Relationships between body size and trophic position of consumers in temperate freshwater lakes

Animal body size is a driving force behind trophic interactions within biological communities, yet few studies have explored relationships between body size and trophic position (based on δ¹⁵N) at a broad-scale in freshwater lakes. Therefore, our goals were to (1) determine whether body size is a good predictor of trophic position for multiple pelagic zooplankton taxa and fish communities, and (2) examine how body size-trophic position relationships at the community level compare to species level for fish. Zooplankton and fish were collected from 12 and 7 lakes, respectively, located in the Kawarthas, southern Ontario, Canada. The results indicated that for zooplankton, significant positive but different relationships were found between body size and trophic position for cladocerans, in general, and Daphnia, but not Holopedium. For fish, at the lake community level six out of seven relationships were positive and significant, but again, different among lakes. In contrast, at the species level only three of eight species-specific relationships were significant. Furthermore, for two widespread species, Perca flavescens and Micropterus dolomieu, significant differences were found between community- and lake-specific species relationships. Our community-level models and most species-level models provide evidence that trophic interactions in freshwater lakes are size-based. These results demonstrate that general species models should be applied with caution when using body size to predict trophic position. Additionally, the predictive power of some relationships found here is questionable since, albeit significant, their strengths are generally low. Together, our results suggest that body size may have limited use in predicting trophic position of some biota in temperate freshwater lakes.     

食物与桡足类营养级对亚热带分层水库浮游动物群落结构的影响

于2014年10-12月,采集厦门溪东水库浮游动物、浮游植物、浮游细菌与悬浮物样品,分析浮游动物群落与食物质量和食物浓度的关系,探讨桡足类营养级变化对浮游动物的影响.结果 表明,空间上后生浮游动物群落结构在水库不同水层间的差异不显著;时间上桡足类在水华期和非水华期的差异不显著,枝角类和轮虫在水华期和非水华期的差异显著....     

Experimental study of the zooplankton impact on the trophic structure of phytoplankton and the microbial assemblages in a temperate wetland (Argentina)

An experimental study using mesocosms was conducted in the main shallow lake of a temperate wetland (Otamendi Natural Reserve, Argentina) to analyse the impact of zooplankton on phytoplankton and the microbial assemblages. The lake is characterised by the presence of a fluctuating cover of floating macrophytes, whose shading effects shape the phytoplakton community and the ecosystem functioning, which was absent during the study period. The experiment was run in situ using polyethylene bags, comparing treatments with and without zooplankton. The cascade effect of zooplankton on phytoplankton and the lower levels of the microbial food web (ciliates, heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) and picoplankton) were analysed.A significant zooplankton grazing on the nano-phytoplankton fraction (3–30 μm) was observed. Conversely, large algae (filamentous cyanobacteria, colonial chlorophytes and large diatoms) increased in all mesocosms until day 10, suggesting that they were not actively grazed by zooplankton during this period. However, from day 10 until day 17 this fraction decreased in the enclosures with mesozooplankton, probably due to an increase in the abundance of large herbivores.The results of the experiment would also indicate a trophic cascade effect on the lower levels of the microbial community. In the treatment where zooplankton was removed, the abundance of ciliates followed the same increasing pattern as the abundance of HNF, but with a time lag in its response. In the enclosures without zooplankton, HNF remained relatively constant throughout the experiment, whereas ciliates strongly decrease during the last week. Total picoplankton abundance increased in the enclosures with mesozooplankton, thus supporting the existence of a four-link trophic cascade (copepods–microzooplankton–HNF–picoplankton). Zooplankton composition changed significantly from the beginning until the end of the experiment; cyclopoid nauplii and rotifers were notoriously dominant at t₀, whereas 10 days later the community showed a more equitable proportion of cyclopoids, calanoids, nauplii, cladocerans and rotifers.     

