Predation by the tropical plant Utricularia foliosa

1. We examined the prey captured by individual plants of the tropical carnivorous plant Utricularia foliosa, located in different areas along a creek in the Colombian Amazon and the zooplankton and macroinvertebrate communities associated with the plants. The aims were: (i) to determine whether bladders of different sizes within each plant catch different numbers of prey or exploit different size ranges and types of prey, (ii) if the quantity and composition of prey captured varies temporally and/or spatially and (iii) if the plant has evolved effective mechanisms of attracting prey. 2. Utricularia foliosa captured the most abundant species of macroinvertebrates associated with the plant. Larger bladders captured more, larger and more diverse prey. However, benefits of the extra prey caught by large bladders were not offset by the greater cost of producing bladders larger than approximately 1650 μm. 3. The number of prey captured was higher in those plants with more carbohydrates per bladder and with a higher ratio of antenna size/bladder length. The antennae enhance capture success by offering the prey a favourable substratum that exploits their natural locomotor and feeding behaviour. However, although carbohydrates may lure prey, carbohydrate production was not a strategy of the plant to enhance the capture of prey, because the amount of carbohydrates in the bladder was related to the abundance of periphyton.     

Effects of macrophyte architecture and leaf shape complexity on structural parameters of the epiphytic algal community in a Pampean stream

Habitat heterogeneity is one of the main factors determining distribution of organisms, and vegetation is of primary importance in shaping the structural environment in aquatic systems. The effect of macrophyte complexity on macroinvertebrates has been well researched; however, much remains to be revealed about the influence of complexity on epiphytic algae. Here, we used fractal dimension to study the effect of complexity at two scales, macrophyte architecture and leaf shape, on several parameters of the epiphytic algal community (number of individuals, biomass, taxon richness and diversity) in a Pampean stream. Four submerged macrophyte species with different complexities and associated algae were sampled in late spring, summer and autumn. Important differences were found in fractal dimension of the whole plant and leaves among macrophyte species. The particulate organic matter and chlorophyll a associated positively to leaf fractal dimension, but not to plant fractal dimension, partially supporting the hypothesis of a positive effect of macrophyte complexity on periphyton biomass. No association was found in fractal dimension with algal abundance, taxon richness or diversity. Complementary, a mesocosm experiment was performed with plastic imitations of different plant fractal dimensions. After four weeks, there were differences in chlorophyll a and autotrophy index between treatments that suggested a positive effect of complexity on autotrophic periphyton biomass. These results indicate that the well-known positive effect of macrophyte complexity on macroinvertebrates might be partially explained by a positive effect of complexity on periphyton biomass.     

Effects of zooplankton and conductivity on tropical Utricularia foliosa investment in carnivory

Investment by bladderwort (Utricularia foliosa) in carnivory was estimated in lakes from the Colombian and Brazilian Amazon with different dissolved mineral nutrients and prey availability. As zooplankton abundance in the lake decreased, an increase in the number of bladders per leaf and in the mean bladder size was observed. However, this investment increment in carnivory diminished as the overall availability of dissolved ions in the lake increased. Our results show that carnivorous plants U. foliosa optimise their investment in carnivory, changing bladder number and bladder size according to zooplankton abundance and conductivity.     

Plant species richness,identity and productivity differentially influence key groups of microbes in grassland soils of contrasting fertility

The abundance of microbes in soil is thought to be strongly influenced by plant productivity rather than by plant species richness per se. However, whether this holds true for different microbial groups and under different soil conditions is unresolved. We tested how plant species richness, identity and biomass influence the abundances of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), saprophytic bacteria and fungi, and actinomycetes, in model plant communities in soil of low and high fertility using phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Abundances of saprophytic fungi and bacteria were driven by larger plant biomass in high diversity treatments. In contrast, increased AMF abundance with larger plant species richness was not explained by plant biomass, but responded to plant species identity and was stimulated by Anthoxantum odoratum. Our results indicate that the abundance of saprophytic soil microbes is influenced more by resource quantity, as driven by plant production, while AMF respond more strongly to resource composition, driven by variation in plant species richness and identity. This suggests that AMF abundance in soil is more sensitive to changes in plant species diversity per se and plant species composition than are abundances of saprophytic microbes.     

Contourization and its features in technoecosystems

The phenomenon of shift in the main production-destruction processes from pelagic to bottom subsystem (contour biotopes) has different names and interpretations depending on the different “triggers” of the process. This phenomenon should be regarded as a process of contourization, which emphasizes the strengthening of the role of contour groups (benthos and periphyton). The introduction of the Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the cooling reservoir of Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant (NPP) (Ukraine) has led to a significant increase in water transparency and abundance of filamentous algae and other macrophytes. The increase in the abundance of contourobionts caused significant biological disturbances in the operation of equipment associated with the water intake of the NPP.     

