important role in food web by linking the
primary producers and higher trophic levels. Zooplankton is required as a
first food for many cultured fish, for others it contributes to faster growth
and higher survival (Ludwig, 1999).
Zooplankton species are cosmopolitan in nature and they inhabit all
freshwater habitats of the world, including polluted industrial and municipal
wastewaters. Zooplankton are not only useful as bioindicators to help us
detect pollution load, but are also helpful for ameliorating polluted waters
(Mukhopadhyay et al., 2007).

1. Lecturer, Dr., Department of Zoology, University of Mandalay

2. Professor Dr., Department of Zoology, University of Mandalay
2 Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7

In view of this, community of zooplankton in Meiktila Lake was

investigated and described.
Materials and Methods
Study Area
Meiktila located in Mandalay Region is included in the dry zone of
Myanmar. It is situated between 20◦51' - 20◦55' N and between 95◦49' -
95◦54' E. The area of the town is 1.9 square kilometers. The Meiktila Lake
is a large freshwater body located at the centre of the Meiktila Town. The
Lake measures 1.12 km in length and 0.08 km in width and covers an area
of 0.09 sq.km. Water from Meiktila Lake is used not only for irrigation but
also a source of drinking and domestic use (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 Location of Meiktila Lake, showing the study sites

Source : Satellite Image

Study Sites
A total of seven sampling sites were allocated in Meiktila Lake.
Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7 3

Site I
Location - Near the pumping station No. 2, near the middle of Pauk
Chaung Bridge at the center of the western edge of Meiktila Lake.
Site II
Location - Near the pumping station No. 3, at the southern edge of
Meiktila Lake.
Site III
Location- Near the common entrance of Mondaing and Nyaung-
gone irrigation channel into the lake, at the southern edge of Meiktila Lake.
Site IV
Location- Near the pumping station at the south east edge of the
Meiktila Lake.
Site V
Location- Near the pumping station No. 6, at the northeast edge of
Meiktila Lake.
Site VI
Location - Near the pumping station No.4, where the Mondaing
irrigation channel enters into the northern part of Meiktila Lake.
Site VII
Location- Near the north west edge of Meiktila Lake.
Study Period
This study was conducted from October (2009) to August (2011).
The duration of study period was divided into first year (October 2009 to
August 2010) and second year (October 2010 to August 2011).
Collection of Zooplankton
The samples were collected from designated seven sampling sites of
Meiktila Lake. Collections were made by horizontal hauls with the aid of
zooplankton nylon net (YRK- 520E) with 19 x21.5cm mouth diameter and
7µ mesh size attached with 30 ml sampling bottle. The hauling distance was
about 1.25 m at each sampling sites and the hauling time for each collection
was 5 seconds. Samples were fixed in 4% Formalin soon after collection.
Zooplankton samples from seven sampling sites were taken at the same
4 Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7

time of day. Samples were collected two months interval from seven
representative sampling sites starting from October 2009 to August 2011.
Identification of Zooplankton
The zooplankton species were identified following Pennak's (1953),
Davis (1955) and Edmonson (1966). Zooplankton species were identified
under a compound microscope with different magnifications of 10x4,
10x10, and 10x 100.
The microphotographs of zooplankton species were taken using
DP -12 Olympus digital camera attached to microscope.
Results
A total of 16 species and one copepod nauplius of zooplankton
was observed in Meiktila Lake during October 2009 to August 2011.
Systematic position
Phylum - Rotifera
Class - Monogononta
Order - Ploima
Family - Asplanchnidae
Genus - Asplanchna
Species - Asplanchna pridonta Goose, 1850(Plate IA)
Specie - Brachinus angularis Gosses, 1851(Plate I. B)
Species - Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas, 1766
(Plate I. C)
Species - Brachionus diversicornis (Daday , 1883)
(Plate I. D)
Species - Brachionus quadridentatus Hermann, 1783
(Plate I. E)
Species - Brachiouns ruben Ebrenberg , 1838
(Plate I. F)
Species - Keratella tropica Apstein, 1907 (Plate II. A)
Species - Notholca acuminata (Plate II. B)
Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7 5

Species - Lecane luna (Muller, 1776) (Plate II. C)