The effects of nutrients and zooplankton community structure on phytoplankton growth in a subtropical Australian reservoir: An enclosure study

Patterns of zooplankton–phytoplankton interactions in subtropical lakes of the Southern Hemisphere may deviate from those established for north-temperate lakes. We tested the responses of phytoplankton growth to different community structures of zooplankton and nutrient enrichment in a subtropical Australian reservoir for the prediction of potential outcomes of lake biomanipulation. Two zooplankton communities were created in lake enclosures over 4 weeks: a rotifer-dominated community developed in the presence of planktivorous fish (Hypseleotris spp.) and a Ceriodaphnia-dominated community developed in the absence of fish. Biomass gradients of both communities were established in 20 L containers and several separate containers received no additions (controls) or were enriched with nitrogen and/or phosphorus. The growth rate of total phytoplankton significantly increased in response to nutrient enrichment, indicating nutrient limitation. Most phytoplankton taxa were not markedly affected by grazing of either zooplankton community. However, both communities had significant stimulatory effects on the growth of inedible chlorophytes. The ability of zooplankton grazing to negatively affect phytoplankton growth during the summer was counteracted regardless of zooplankton community structure, possibly by nutrients regenerated by zooplankton. We hypothesise that in the subtropical system studied, changes in food web nutrient recycling may be more important for the outcome of biomanipulation than grazing impacts.     

Metazooplankton communities in the Ahe atoll lagoon (Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia): Spatiotemporal variations and trophic relationships

Metazooplankton abundance, biomass (<80μm, 200-500μm and >500μm) and community structure in the Ahe atoll were studied together with their relationships with environmental factors (temperature, salinity, wind) and trophic factors (phytoplankton, bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) and ciliates) during three periods in 2008-2009. Meroplankton, mainly bivalve and gastropod larvae, was dominant. Holoplankton was dominated by copepods, the main species being Oithona spp., Paracalanus parvus, Clausocalanus spp., Corycaeus spp., Acartia fossae and Undinula vulgaris. The results suggest a clear wind influence on the structure and horizontal distribution of the zooplankton communities. The metazooplankton appeared to be controlled mainly by food resources, suggesting a bottom-up control. The low nanophytoplankton biomass in contrast to the high abundance of picophytoplankton, HNF and nano-particle grazers (mainly Oithona spp., Paracalanus and bivalve larvae) highlighted the importance of the microbial loop in the food web.     

Effect of temperature on contents of essential highly unsaturated fatty acids in freshwater zooplankton

In 11 lakes from cold and warm regions we studied the content of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in seston (<130 μm) and crustacean zooplankton using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. An increase of temperature correlated with a decrease of HUFA content in zooplankton. A multivariate canonical correlation analyses revealed, that the decrease of HUFA content was related with a decrease of per cent of copepods in zooplankton communities, which are known to have higher HUFA levels in their biomass, than cladocerans. This means that temperature primarily affected the HUFA levels indirectly, via changing of taxonomic structure of zooplankton community, while the homeoviscous adaptation of zooplankton individuals had comparatively lower importance. As found, water temperature was better predictor of HUFA contents of zooplankton, than the fatty acid composition of seston. Thus, it can be predicted, that a probable climate warming will decrease the content of the essential HUFA in freshwater zooplankton with possible negative consequences for animals of higher trophic levels.     

Horizontal and seasonal patterns of tropical zooplankton from the eutrophic Prado Reservoir (Colombia)

Zooplankton community analyses can reveal valuable information about the trophic status and secondary production in reservoirs. The zooplankton seasonal distribution and important physical and chemical parameters in Prado Reservoir (Tolima, Central Colombia) were studied in monthly surveys throughout a hydrological cycle (February 2000-January 2001) in order to establish seasonal patterns and the biotic and abiotic relationships for the reservoir. Surface zooplankton collections at 1 m depth were taken at six sampling stations with regard to reservoir morphometry, location of main tributaries and mixing areas of the incoming tributaries. Cladocerans numerically dominated (48.1%) the community throughout the study period followed by Copepoda (32.7%), Rotifera (19.1%), and Diptera larvae (0.01%). Among the cladocerans, there was a greater abundance of Bosmina longirostris (69.8%) than other crustaceans. Among the Rotifera, Brachionus falcatus was the most abundant with 23% and Keratella tropica was least abundant with 8%. The only cyclopoid species found was Thermocyclops decipiens. The phantom midge Chaoborus sp. was also part of the zooplankton community. Based on numbers, cladocerans represented a significant component of the zooplankton in both dry and rainy seasons. Four species (Brachionus spp., K. tropica, Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, Moina sp., and T. decipiens) had never previously been found in the reservoir, but were recorded for other standing Colombian water bodies. The replacement of B. longirostris instead of Daphnia sp. as dominant species was observed. The results of the comparison of the different studies confirmed that the trophic state of this artificial lake may be classified as eutrophic, and in general, physical, and chemical homogeneity were observed both spatially and temporally.     

Biodiversity loss in benthic macroinfaunal communities and its consequence for organic mercury trophic availability to benthivorous predators in the lower Hudson River estuary, USA

Organic mercury such as methylmercury is not only one of the most toxic substances found in coastal ecosystems but also has high trophic transfer efficiency. In this study, we examined implications of chronically altered benthic macroinfaunal assemblages for organic mercury trophic availability (based on organic mercury intracellular partitioning) to their predators in the Arthur Kill-AK (New York, USA). Despite low species diversity, both density and biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates in AK were significantly higher than those at the reference site. Disproportionately high biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates (mostly polychaetes) in the northern AK resulted in a more than twofold increase (‘ecological enrichment’) in the trophically available organic mercury pool. These results suggest that altered benthic macroinfaunal community structure in AK may play an important role in organic mercury trophic availability at the base of benthic food webs and potentially in mercury biogeochemical cycling in this severely urbanized coastal ecosystem.     

Climate change and agricultural pollution effects on the trophic status of a Mediterranean lake

Trichonis Lake is the largest natural freshwater body in Greece with a surface area of 97 km². It receives pollutants from numerous anthropogenic activities, especially from intensive agricultural practices, urban sewages, stock grazing land and small industries. In this study, hydrologic and chemical parameters are assessed during two periods (1990–1991) and (2001–2002) to evaluate the effects of the climatic changes on phosphorous trends and consequently on the trophic status of Trichonis Lake. Even though large quantities of fertilizers are applied in the lake's catchment, phosphorus loads are still in the permissible level as estimated according to Vollenweider's relationship based on total phosphorus concentration. Due to relatively higher rainfall precipitation during the last years, an increased amount of the phosphorus entering into the lake system is flushed out, thus keeping the trophic status of the lake in oligotrophic levels. In contrast, lower rainfall rates during the first period (1990–1991) have led to the decrease in phosphorus flush out and its detainment into the lake water and sediment resulting to mesotrophic conditions. As the trophic status of the lake is mainly hydrologically dependent and thus unpredictable, effective management plans targeting the elimination of nutrient pollution loadings are necessary.     

Separation of phytoplanktonic pigments by HPLC for the study of phyto-zooplankton trophic relationships

Phyto-zooplankton trophic relationships were studied using phytoplanktonic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) as organic natural markers. Pigments were separated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).Comparison of pigment profiles from monospecific cultures of various taxonomic groups (Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Cyanobacteria) and from Cladocera crustaceans (Daphnia magna) fed with these cultures, showed that the characteristic pigment associations of the different taxa are conserved during their transfer from primary producers to secondary consumers.Chromatographic profiles of the Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophyceae type were obtained fromDaphnia respectively fed with mixtures of a Chlorophyceae and a diatom species and mixture of a Chlorophyceae and a Cyanobacterium. This showed the importance of this method in demonstrating a possible selective feeding by the herbivorous zooplankton.The observation of pigment profiles of the Dinophyceae type following feeding of a zooplankton assemblage from Lake Pavin within this natural medium (phytoplankton dominated by a Dinophyceae) and of a Chlorophyceae type profile as the same assemblage was fed in the laboratory on phytoplankton from Lake Villerest (composed of about 80% Cyanobacteria and 20% Chlorophyceae), suggested that this method could be applied to the natural environment.     

淮南迪沟采煤沉陷区湖泊后生浮游动物群落结构及其影响因子

2015年8月-2016年6月对安徽省迪沟采煤沉陷区湖泊后生浮游动物群落结构及环境因子进行了调查,研究了其群落结构及与环境因子的关系.共发现后生浮游动物16科27属53种,其中轮虫38种,枝角类9种,桡足类6种,优势种为萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)、角突臂尾轮虫(B.angularis)、蒲达臂尾轮虫(B.budapestiensis)、针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla)、曲腿龟甲轮虫(Keratella valga)、螺形龟甲轮虫(K.cochlearis)、长额象鼻溞(Bosmina longirostris)和透明温剑水蚤(Thermocyclops hyalinus).密度和生物量平均值分别为965.00±541.91 ind./L和3.42±2.17 mg/L.密度峰值出现在2015年2月,而生物量峰值出现在10月,最低值均出现在12月.后生浮游动物密度的空间分布呈现西低东高的趋势,而生物量空间分布呈现西高东低的趋势.Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数分别为2.07~3.22、0.83~1.72和0.67~0.80.冗余分析及Pearson相关性分析结果表明,浮游植物生物量、水温、营养盐等是影响后生浮游动物群落结构的主要因子.综合理化指标、营养状态指数、后生浮游动物优势种及生物多样性指数结果表明,迪沟采煤沉陷区湖泊已处于轻度富营养状态.     

Macrophyte-based bioindication in rivers - A comparative evaluation of the reference index (RI) and the trophic index of macrophytes (TIM)

Submerged macrophyte vegetation has been mapped in four calcareous groundwater-fed streams in Bavaria (southern Germany) in order to compare and assess two different methods of river bioindication. The first one, the trophic index of macrophytes (TIM), is a tool to assess the trophic status of running waters. In contrast, the reference index (RI) is an ecological index which evaluates the difference between a reference community and the actual submerged vegetation, depending on the river type, as required by the Water Framework Directive. Water nutrient concentrations were measured once at selected sites in all water courses.The TIM reflects water phosphorus concentrations, accounting also for nutrients enrichment in the sediment, and is not influenced by shading, depth, substrate and flow velocity of the water course. The TIM is very sensitive to small variations in P concentration when the P level is low, while the index tends to a maximum as soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total phosphorus (Ptot) exceed a certain value.The RI indicates river ecological status which is not only influenced by trophic status but by every factor leading to a deviation of the actual macrophyte community from the reference community. In the investigated rivers the RI indicated reduced flow velocity caused by milldams and shading by riparian vegetation, in addition to trophic status.In rivers that are at the boundary between two different river types, classification of river type can play a crucial role for river status assessment. Incorrect classification of river type can lead to both, a “too good” and “too bad” assessment.     

微型生态系统中鲢、鳙下行影响的实验研究——1.浮游生物群落和初级生产力

在营养物供给量较大的实验条件下,鲢、鳙放养明显地改变了微型生态系统的群落结构、代谢和理化环境,以致实验后期鳙单养和鲢、鳙混养系统出现不同程度的富营养化。微型生态系统中浮游植物密度的增长不完全由营养级联效应所致,但初级生产力的组间差异可大致依据营养级联假说来解释。实验结果认为,以提高鱼产量为目标的鲢、鳙高密度放养,对加速营养物来源丰富的天然水域的富营养化起着重要的作用。     

Response of the zooplankton community to extreme hydrological variations in a temporary lake in a neotropical floodplain system

