Size structure of aquatic communities : Lake Kinneret case

A size spectra model of Lake Kinneret biota is presented. Mean- annual data on all major groups of aquatic organisms, collected over some 25 years at the Kinneret Limnological Laboratory, were used with corrections reflecting changes observed in 1996. The resulting spectrum is similar to the typical pattern known from previous comparative studies. Comparison of size spectra and quantitative descriptors of complete communities reveals consistent patterns. Highly important are the size spectra extremities, i.e. the smallest and largest organisms. Recent changes in the large organism (fish) part of the spectrum have been documented through application of dual-beam echosounder.