Temporal and spatial change of the investment in carnivory of the tropical Utricularia foliosa

Investment by bladderwort (Utricularia foliosa L.) in carnivory, in terms of biochemical composition (carbohydrates per bladder), elemental composition (carbon and nitrogen per bladder), and morphology of the bladders (length, depth, size of the trap door, and size of antennae), was estimated in seven plants located in Yahuarcaca creek (Colombian Amazon) five times from March to May 2005. The aims were to determine whether investment in carnivory varies temporally (over the growing season of the plant) and/or spatially, and if this potential change in carnivory investment varies according to nutrient conditions. The main differences in the investment in carnivory (changes in bladder number and bladder size, and changes in the size of the antennae) were among locations and there were not important differences over the growing season of the plant. Nitrogen and not phosphorus, was the element that stimulated the investment in carnivory. In addition to changes in bladder number and bladder size, we observed a new strategy to enhance prey capture under nitrogen limitation: changes in the size of the antennae. The size of the antennae was approximately 1.3 higher in those plants located in sites with low NO₃⁻. However, we did not observed changes in the carbon/nitrogen ratio of the bladders or in the relationship between bladder length with bladder depth or size of the trap door. The amount of carbohydrates per bladder was also 1.8 higher in those plants located in sites with low NO₃⁻ (0.13 μM) than those with higher NO₃⁻ concentration (0.39 μM). However, the amount of carbohydrates in the bladder was related with the abundance of periphyton and, hence, it is not possible to conclude that carbohydrate production was a strategy of the plant to enhance the capture of prey. Therefore, our findings do not support the carbohydrate mucilage lure speculations.     

Relationship between epipelon,epiphyton and phytoplankton in two limnological phases in a shallow tropical reservoir with high Nymphaea coverage

Macrophytes and phytoplankton are recognized as having roles in determining alternative stable states in shallow lakes and reservoirs, while the role of periphyton has been poorly investigated. Temporal and spatial variation of phytoplankton, epipelon and epiphyton was examined in a shallow reservoir with high abundance of aquatic macrophytes. The relationships between algae communities and abiotic factors, macrophyte coverage and zooplankton density were also analyzed. Monthly sampling was performed in three zones of the depth gradient of the reservoir. Two phases of algal dominance were found: a phytoplankton phase and epipelon phase. The phase of phytoplankton dominance was characterized by high macrophyte coverage. Rotifera was the dominant zooplankton group in all the zones. Flagellate algae were dominant in phytoplankton, epipelon and epiphyton. Macrophyte coverage was found to be a predictor for algal biomass. Changes in biomass and species composition were associated with macrophyte cover variation, mainly the Nymphaea. In addition to the abiotic factors, the macrophyte coverage was a determining factor for changes to the algal community, contributing to the alternation between dominance phases of phytoplankton and epipelon. The macrophyte–phytoplankton–periphyton relationship needs to be further known in shallow reservoirs, especially the role of epipelon as an alternate stable state.

     

Peculiarities of summer phytoplankton spatial distribution in Onega Bay of the White Sea under local hydrophysical conditions

The species composition and phytoplankton biomass, concentrations of chlorophyll “a” (Chl) and nutrients in the surface water layer, and accompanying hydrophysical conditions were studied in Onega Bay of the White Sea in June 2015. The temperature and salinity of surface water layer and the water column stability varied greatly in the bay. The nutrients' concentrations exceeded the limiting threshold necessary for the phytoplankton development. The phytoplankton abundance was relatively low, averaged as 13.46 ± 9.00 mg C/m³ (total phytoplankton biomass), 0.78 ± 0.43 mg/m³ (concentration of chlorophyll “a”), and 0.18 ± 0.27 mg C/m³ (picophytoplankton biomass). The highest phytoplankton biomass has been registered along the frontal zones. Three phytoplankton communities that differed significantly in their structure have been found.     

Long-term responses in population dynamics and diversity of small mammals in riparian and upland habitats within an agricultural landscape

Riparian zones in agricultural landscapes provide linear non-crop habitats for a variety of plant and mammal species, and hence are an important component of biodiversity. To date, variable responses of abundance, species richness, and species diversity of small mammals have been recorded in riparian and upland habitats. To address this variability, we provide a detailed analysis of seasonal changes in abundance and diversity of terrestrial small-mammal communities over a 7-year period within an agricultural landscape in south-central British Columbia, Canada. We tested the hypotheses (H) that abundance, species richness, and species diversity of communities of small mammals (H₁), and demographic parameters of reproduction, recruitment, and survival of the major species: deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and montane vole (Microtus montanus) (H₂), would be higher in riparian than upland habitats. Mean total abundance of small mammals was higher in summer and winter, and species richness higher in summer, in riparian than hedgerow habitats. Winter population data supported the total and species abundance patterns for small mammals, but species richness was similar, and diversity lower, in riparian than hedgerow sites during winter periods. Deer mice were the dominant species in terms of abundance and reproductive output for pregnancies and recruitment, but not survival, in riparian sites. Montane voles were similar in abundance and demographic parameters in the two habitats. House mice (Mus musculus) preferred hedgerows and wandering shrews (Sorex vagrans) riparian sites. Demographic parameters for deer mice and montane voles indicated that both riparian and hedgerow sites were “source” rather than “sink” habitats, and likely contribute to maintenance of mammal diversity in agricultural landscapes.     

Fertilizer application decreases insect abundance on Plantago lanceolata: a large-scale experiment in three geographic regions

Humans have substantially altered the nitrogen cycle of ecosystems through the application of agricultural fertilizer. Fertilization may not only affect plant species diversity, but also insect dynamics by altering plant nitrogen supplies. We investigated the effect of experimental fertilization on the vegetation, with the ribwort plantain as the focal plant, and on higher trophic levels on differently managed grasslands throughout Germany. Over a period of 2 years, we examined two specialist herbivores and their parasitoid on Plantago lanceolata L., and the composition and structure of the surrounding vegetation. Over 70 sites in three geographic regions, within the large-scale project “German Biodiversity Exploratories”, were included in the study. The model system consisted of the host plant P. lanceolata L., the monophagous weevils Mecinus labilis Herbst and M. pascuorum Gyllenhal, and their parasitoid Mesopolobus incultus Walker. Fertilization decreased plant species richness and host plant abundance, whereas it enhanced the total vegetation growth. The increased size and heigher leaf nitrogen content did not improve herbivore performance. On the contrary, the abundance of the two herbivores was decreased by fertilization. The parasitoid depended on the abundance of one of its hosts, M. pascuorum (positively density-dependent). Reduced herbivore abundance due to fertilization might be explained by a lower abundance of the host plant, a lower stalk number, and by changed patterns of host localization within higher vegetation. Fertilization negatively affected the third trophic level by cascading up via host abundance. The relationships between fertilization, surrounding vegetation and the tritrophic system were measured throughout the three regions and over the 2-year period. Our findings present consequences of intensification for a plant–herbivore–parasitoid system, and may have significant implications for the conservation of multitrophic systems in managed grasslands.     

Plant community diversity influences allocation to direct chemical defence in Plantago lanceolata

Background

Forecasting the consequences of accelerating rates of changes in biodiversity for ecosystem functioning requires a mechanistic understanding of the relationships between the structure of biological communities and variation in plant functional characteristics. So far, experimental data of how plant species diversity influences the investment of individual plants in direct chemical defences against herbivores and pathogens is lacking.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We used Plantago lanceolata as a model species in experimental grasslands differing in species richness and composition (Jena Experiment) to investigate foliar concentrations of the iridoid glycosides (IG), catalpol and its biosynthetic precursor aucubin. Total IG and aucubin concentrations decreased, while catalpol concentrations increased with increasing plant diversity in terms of species or functional group richness. Negative plant diversity effects on total IG and aucubin concentrations correlated with increasing specific leaf area of P. lanceolata, suggesting that greater allocation to light acquisition reduced the investment into these carbon-based defence components. In contrast, increasing leaf nitrogen concentrations best explained increasing concentrations of the biosynthetically more advanced IG, catalpol. Observed levels of leaf damage explained a significant proportion of variation in total IG and aucubin concentrations, but did not account for variance in catalpol concentrations.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results clearly show that plants growing in communities of varying species richness and composition differ in their defensive chemistry, which may modulate plant susceptibility to enemy attack and consequently their interactions with higher trophic level organisms.     

Primary production of Utricularia foliosa L., Egeria densa Planchon and Cabomba furcata Schult & Schult.f from rivers of the coastal plain of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Seasonal variation in gross primary production (GPP) of Utricularia foliosa Linnaeus, Egeria densa Planchon and Cabomba furcata Schult &; Schult.f. in rivers of the coastal plain of the state of São Paulo, Brazil was examined in relation to water physico-chemistry. These three species do not affect the multiple uses of the streams and are present throughout the year. The most productive was U. foliosa (maximum production 24.7 mgO₂ g^?1 DW h^?1), while C. furcata had an intermediate GPP (maximum production 17.5 mgO₂ g^?1 DW h^?1) and E. densa was lowest at 5.6 mgO₂ g^?1 DW h^?1. Despite the low amplitude of seasonal variation in this south tropical area, the three species showed seasonal variation in the primary production: GPP was positively correlated with photosynthetic active radiation for U. foliosa and E. densa, and there was a negative correlation for C. furcata. For U. foliosa, GPP was positively correlated with temperature and dissolved inorganic carbon and the GPP of C. furcata was positively correlated with dissolved inorganic carbon.     

