Zooplankton Count Dataset

Zooplankton were enumerated under a dissection microscope using a gridded square petri dish. Samples with large numbers of zooplankton were diluted to a known volume (i.e., 300 ml) and at minimum 4 subsamples were taken using a 10 ml Hensen-Stempel sampler following agitation. Subsample counts were adjusted to reflect the full 20 l sample volume, and averaged to obtain 1 value for that date, location, and sampling method combination. During lab work, the Bubbly Creek sample from August 22nd was lost after one 10 ml subsample was counted (beaker broke), we maintained this sample in the analysis despite lower confidence in community composition (78 individuals counted compared to mean of 124, median of 54, and standard deviation of 176 across 146 samples). Zooplankton were classified into the following groups: Bosminidae, Calanoida, Chironomid larvae, Cyclopoida, Chydoridae, Daphniidae, Diaphanosoma, Moinidae, Naididae, Ostracoda, Polyphemus pediculus, and the presence of nauplii and rotifers were noted but not counted.