THE OSTRACOD FAUNA (CRUSTACEA, OSTRACODA) OF THE PROFUNDAL BENTHOS OFLOCH-NESS

We report the results of quantitative and qualitative investigations o f the ostracod fauna of the profundal benthos of Loch Ness, an oligotr ophic lake in Scotland, UK. Six ostracod species were recorded from pr ofundal samples: Candona angulata, C. candida, Cryptocandona reducta, Cypria ophthalmica, Cyclocypris ovum and Potamocypris smaragdina. In a ddition, Psychrodromus robertsoni was found in fish gut contents. The mean density of profundal ostracods was 262 individuals M2, with an av erage Brillouin's Diversity of 0.7. A weak inverse relationship betwee n fish body weight and the number of ostracods eaten is reported for A rctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus.