A 2-year experimental study on nutrient and predator influences on food web constituents in a shallow lake of north-west Spain

1. A 2‐year study was carried out on the roles of nutrients and fish in determining the plankton communities of a shallow lake in north‐west Spain. Outcomes were different each year depending on the initial conditions, especially of macrophyte biomass. In 1998 estimated initial ‘per cent water volume inhabited’ (PVI) by submerged macrophytes was about 35%. Phytoplankton biomass estimated as chlorophyll a was strongly controlled by fish, whereas effects of nutrient enrichment were not significant. In 1999 estimated PVI was 80%, no fish effect was observed on phytoplankton biomass, but nutrients had significant effects. Water temperatures were higher in 1998 than in 1999. 2. In the 1998 experiment, cladoceran populations were controlled by fish and cyanobacteria were the dominant phytoplankton group. There were no differences between effects of low (4 g fresh mass m^?2) and high (20 g fresh mass m^?2) fish density on total zooplankton biomass, but zooplankton biomass was higher in the absence of fish. With the high plant density in 1999, fish failed to control any group of the zooplankton community. 3. Total biovolume of phytoplankton strongly decreased with increased nutrient concentrations in 1998, although chlorophyll a concentrations did not significantly change. At higher nutrient concentrations, flagellate algae became more abundant with likely growth rates that could have overcompensated cladoceran feeding rates. This change in phytoplankton community composition may have been because of increases in the DIN : SRP ratio. Both chlorophyll a concentration and total phytoplankton biovolume increased significantly with nutrients in the 1999 experiment. 4. A strong decline of submerged macrophytes was observed in both years as nutrients increased, resulting in shading by periphyton. This shading effect could account for the plant decline despite lower water turbidity at the very high nutrient levels in 1998.     

Zooplankton densities in a Hydrilla infested lake

The number of individuals and species of zooplankton were sampled concurrently with Hydrilla biomass and water quality for one year in a small, eutrophic central Florida lake. Throughout the study, rotifer species and individuals dominated the zooplankton. The abundance of the zooplankton tended to remain high when Hydrilla biomass was at its seasonal low during late winter and early spring. When hydrilla growth increased in the late spring and summer months causing a decrease in total alkalinity, specific conductivity, water color, turbidity, orthophosphate and chlorophyll a concentrations; the abundance of the zooplankton declined. During this time, there was a shift from limnetic to littoral species, principally rotifers. Hydrilla growth did not affect the mean number of cladoceran or copepod species, but may have led to an increase in rotifer species.     

Relationships between zooplankton community structure and phytoplankton in two lime-treated eutrophic hardwater lakes

1. North Halfmoon Lake and Lofty Lake (Alberta, Canada) were chosen for whole-lake liming experiments as a new restoration technology to enhance calcite precipitation and reduce eutrophication. During a 3-year study (1991–93) the relationships between zooplankton and phytoplankton were assessed, together with the effects of lime additions. 2. Zooplankton communities were numerically dominated by rotifers, while the major contribution to biomass was due to large filter-feeding Daphnia during the first half of the summer season. In Lofty Lake, cladocerans made up to 93% of biomass, whereas in North Halfmoon Lake both cladocerans and calanoids were strongly represented. 3. Total zooplankton and cladoceran biomasses were inversely correlated with chlorophyll a (chl a). The same relationship was found between large Daphnia (≥ 1 mm) and chl a. These relationships suggest that the decline in Daphnia may have been caused by an increase in cyanobacteria biomass during bloom events. 4. There were minor changes in rotifer populations after liming; however, these changes have been caused by natural year-to-year variation rather than liming. In general, cladocerans showed an increase in body size and population biomass when pre and post-treatment data were compared by means of ANCOVA. Statistical analysis showed that there were more cladocerans per unit of chl a after liming; however, further research is needed to relate these patterns unambiguously to the application of lime as a restoration technology.     

Limnological and morphometrical data of eight karstic systems `cenotes' of the Yucatan Peninsula,Mexico, during the dry season (February–May, 2001)

The karstic nature of the Yucatan Peninsula allows the formation of natural sink-holes from the dissolution of calcareous rock. These systems are almost the only epigean source of fresh water available in this region. In spite of their biological importance, little is known about the morphometric and limnologic characteristics of these karstic systems. We measured limnological variables in eight cenotes in central Quintana Roo during February–May, 2001. Zooplankton biomass and chlorophyll a were also measured in order to determine if the behavior of primary and secondary production was related to environmental parameters. Important short-term changes were observed in nutrients (NO₃ ^–, NO₂ ^–, PO₄ ^3-), biomass, and chlorophyll a. The morphometrically conditioned productivity (MCP), which evaluates the cumulative effect of several morphometric variables on production (area, maximum length, shoreline development, perimeter), showed a negative correlation with respect to zooplankton biomass, as did also both pH and temperature. Conversely, NO₃ ^– and NO₂ ^– had a positive correlation with zooplankton biomass. No correlation was found for chlorophyll a. Significant differences in NO₃ ^– (F = 61.52, p<0.001), NO₂ ^– (F = 7.36, p<0.001), zooplankton biomass (F = 17.57, p<0.001), chlorophyll a (F = 62.19, p<0.001), and conductivity (F = 497.49, p<0.001) were found among the systems. These results indicate the existence of sharp differences between these karstic systems (oligotrophic, with smaller area, deep and less productive) and non-karstic ones, (eutrophic, larger area, shallow and more productive) but are similar to previous data from other karstic systems of Mexico and other parts of the world. However, understanding of these fragile tropical systems is in the initial phase. It is necessary to increase the intensity of these studies in order to allow a full explanation of their limnological behavior.     

Trophic structure, species richness and biodiversity in Danish lakes: changes along a phosphorus gradient

1. Using data from 71, mainly shallow (an average mean depth of 3 m), Danish lakes with contrasting total phosphorus concentrations (summer mean 0.02–1.0 mg P L?l), we describe how species richness, biodiversity and trophic structure change along a total phosphorus (TP) gradient divided into five TP classes (class 1–5: <0.05, 0.05–0.1, 0.1–0.2, 0.2–0.4,> 0.4 mg P L?1).
2. With increasing TP, a significant decline was observed in the species richness of zooplankton and submerged macrophytes, while for fish, phytoplankton and floating‐leaved macrophytes, species richness was unimodally related to TP, all peaking at 0.1–0.4 mg P L?1. The Shannon–Wiener and the Hurlbert probability of inter‐specific encounter (PIE) diversity indices showed significant unimodal relationships to TP for zooplankton, phytoplankton and fish. Mean depth also contributed positively to the relationship for rotifers, phytoplankton and fish.
3. At low nutrient concentrations, piscivorous fish (particularly perch, Perca fluviatilis) were abundant and the biomass ratio of piscivores to plankti‐benthivorous cyprinids was high and the density of cyprinids low. Concurrently, the zooplankton was dominated by large‐bodied forms and the biomass ratio of zooplankton to phytoplankton and the calculated grazing pressure on phytoplankton were high. Phytoplankton biomass was low and submerged macrophyte abundance high.
4. With increasing TP, a major shift occurred in trophic structure. Catches of cyprinids in multiple mesh size gill nets increased 10‐fold from class 1 to class 5 and the weight ratio of piscivores to planktivores decreased from 0.6 in class 1 to 0.10–0.15 in classes 3–5. In addition, the mean body weight of dominant cyprinids (roach, Rutilus rutilus, and bream, Abramis brama) decreased two–threefold. Simultaneously, small cladocerans gradually became more important, and among copepods, a shift occurred from calanoid to cyclopoids. Mean body weight of cladocerans decreased from 5.1 μg in class 1 to 1.5 μg in class 5, and the biomass ratio of zooplankton to phytoplankton from 0.46 in class 1 to 0.08–0.15 in classes 3–5. Conversely, phytoplankton biomass and chlorophyll a increased 15‐fold from class 1 to 5 and submerged macrophytes disappeared from most lakes.
5. The suggestion that fish have a significant structuring role in eutrophic lakes is supported by data from three lakes in which major changes in the abundance of planktivorous fish occurred following fish kill or fish manipulation. In these lakes, studied for 8 years, a reduction in planktivores resulted in a major increase in cladoceran mean size and in the biomass ratio of zooplankton to phytoplankton, while chlorophyll a declined substantially. In comparison, no significant changes were observed in 33 ‘control’ lakes studied during the same period.     

Difficulty in Discerning Drivers of Lake Ecosystem Metabolism with High-Frequency Data

High-frequency measurements are increasingly available and used to model ecosystem processes. This growing capability provides the opportunity to resolve key drivers of ecosystem processes at a variety of scales. We use a unique series of high-frequency measures of potential predictors to analyze daily variation in rates of gross primary production (GPP), respiration (R), and net ecosystem production (NEP = GPP − R) for two north temperate lakes. Wind speed, temperature, light, precipitation, mixed layer depth, water column stability, chlorophyll a, chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and zooplankton biomass were measured at daily or higher-frequency intervals over two summer seasons. We hypothesized that light, chlorophyll a, and zooplankton biomass would be strongly related to variability in GPP. We also hypothesized that chlorophyll a, CDOM, and temperature would be most strongly related to variability in R, whereas NEP would be related to variation in chlorophyll a and CDOM. Consistent with our hypotheses, chlorophyll a was among the most important drivers of GPP, R, and NEP in these systems. However, multiple regression models did not necessarily include the other variables we hypothesized as most important. Despite the large number of potential predictor variables, substantial variance remained unexplained and models were inconsistent between years and between lakes. Drivers of GPP, R, and NEP were difficult to resolve at daily time scales where strong seasonal dynamics were absent. More complex models with greater integration of physical processes are needed to better identify the underlying drivers of short-term variability of ecosystem processes in lakes and other systems.     

浙江饮用水源地浮游动物群落特征及环境响应

2010年1月至2011年10月,对浙江省16个饮用水源地(H1—H8为河网型,K1—K8为水库型)的浮游动物群落进行季节调查。共记录浮游动物优势种(属)21种(轮虫8种、枝角类5种、剑水蚤5种和哲水蚤3种),各类群第一优势种分别为针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla)、长额象鼻溞(Bosmina longirostris)、粗壮温剑水蚤(Thermocyclops dybowskii)和汤匙华哲水蚤(Sinocalanus dorrii)。2年间,河网和水库浮游动物平均密度分别为345.2 L-1和199.4 L-1,生物量分别为0.667 mg/L和0.421mg/L。各类群密度百分比例均以轮虫和桡足类无节幼体为主,甲壳动物以剑水蚤为主。经逐步回归分析表明,浮游动物群落密度(生物量)与河网水质因子(P0.01)之间相关性比水库(P0.05)更密切,总磷和氨氮分别入选了河网和水库所有有效的回归方程中。通径分析和决策系统分析表明,河网的总磷和叶绿素a含量对浮游动物群落变动具有正效应,溶解氧具有负效应;总磷含量是影响河网群落变动的最重要因子,叶绿素a含量则是影响群落增长最主要的限制因子。河网剑水蚤、无节幼体和轮虫群落的密度(生物量)与水体综合营养指数TLIc密度(TLIc生物量)之间有显著的线性回归关系(P0.001),无节幼体密度构成了TLIc密度变动的限制因子,轮虫生物量成为TLIc生物量变动的限制因子,而剑水蚤是一类最重要、稳定的水质指示群落,这对于筛选浮游动物群落的一些拓展性监测指标具有重要的参考作用。     

Grazer control and nutrient limitation of phytoplankton biomass in two Australian reservoirs

1. Grazer and nutrient controls of phytoplankton biomass were tested on two reservoirs of different productivity to assess the potential for zooplankton grazing to affect chlorophyll/phosphorus regression models under Australian conditions. Experiments with zooplankton and nutrients manipulated in enclosures, laboratory feeding trials, and the analysis of in-lake plankton time series were performed. 2. Enclosures with water from the more productive Lake Hume (chlorophyll a = 3–17.5 μg l^–1), revealed significant zooplankton effects on chlorophyll a in 3/6, phosphorus limitation in 4/6 and nitrogen limitation in 1/6 of experiments conducted throughout the year. Enclosures with water from the less productive Lake Dartmouth (chlorophyll a = 0.8–3.5 μg l^–1), revealed significant zooplankton effects in 5/6, phosphorus limitation in 5/6 and nitrogen limitation in 2/6 of experiments. 3. While Lake Hume enclosure manipulations of the biomass of cladocerans (Daphnia and Diaphanosoma) and large copepods (Boeckella) had negative effects, small copepods (Mesocyclops and Calamoecia) could have positive effects on chlorophyll a. 4. In Lake Hume, total phytoplankton biovolume was negatively correlated with cladoceran biomass, positively with copepod biomass and was uncorrelated with total crustacean biomass. In Lake Dartmouth, total phytoplankton biovolume was negatively correlated with cladoceran biomass, copepod biomass and total crustacean biomass. 5. In both reservoirs, temporal variation in the biomass of Daphnia carinata alone could explain more than 50% of the observed variance in total phytoplankton biovolume. 6. During a period of low phytoplankton biovolume in Lake Hume in spring–summer 1993–94, a conservative estimate of cladoceran community grazing reached a maximum of 0.80 day^–1, suggesting that Cladocera made an important contribution to the development of the observed clear-water phase. 7. Enclosure experiments predicted significant grazing when the Cladocera/Phytoplankton biomass ratio was greater than 0.1; this threshold was consistently exceeded during clear water phase in Lake Hume. 8. Crustacean length had a significant effect on individual grazing rates in bottle experiments, with large Daphnia having highest rates. In both reservoirs, mean crustacean length was negatively correlated with phytoplankton biovolume. The observed upper limit of its variation was nearly twice as high compared to other world lakes.     

Productivity in the Barents Sea - Response to Recent Climate Variability

The temporal and spatial dynamics of primary and secondary biomass/production in the Barents Sea since the late 1990s are examined using remote sensing data, observations and a coupled physical-biological model. Field observations of mesozooplankton biomass, and chlorophyll a data from transects (different seasons) and large-scale surveys (autumn) were used for validation of the remote sensing products and modeling results. The validation showed that satellite data are well suited to study temporal and spatial dynamics of chlorophyll a in the Barents Sea and that the model is an essential tool for secondary production estimates. Temperature, open water area, chlorophyll a, and zooplankton biomass show large interannual variations in the Barents Sea. The climatic variability is strongest in the northern and eastern parts. The moderate increase in net primary production evident in this study is likely an ecosystem response to changes in climate during the same period. Increased open water area and duration of open water season, which are related to elevated temperatures, appear to be the key drivers of the changes in annual net primary production that has occurred in the northern and eastern areas of this ecosystem. The temporal and spatial variability in zooplankton biomass appears to be controlled largely by predation pressure. In the southeastern Barents Sea, statistically significant linkages were observed between chlorophyll a and zooplankton biomass, as well as between net primary production and fish biomass, indicating bottom-up trophic interactions in this region.     

An artificial neural network approach for studying phytoplankton succession

Artificial neural networks are used to model phytoplankton succession and gain insight into the relative strengths of bottom-up and top-down forces shaping seasonal patterns in phytoplankton biomass and community composition. Model comparisons indicate that patterns in chlorophyll aconcentrations response instantaneously to patterns in nutrient concentrations (phosphorous (P), nitrite and nitrate (NO₂/NO₃–N) and ammonium (NH₄–H) concentrations) and zooplankton biomass (daphnid cladocera and copepoda biomass); whereas lagged responses in an index of algal community composition are evident. A randomization approach to neural networks is employed to reveal individual and interacting contributions of nutrient concentrations and zooplankton biomass to predictions of phytoplankton biomass and community composition. The results show that patterns in chlorophyll aconcentrations are directly associated with P, NO₂/NO₃–N and daphnid cladocera biomass, as well as related to interactions between daphnid cladocera biomass, and NO₂/NO₃–N and P. Similarly, patterns in phytoplankton community composition are associated with NO₂/NO₃–N and daphnid cladocera biomass; however show contrasting patterns in nutrient– zooplankton and zooplankton–zooplankton interactions. Together, the results provide correlative evidence for the importance of nutrient limitation, zooplankton grazing and nutrient regeneration in shaping phytoplankton community dynamics. This study shows that artificial neural networks can provide a powerful tool for studying phytoplankton succession by aiding in the quantification and interpretation of the individual and interacting contributions of nutrient limitation and zooplankton herbivory on phytoplankton biomass and community composition under natural conditions.     

Crustacean zooplankton size structure in aquaculture lakes: is larger size structure always associated with higher grazing pressure?

Crustacean zooplankton size structure in 27 aquaculture lakes was studied to test the hypothesis that larger size structure is associated with higher grazing pressure. Mean body length of crustaceans was positively correlated with increasing Chl a (r ² = 0.40, P = 0.000) and TP (r ² = 0.38, P = 0.000), contrary to the empirical studies. However, the ratio of zooplankton to phytoplankton biomass decreased significantly with increasing TP (r ² = 0.27, P = 0.005) and mean body length (r ² = 0.46, P = 0.000). Meanwhile, size structure showed no significant effect in explaining residual variations of phosphorus–chlorophyll relationship (P = 0.231). These results indicate that larger size structure was not always associated with higher zooplankton grazing pressure. It is likely that in aquaculture lakes crustacean zooplankton size structure was of minor importance in control of phytoplankton biomass, and it was mainly regulated by fish predation. The results showed in our study and the empirical studies might be a reflection of two different stages of lake eutrophication and fish predation intensity. Handling editor: S. Dodson     

Trophic structure in the pelagial of 25 shallow New Zealand lakes: changes along nutrient and fish gradients

To gain better insight into the importance of predator and resourcecontrol in New Zealand lakes we surveyed the late summer trophicstructure of 25 shallow South Island lakes with contrastingnutrient levels (6–603 µg TP l^–1) and fishdensities. Total catch of fish per net (CPUE) in multi-meshgillnets placed in the open water and the littoral zones waspositively related with the nutrient level. Trout CPUE was negativelycorrelated with total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN).Zooplankton seemed largely influenced by fish, as high fishCPUE coincided with low zooplankton and Daphnia biomass, lowaverage weight of cladocerans, low contribution of Daphnia tototal cladoceran biomass, low ratio of calanoids to total copepodbiomass and low ratio of zooplankton biomass to phytoplanktonbiomass. However, chlorophyll a was only slightly negativelyrelated to Daphnia biomass and not to zooplankton biomass ina multiple regression that included TN and TP. Ciliate abundancewas positively related to chlorophyll a and negatively to Daphniabiomass, but not to total zooplankton biomass, while no relationshipswere found between heterotrophic nanoflagellates and zooplankton.The relationships between fish abundance and nutrients and fishabundance and zooplankton:phytoplankton ratio and between chlorophylla and TP largely followed the pattern obtained for 42 northtemperate Danish lakes. We conclude that fish, including trout,have a major effect on the zooplankton community structure andbiomass in the pelagial of the shallow oligotrophic to slightlyeutrophic New Zealand lakes, but that the cascading effectson phytoplankton and protist are apparently modest.     

Zooplankton biomass rarely improves predictions of chlorophyll concentration in Canadian Shield lakes that vary in pH

To determine the frequency with which zooplankton influence chlorophyll a (Chla) levels, we explored annually-averaged data from oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes that differed in morphometry, total phosphorus (TP) concentrations, and zooplankton community composition due to pH. The data were divided into two sets according to the type of filter used to collect chlorophyll. Residuals of the Chla: TP regressions were not related to lake morphometry, TN content, water clarity or pH. In the first data set there were no consistent relationships between residuals in Chla and twelve grazer biomass variables for 37 of the 38 lakes. The single exception had a very large population of Daphnia dubiaand low concentrations of Chla for its TP. In the second data set, 3 of 25 lakes had exceptionally low Chla concentrations for their TP. These lakes were acidic (pH < 6) and had very large biomasses of Holopedium gibberumcorrelated with negative Chla residuals, indicating significant grazing. At pH > 6, Daphnia spp. strongly influenced the significant correlations. We conclude that zooplankton contribute to the prediction of Chla beyond that possible by TP alone in acidic and non-acidic Canadian Shield Lakes, but evidence for strong suppression of chlorophyll by grazers was relatively rare (4 of 63 cases) on annual time steps.     

Vertical distributions of zooplankton and population dynamics of Daphnia in a meromictic lake

Vertical distributions of zooplankton were studied in relation to profiles of temperature, oxygen and chlorophyll a in Roi Lake, a small meromictic lake in central Alberta. Zooplankton were distributed fairly evenly through the oxygenated part of the water column in early summer, but a gradual descent of several species became evident in June. The vertical distribution of chlorophyll was dominated by a huge peak at the 8- to 9-m-deep chemocline. the location of a plate of photosynthetic sulfur bacteria. Ambient concentration of chlorophyll was a poor predictor of the numbers of zooplankton and the fecundity of Daphnia pulicaria at different depths, and per capita birth rates of Daphnia were usually highest in the surface waters. The reproductively disadvantageous restriction of daphnids to deep water by late summer and their catastrophic decline in the face of high ambient concentrations of chlorophyll suggest that factors other than temperature and food supply are important in influencing the dynamics and distribution of zooplankton in this lake.     

Effects of benthivorous bream (Abramis brama) and carp (Cyprinus carpio) on sediment resuspension and concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll a

1. The effect of benthivorous bream and carp on sediment resuspension and the concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll a were studied in sixteen experimental ponds (mean depth 1m, mean area 0.1 ha, sandy clay/clay sediment), stocked with bream or carp at densities varying from 0 to 500 kg ha^?1. Planktivorous perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) were added to some ponds to suppress zooplankton. 2. Suspended sediment concentrations increased linearly with biomass of benthivorous fish. Bream caused an increase of 46 g sediment m^?2 day^?1 per 100kg bream ha^?1 and a reduction of 0.38m^?1 in reciprocal Secchi disc depth, corresponding to an increase in the extinction coefficient of 0.34m^?1. 3. No relationship was found between size of fish and amount of resuspension, but the effect of bream was twice as great as that of carp. Benthivorous feeding was reduced in May because alternative food (zooplankton) was available. 4. Assuming a linear relationship, chlorophyll a level increased by 9.0 μgI^?1, total P by 0.03mgl^?1 and Kjeldahl-N by 0.48mgl^?1 per 100kg bream ha^?1. Silicate, chlorophyll a, total P and total N were all positively correlated with fish biomass, but orthophosphate showed no correlation.     

Restoration by biomanipulation in a small hypertrophic lake: first-year results

Biomanipulation was carried out in order to improve the water quality of the small hypertrophic Lake Zwemlust (1.5 ha; mean depth 1.5 m). In March 1987 the lake was drained to facilitate the elimination of fish. Fish populations were dominated by planktivorous and benthivorous species (total stock c. 1500 kg) and were collected by seine- and electro-fishing. The lake was subsequently re-stocked with 1500 northern pike fingerlings (Esox lucius L.) and a low density of adult rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus). The offspring of the rudd served as food for the predator pike. Stacks of Salix twigs, roots of Nuphar lutea and plantlets of Chara globularis were brought in as refuge and spawning grounds for the pike, as well as shelter for the zooplankton.The impact of this biomanipulation on the light penetration, phytoplankton density, macrophytes, zooplankton and fish communities and on nutrient concentrations was monitored from March 1987 onwards. This paper presents the results in the first year after biomanipulation.The abundance of phytoplankton in the first summer (1987) after this biomanipulation was very low, and consequently accompanied by increase of Secchi-disc transparency and drastic decline of chlorophyll a concentration.The submerged vegetation remained scarce, with only 5 % of the bottom covered by macrophytes at the end of the season.Zooplankters became more abundant and there was a shift from rotifers to cladocerans, comprised mainly of Daphnia and Bosmina species, the former including at least 3 species.The offspring of the stocked rudd was present in the lake from the end of August 1987. Only 19% of the stocked pike survived the first year.Bioassays and experiments with zooplankton community grazing showed that the grazing pressure imposed by the zooplankton community was able to keep chlorophyll a concentrations and algal abundance to low levels, even in the presence of very high concentrations of inorganic N and P. The total nutrient level increased after biomanipulation, probably due to increased release from the sediment by bioturbation, the biomass of chironomids being high.At the end of 1987 Lake Zwemlust was still in an unstable stage. A new fish population dominated by piscivores, intended to control the planktivorous and benthivorous fish, and the submerged macrophytes did not yet stabilize.     

Impacts of a submerged plant (Elodea canadensis) on interactions between roach (Rutilus rutilus) and its invertebrate prey communities in a lake littoral zone

1. Using 5‐m² field enclosures, we examined the effects of Elodea canadensis on zooplankton communities and on the trophic cascade caused by 4–5 year old (approximately 16 cm) roach. We also tested the hypothesis that roach in Elodea beds use variable food resources as their diet, mainly benthic and epiphytic macroinvertebrates, and feed less efficiently on zooplankton. Switching of the prey preference stabilises the zooplankton community and, in turn, also the fluctuation of algal biomass. The factorial design of the experiment included three levels of Elodea (no‐, sparse‐ and dense‐Elodea) and two levels of fish (present and absent). 2. During the 4‐week experiment, the total biomass of euplanktonic zooplankton, especially that of the dominant cladoceran Daphnia longispina, decreased with increase in Elodea density. The Daphnia biomass was also reduced by roach in all the Elodea treatments. Thus, Elodea provided neither a favourable habitat nor a good refuge for Daphnia against predation by roach. 3. The electivity of roach for cladocerans was high in all the Elodea treatments. Roach were able to prey on cladocerans in Elodea beds, even when the abundance and size of these prey animals were low. In addition to cladocerans, the diet of roach consisted of macroinvertebrates and detrital/plant material. Although the biomass of macroinvertebrates increased during the experiment in all Elodea treatments, they were relatively unimportant in roach diets regardless of the density of Elodea beds. 4. Euplanktonic zooplankton species other than Daphnia were not affected by Elodea or fish and the treatments had no effects on the total clearance rate of euplanktonic zooplankton. However, the chlorophyll a concentration increased with fish in all the Elodea treatments, suggesting that fish enhanced algal growth through regeneration of nutrients. Thus, our results did not unequivocally show that Elodea hampered the trophic cascade of fish via lowered predation on grazing zooplankton. 5. In treatments with dense Elodea beds (750 g FW m^?2), chlorophyll a concentration was always low suggesting that phytoplankton production was controlled by Elodea. Apparently, the top‐down control of phytoplankton biomass by zooplankton was facilitated by the macrophytes and operated simultaneously with control of phytoplankton production by Elodea.     

Relationship between bacterial and primary production in a newly filled reservoir: temporal variability over 2 consecutive years

Seasonal and spatial variations in bacterial abundance, biomass and production in a recently flooded reservoir were followed for 2 consecutive years, in conjunction with phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) and activity (primary production). Between the 2 years of the study, the mean value of primary production remained constant, while those of the chlorophyll a concentration, bacterial abundance (BA), bacterial biomass (BB) and bacterial production (BP) decreased. The observed trends of the bacterial variables were linked to changes in the relative importance of allochthonous dissolved organic matter. Moreover, this factor would explain discrepancies observed between the slope of the model II regression equations established from results of the present study and those of the predictive models from the literature, relating to bacterial and phytoplankton variables. An estimate of the carbon budget indicated that 22 and 5% of the ambient primary production in the Sep Reservoir might be channeled through the microbial loop via BP during the 1st and 2nd year of the study, respectively. We conclude that heterotrophic BP in the Sep Reservoir may, on occasion, represent a significant source of carbon for higher order consumers.     

An experimental study of the effects of nutrient supply and Chaoborus predation on zooplankton communities of a shallow tropical reservoir (Lake Brobo, Côte d'Ivoire)

1. Based on two mesocosm experiments and 10 in vitro predation experiments, this work aimed to evaluate the impact of nutrient supply and Chaoborus predation on the structure of the zooplankton community in a small reservoir in Côte d'Ivoire. 2. During the first mesocosm experiment (M1), P enrichment had no effect on phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) but significantly increased the biomass of some herbivorous zooplankton species (Filinia sp, Ceriodaphnia affinis). During the second experiment (M2), N and P enrichment greatly increased phytoplankton biomass, rotifers and cladocerans (C. affinis, C. cornuta, Moina micrura and Diaphanosoma excisum). In both experiments, nutrient addition had a negative impact on cyclopoid copepods. 3. Larger zooplankton, such as cladocerans or copepodites and adults of Thermocyclops sp., were significantly reduced in enclosures with Chaoborus in both mesocosm experiments, whereas there was no significant reduction of rotifers and copepod nauplii. This selective predation by Chaoborus shaped the zooplankton community and modified its size structure. In addition, a significant Chaoborus effect on chlorophyll a was shown in both experiments. 4. The preference of Chaoborus for larger prey was confirmed in the predation experiments. Cladocerans D. excisum and M. micrura were the most selected prey. Rotifer abundance was not significantly reduced in any of the 10 experiments performed. 5. In conclusion, both bottom‐up and top‐down factors may exert a structuring control on the zooplankton community. Nutrients favoured more strictly herbivorous taxa and disadvantaged the cyclopoid copepods. Chaoborus predation had a strong direct negative impact on larger crustaceans, favoured small herbivores (rotifer, nauplii) and seemed to cascade down to phytoplankton.     

CHLOROPHYLL A VERSUS ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE AS ALGAL BIOMASS INDICATORS IN LAKES1

The relation between phyloplankton chlorophyll a and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was investigated during a yearly cycle in Lake Tahoe, California–Nevada, and a variety of North American and New Zealand lakes of ranging trophic state. Since cellular concentrations of ATP have been shown as acceptable indicators of live biomass among natural microbial populations, the ratio of chlorophyll a to cellular ATP reveals the extent of pigment production per unit biomass under diverse environmental conditions. In general, mixed systems, i.e., epilimnion of most lakes sampled, showed good consistency of cellular chlorophyll a:ATP ratios. Under thermally stratified conditions at Lake Tahoe extensive modifications of the ratio occurred, leading to a 10-fold increase in the ratio at the bottom of the euphotic zone by late summer. Thus, the applicability of chlorophyll a as a quantitative algal biomass indicator is greatly restricted in lakes having thermally stratified euphotic zones.