Structure of a pond community in Central Mexico

Abstract

The community structure of a tropical pond located in Mexico City was described. Primary producers were diverse and abundant and macrophyte components provide a broad habitat diversity. Major biotic components in the water column were algae of the genera Microcystis, Scenedesmus and Chlamydomonas. Mats of Cyclotella were located in deeper, shaded areas associated with the bottom. Three species of emergent macrophytes characterize the large primary producers. The zooplankton was dominated by protozoa, which were more abundant than rotifers and Crustacea. Dominant invertebrate species of the pond bottom were insect larvae, gastropod mollusks, oligochaete annelids and nematodes. Vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles) feed on this variety of biotic components. A flow diagram depicted the major biological interactions and suggested a complex trophic structure.