Extreme events can cause species substitution or biodiversity losses. In floodplains, flood and drought phases are considered disturbances when their amplitude or intensity are atypical. These unpredictable events can affect the structure of aquatic communities. In this context, we evaluated the response of the zooplankton community to two extreme droughts that occurred from 2001−2002 and 2014−2016. We assessed species richness and composition on three occasions: before extreme drought (phase 1); during the phase after extreme drought (phase 2) characterized by floods, and lastly, after flood (phase 3), when the fluctuations in water levels in the lowlands stabilized. We hypothesized that (i) zooplankton composition in the lake is distinct in the phases before extreme drought and flood, as the extreme drought event causes changes in the community structure and (ii) after the flood (phase 3), the composition of species in the lake would be more similar to the phase 1, with a large number of species shared in these. Contrary to what we expected, similarity in the species composition of the lake was greater between the phase 1 and phase 2, which may indicate the resilience capacity of the community, through specialized adaptations capable of tolerating extreme. The lowest similarity was observed between the phase 1 and phase 3 and this difference may be a consequence of the dilution effect of the community in the flood (phase 2). Our results suggest that the community structure in the lake can be considered more resilient to extreme drought. We also highlight the importance of the hydrological dynamics of a floodplain for the structure of communities, considering atypical droughts in periods of different climatic events.     

太湖梅梁湾摇蚊亚化石沉积记录及营养演化研究

对太湖梅梁湾T0905岩芯摇蚊幼虫亚化石组合进行了分析,探讨了自1940年以来梅梁湾湖区摇蚊幼虫对营养盐演化的响应.结果表明,梅梁湾湖区摇蚊组合变化以1970年为分界点,经历了由Tanytarsus为优势属种向富营养属种Chironomus plumosus-type和Microchironomus为优势组合转变的过程...     

微型生态系统中鲢、鳙下行影响的实验研究——1.浮游生物群落和初级生产力

在营养物供给量较大的实验条件下,鲢、鳙放养明显地改变了微型生态系统的群落结构、代谢和理化环境,以致实验后期鳙单养和鲢、鳙混养系统出现不同程度的富营养化。微型生态系统中浮游植物密度的增长不完全由营养级联效应所致,但初级生产力的组间差异可大致依据营养级联假说来解释。实验结果认为,以提高鱼产量为目标的鲢、鳙高密度放养,对加速营养物来源丰富的天然水域的富营养化起着重要的作用。     

太湖水华蓝藻底泥中复苏和水柱中生长的比较

为了研究太湖底泥中蓝藻的复苏和水柱中的生长,作者自行设计了原位藻类复苏收集器和生长培养器并安放在太湖梅梁湾监测蓝藻复苏释放和生长.实验在藻类的复苏期(2005年3-6月)进行．结果表明在复苏期太湖蓝藻的复苏呈现波动性增加,4月达到最大量．水柱中蓝藻同步的比生长率和生长量也呈现波动性上升,并在5月初达到最大值．浮游动物的存在并没有对蓝藻的生长造成显著的影响．对底泥蓝藻释放和水柱生长进行比较,底泥释放的蓝藻只占藻类生长量的很小一部分(<2．5％)．所以,水柱中蓝藻的生长对其优势的确立和水华的形成具有重要的作用,今后的研究将主要集中在水柱中蓝藻的动态变化     

中国湖泊营养类型的分类研究

对我国１３０余个主要湖泊的营养状况进行了分类研究。结果表明,目前处于协调营养型湖泊１１６个,占调查湖泊数量８７．９％,占调查湖泊面积的９６．０％;非协调营养型湖泊１６个,占调查湖泊数量１２．１％,占调查湖泊面积的４．０％;在协调营养型湖泊中,影响湖泊资料开发利用的主要障碍是;富营养化问题;非协调营养型湖泊中,主要是超营养化和盐碱化问题,它们有的已经严重地影响了湖区经济的发展,是我国当前亟待解决的重