Diel changes in vertical overlap between Cyclops strenuus (Copepoda; Cyclopoida) and its prey in oligotrophic Lake Toya, Hokkaido, Japan

The vertical distribution of Cyclops strenuus and its prey, and the gut contents of C. strenuus were investigated at 3 h intervals over 24 h periods in the pelagic area of oligotrophic Lake Toya in May, August and October 1992. C. strenuus showed slight diel vertical migration (DVM) in May, but did not migrate and was always distributed below 15 m in August and October, the thermally stratified period. This suggests that the DVM is strongly influenced by the development of the thermocline, which the copepod may not be able to cross. Gut content analyses revealed that in Lake Toya it is omnivorous, and that the dominant prey are cladocerans and Filinia longiseta. The number of prey remains in the gut varied with time, and the diel changes did not follow changes in prey density that take the vertical overlap between predator and prey into account. We argue that very low prey density associated with the oligotrophic nature of the lake would mask the relationship between prey density and the number of prey in the gut of the predator.