Changes in trophic state and aquatic communities in high Arctic ponds in response to increasing goose populations

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Performance of two alpine plant species along environmental gradients in an alpine meadow ecosystem in central Tibet

Understanding how biotic interactions and abiotic conditions affect plant performance is important for predicting changes in ecosystem function and services in variable environments. We tested how performances of Astragalus rigidulus and Potentilla fruticosa change along gradients of biotic interactions (represented by plant species richness, abundance of the dominant plant species Kobresia pygmaea, and herbivory intensity) and abiotic conditions (represented by elevation, aspect, and slope steepness) across a semi-arid landscape in central Tibet. Redundancy analyses showed that the biotic variables explained 30 and 39 % of the variation in overall performance of A. rigidulus (P = 0.03) and P. fruticosa (P = 0.01), respectively. Abiotic variables did not contribute significantly to variation among A. rigidulus populations. Plant size decreased with species richness in both species and was larger on south- rather than north-facing slopes. Reproductive effort for both species was significantly negatively related to the abundance of K. pygmaea and both species had larger reproductive effort on south- rather than north- and west-facing slopes. The proportion of biomass allocated to sexual reproduction in P. fruticosa was negatively correlated with K. pygmaea abundance and herbivory intensity. The population density of P. fruticosa was positively related to elevation, species richness, and K. pygmaea abundance. We conclude that plant performance at a local scale was more strongly related to biotic than abiotic conditions, but different components of plant performance responded differently to predictor variables and the responses were species-specific. These findings have important implications for rangeland management under changing environmental conditions.     

Periphyton nutrient content,biomass and algal community on artificial substrate: response to experimental nutrient enrichment and the effect of its interruption in a tropical reservoir

Periphyton plays an important functional role in the retention of nutrients in aquatic ecosystems, especially phosphorus. We evaluated the effects of enrichment with N and P and the effect after 20 days of no additional N and P on periphyton on artificial substratum in open-bottom mesocosms. The aim was to jointly evaluate periphyton, phytoplankton and zooplankton in the presence of macrophytes. Experimental conditions simulated natural conditions and nutrient addition was based on the maximum concentration recorded in mesotrophic reservoir. Our hypothesis is that the periphyton is sensitive to the effects of N and P enrichment and its interruption, despite the positive response of phytoplankton and zooplankton. Two treatments were designed using open-bottom mesocosms (n = 3): control (no nutrient addition); NP+ (combined phosphorus and nitrogen addition). Sampling for the measurement of biotic and abiotic variables was performed, with 10 days of continuous enrichment, on the 3rd, 6th and 11th, and 20 days after enrichment had ended (31st day). Periphyton chlorophyll a, dry mass and algal density increased significantly with the addition of N and P and decreased 20 days after the interruption of the enrichment. The highest periphyton P content was found in the NP+ treatment. The enrichment had a positive effect on Chrysophyceae (Chromulina spp.) and rotifer (Polyarthra spp.) density and the interruption of enrichment favored Bacillariophyceae (Gomphonema sp.) and rotifers (Gastropus stylifer). Phytoplankton responded positively to enrichment. Along with the high macrophyte coverage over the experimental period, we evidenced the positive effect enrichment had on phytoplankton biomass and zooplankton abundance. Therefore, periphyton on artificial substrate was sensitive to effects of N and P enrichment and its interruption, responding promptly to changes in nutrient availability in a scenario of high competition and grazing.     

Primary production of phytoplankton and periphyton in two humic lakes of a South American wetland

Seasonal primary productivities of periphyton and phytoplankton were compared in Grande Lake (GL) and a relict oxbow lake (ROL) in winter 2006 and summer 2007. GL was free of floating plants on the sampling dates and covered over 80 and 100% of the ROL surface in winter and summer, respectively. The ¹⁴C assimilation technique was used to obtain the P–E curves of phytoplankton and periphyton on artificial substrata. The periphytic maximum photosynthetic rate (P _max) was higher in the ROL in winter and summer, being better adapted to low irradiances than those in the GL. Phytoplankton and periphytic algae were light-limited in the ROL in summer due to complete coverage by floating macrophytes. In summer, P _max and α values for periphyton in the ROL were higher than those for phytoplankton, and were even higher than in GL. In turn, P _max and α values for phytoplankton in Grande Lake were higher than those for periphyton due to improved light conditions and the presence of algae that were adapted to movement through the water column. These results suggest that the complete coverage by floating macrophytes restricted phytoplankton productivity and allowed the development of a periphytic community that was better adapted to low-light conditions.     

