M. Yamazaki et al., Seasonal variations in the community structure of aquatic organisms in a paddy field under a long-term fertilizer trial, SOIL SCI PL, 47(3), 2001, pp. 587-599
To estimate the effect of fertilizers on aquatic organisms ranging in size
from 30 mum to 2 cm in a Japanese paddy field under a long-term fertilizer
trial (the plots without fertilizers, with chemical fertilizers only, and w
ith chemical fertilizers as well as two levels (7.5 and 22.5 tons ha(-1)) o
f rice straw compost), we collected the floodwater samples once every 10 d
during the cropping season throughout 3 y and mainly classified aquatic org
anisms in the floodwater at the order level. The frequency of the presence
of Chlorococcales, Lemanaceae, Euglenida, Oligotrichida, Pharyngophorida, S
essilida, Turbellaria, Podocopida, and Cyclopoida was significantly differe
nt among the plots, while the maximum population density was significantly
different for Cladocera and Cyclopoida among the plots. The effects of the
sampling year on the frequency of presence and the maximum population densi
ty were also observed. The floodwater samples after midseason drainage in t
hree plots with fertilizer application differed from the samples in the plo
t without fertilizer application in the community structure of aquatic orga
nisms. Principal component analysis showed that Lemanaceae, Pharyngophorida
, and Turbellaria were important components in the floodwater samples after
midseason drainage in the three plots with fertilizer application. Althoug
h Cladocera appeared more abundantly after midseason drainage in the plot w
ithout fertilizers and the plot with chemical fertilizers only, it appeared
more abundantly before midseason drainage in the two plots with composts.
Shannon-Weaver's index of diversity (H') was higher in the three plots with
fertilizers than in the plot without fertilizers. The effect of fertilizer
application on the community structure and the diversity of aquatic organi
sms was more conspicuous than that of the sampling year.