Zooplankton in Lake Tahoe

Zooplankton are tiny creatures that live in bodies of water and play an important role in the food chain by effecting organisms both above (fish) and below (algae) them through predator/prey relationships. Zooplankton have been continuously monitored monthly in Lake Tahoe since 1967 by UC Davis scientists. The introduction of non-native fish and invertebrate species such as Mysis shrimp has caused dramatic changes in the zooplankton community over the past 50 years. It is important to study these changes through out time to see how the zooplankton community structure is affected by species introductions and climate change, ultimately resulting in changes to water clarity and lake ecology.