九龙江河口浮游植物的时空变动及主要影响因素

于2009年春（5月）、夏（8月）、秋（11月）在九龙江河口水域进行了水文、化学和生物的生态完全示范区综合外业调查,研究了九龙江河口浮游植物的种类组成、密度分布、季节变化、空间差异及主要影响因素,并结合前期资料分析了年际变动。结果表明,九龙江河口的浮游植物共记录7个门类75属134种。主体是硅藻,绿藻次之,甲藻和蓝藻较少,黄藻检出率高,裸藻和金藻零星检出。种类组成的空间差异大,绿藻在河口内区淡水水域比硅藻更占优势, 中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）、短角弯角藻（Eucampia zodiacus）、圆筛藻（Coscinodiscus spp.）、颗粒直链藻（Melosira granulata）、微小小环藻（Cyclotella. caspia）是河口区咸淡水水域及近海区的主要种类。浮球藻（Planktosphneria gelotinosa）、栅藻（Scenedesmus spp.）、盘星藻（Pediastrim spp.）、小席藻（Phormidium tenus）是河口内区淡水水域的主要种类。根据浮游植物的生态类型及其生境特征大致可分为三大类群。浮游植物密度夏季最高,平均为358.68103cells/L,密集中心的季节变化明显,密度分布由优势类群的密度分布决定。中肋骨条藻和短角弯角藻的数量庞大,导致优势种突出,多样性降低,种间分布不均匀,群落结构简单化。与史料比对,种类组成因淡水藻类的列入而更丰富,密度年际降低,中肋骨条藻仍是第一优势种,但优势度有较大降幅,优势类群有重大年际变化,细胞个体较小的种类占优。盐度和营养盐对浮游植物的分布及密度变化造成极大的时空差异,存在线性、复合线性、多项回归等复杂的相关关系。     

Ecosystem Functions across Trophic Levels Are Linked to Functional and Phylogenetic Diversity

In experimental systems, it has been shown that biodiversity indices based on traits or phylogeny can outperform species richness as predictors of plant ecosystem function. However, it is unclear whether this pattern extends to the function of food webs in natural ecosystems. Here we tested whether zooplankton functional and phylogenetic diversity explains the functioning of 23 natural pond communities. We used two measures of ecosystem function: (1) zooplankton community biomass and (2) phytoplankton abundance (Chl a). We tested for diversity-ecosystem function relationships within and across trophic levels. We found a strong correlation between zooplankton diversity and ecosystem function, whereas local environmental conditions were less important. Further, the positive diversity-ecosystem function relationships were more pronounced for measures of functional and phylogenetic diversity than for species richness. Zooplankton and phytoplankton biomass were best predicted by different indices, suggesting that the two functions are dependent upon different aspects of diversity. Zooplankton community biomass was best predicted by zooplankton trait-based functional richness, while phytoplankton abundance was best predicted by zooplankton phylogenetic diversity. Our results suggest that the positive relationship between diversity and ecosystem function can extend across trophic levels in natural environments, and that greater insight into variation in ecosystem function can be gained by combining functional and phylogenetic diversity measures.     

Stable isotope proxies for evaluating biodiversity in stream biota

Differences in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values in stream biota are caused by several environmental conditions. Variations in abundance, species richness and the assemblage structure of stream biota are also caused by several environmental conditions. Hence, abundance, species richness and the assemblage structure of stream biota are expected to be strongly correlated with the differences in value of stable isotopes. In this study, the gaps in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N between periphyton and charr are discussed in terms of the abundance, genus richness, and assemblage of benthic invertebrates at each site. Gaps in δ¹³C between periphyton and charr were strongly correlated with some aspects of mountainous area and the genus richness of benthic invertebrates at each site. The gaps in δ¹⁵N between periphyton and charr were strongly correlated with the abundance and assemblage structure of benthic invertebrates at the location tested. The δ¹³C values of predators were correlated with some aspects of mountainous area and the assemblage structure of the benthic invertebrates. The δ¹⁵N values of predators were correlated with genus richness and the assemblage structure of the benthic invertebrates. These results suggest that the value gaps in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N can be used to assess biodiversity and could provide indices for estimating the biodiversity in a stream.