S. Meintjes, SEASONAL-CHANGES IN THE INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY OF SMALL SHALLOW EPHEMERAL PANS AT BAIN VLEI, SOUTH-AFRICA, Hydrobiologia, 317(1), 1996, pp. 51-64
Changes in invertebrate population numbers and composition were monito
red in six small shallow ephemeral pans during four consecutive inunda
tions of spring, summer and autumn 1988/1989. The community was genera
lly characterized by crustaceans and was invaded by insect larvae in s
ummer. Community changes and succession were prominent in spring but l
ess so in summer and autumn. Large pans supported more species than sm
all pans. During longer inundation there was less difference between t
he initial and the final population composition than during shorter in
undation, although the total population density did not increase signi
ficantly. This indicated that population composition stabilized as inu
ndation lengthened. Population changes of six representative taxa were
not correlated to changes in the physical and chemical characteristic
s of the water.