Species identity and aqueous calcium concentrations as determinants of calcium concentrations of freshwater crustacean zooplankton

Calcium (Ca) is a major component of the crustacean zooplankton carapace. As crustacean zooplankton obtain most of their Ca from lake water, taxa with high Ca demands may be negatively affected if environmental Ca concentrations fall below thresholds necessary for adequate Ca uptake rates. Currently, Ca concentrations are falling in many soft-water lakes with a history of acid deposition, both within Canada and globally. Hence, there is a need to identify species with high Ca demands. We analyzed Ca concentrations of eight crustacean zooplankton taxa from nine lakes spanning a 0.4-35 mg center dot L-1 Ca gradient. Our objectives were to determine (i) if both species identity and lake Ca concentrations are determinants of zooplankton Ca concentration and (ii) if zooplankton Ca concentration varies seasonally. Large differences in Ca concentrations were observed among taxa. Levels in Daphnia sp. ranged from 2% to 8% of dry body weight, whereas levels in copepods and non-daphniid cladocera were much lower at 0.2%-0.4%. Seasonal variation in zooplankton Ca concentration was negligible, but positive correlations with lake Ca concentration were detected, with up to twofold differences in Ca concentration between lakes in three of the eight species. Species identity was the most important determinant of crustacean zooplankton Ca concentration.