Species - Epiphane sp. (Plate II. D)
Species - Filinia longiseta (Ehrenberg, 1834) (Plate II. E)
Species - Diaphanosoma brachyurum (Lievin, 1848)
(Plate II. F)
Species - Daphnia sp. (Plate III. A)
Species - Ceriodaphnia rigaudi Richard, 1894
(Plate III. B)
Species - Macrocyclops sp. (Plate III. C)
Species - Mesocyclops leckurti Claus, 1857 (Plate III. D)
Composition of Species
Zooplankton species is represented with Rotifera (64.70%) and
Arthropoda (35.29%) during the study periods (Table 1).
Among the different classes, Monogononta occurred the maximum
composition of species (64.70%) and Crustacea (35.29%) (Table 1)
The highest species composition was recorded in order Ploima (58.82%),
followed by Cladocera and Copepoda (17.64% each) and Flosculariaceae
(5.88%) (Table 1).
Seven species were observed under family Branchionidae (41.17%),
followed by three species under Cyclopoidae (17.64%), two species under
Daphnidae (11.76%) and one species each under the rests of family (Table 1).
6 Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7

Table 1 Composition of zooplankton species in different phyla, classes,

orders and families in Meiktila Lake during October 2009 to August
2011

Phylum Class Order Family

Rotifera Monogononta Ploima Asplanchnidae
64.71% 64.71 % 62.5% 6.25%
(11species) (11 species) (10 species) (1 species)
Branchionidae
43.75 %
(7 species)
Lecanidae
6.25%
(1 species)
Epiphanidae
6.25%
(1 species)
Flosculariaceae Testudinellidae
6.25 % 6.25%
(1 species) (1 species)
Arthropoda Crustacea Cladocera Sididae
35.29 % 35.29% 18.75 % 6.25%
(6 species) (6 species) (3 species) (1 species)
Daphnidae
12.5%
(2 species)
Copepoda Cyclopidae
12.5% 12.5 %
(2 species) (2 species)
Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7 7

A. Asplanchna pridonta B. Brachiouns angularis

C. Brachiouns calyciflorus D. Brachiouns diversicornis

E. Brachiouns quadridentatus F. Brachiouns ruben

Plate I
8 Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7

A. Keratella tropica B. Notholca acuminata

C.Lecane luna D.Epiphane sp.

E. Filinia longiseta F. Diaphanosoma brachyurum

Plate II
Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7 9

A. Daphnia sp. B. Ceriodaphnia rigaudi

C. Macrocyclops sp. D. Mesocyclops leckurti

Plate III
10 Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7

Discussion
Zooplanktons are microscopic free floating animals which play a
vital role in aquatic food web. They are choice food of fishes in general and
juveniles in particular. They graze heavily on algae, bacteria and minute
invertebrates.
In the present study, regarding three major groups of zooplankton,
rotifer is dominant group (11 species), followed by cladoceran (three
species) and copepod (two species).
Among the recorded species, six species, Keratella tropica,
Notholca accumulate, Ceriodaphnia rigudii, Macrocyclops fuscus,
Mesocyclops leckurti and Copepod naupilus were observed throughout the
year in all sampling sites of both study periods, therefore, they may be
considered very common species and thrive well in the study area.
Soe Soe Maw (2011) recorded the highest abundance of rotifers and
the lowest abundance of copepods in Shwetachaung canal. In the present
study, highest number is found in copepods and lowest number in rotifers.
The rotifers are found in polluted water, therefore more rotifer species are
found in Shwetachaung canal than Meiktila Lake. In contrast, copepod
prefers more clean water, therefore more copepod individuals were
observed in Meiktila Lake than Shwetachaung canal.
The information of zooplankton in any water body of any region is
very important for the management of fishery. Although the species
recorded in this study are very less compared to other studies in the country.
It is hoped that the zooplankton community in Meiktila Lake presented may
be useful in fishery practices in the area industry.
Acknowledgements
I am very greatful to Dr Maung Thynn, Rector and Dr Thida Win and Dr Nu Nu
Yi, Pro-rectors, University of Mandalay, and Dr Mie Mie Sein, Professor and Head, and Dr
Naw Dolly Wilbur, Professor, Zoology Department, University of Mandalay for their
encouragements.

References
Davis, C.C., 1955. The marine and freshwater plankton. Michgan State University, USA.
Edmonson, W.T., 1966. Freshwater biology. Second Edition, JohnWiley and Son, New
York, 815 pp.
Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7 11

Ferdous, Z. and Muktadir, A.K.M., 2009. A review: Potentiality of zooplankton as

bioindicator. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 6(10): 1815-1819.
Ludwig, G.M., 1999. Zooplankton succession and larval fish culture in freshwater ponds.
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center, 700: 1–6.
Mukhopadhyay, S.K., Chattopadhyay, B., Goswami, A.Y. and Chatterjee, A., 2007. Spatial
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12 Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 7