Evaluation of Abundance of Dead Crustacean Zooplankton in a Water Body Using Staining of the Samples by Aniline Blue Technique: Methodological Aspects

• Main Author: Olga P. Dubovskaya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Siberian Federal University 2008-09-01
• Series: Журнал Сибирского федерального университета: Серия Биология
• Subjects: daphnia; cyclops vicinus; blue aniline stain; living and dead zooplankton; decomposition rate
• Online Access: http://elib.sfu-kras.ru/bitstream/2311/784/1/5_%d0%94%d1%83%d0%b1%d0%be%d0%b2%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b0%d1%8f.pdf
• ISSN: 1997-1389; 2313-5530

Three long special experiments with killed by heating copepodites of Cyclops vicinus, Mesocyclops leuckarti (experiments 1 and 2), of Cyclops vicinus and Daphnia longispina group of different sizes and stages (experiment 3) were carried out to test an assumption that in proportion as decomposition and losses internal tissues of dead plankton crustaceans (by microorganisms-heterotrophs consumption), ability of dead tissues to take up stain Aniline blue and the intensity of their coloration are reduced. Besides, the methodical work on staining mechanically traumatized alive crustaceans was carried out to imitation of possible consequences of body injuries during zooplankton sampling and study of characteristics of their staining. The experiments have shown the more heterothrophes inside the dead carcasses, the less intensity of its staining. Depending on water temperature and morphological features of cladocerans and copepods, an “age” of dead crustaceans when it stops successfully stain is 1-4 days from death time. On the contrary carcasses of crustaceans, which dead during time interval “one hour – 1-3 days” are stained intensity and entirely. Mechanically traumatized alive crustaceans are stained not entirely, just spot of injury or more, but no more than one half or 2/3 of body. To increase accuracy of count of dead zooplankton in nature samples using Aniline blue staining method, suitable (proper) methodological recommendation are given.