How parasites affect interactions between competitors and predators

We present a synthesis of empirical and theoretical work investigating how parasites influence competitive and predatory interactions between other species. We examine the direct and indirect effects of parasitism and discuss examples of density and parasite-induced trait-mediated effects. Recent work reveals previously unrecognized complexity in parasite-mediated interactions. In addition to parasite-modified and apparent competition leading to species exclusion or enabling coexistence, parasites and predators interact in different ways to regulate or destablize the population dynamics of their joint prey. An emerging area is the impact of parasites on intraguild predation (IGP). Parasites can increase vulnerability of infected individuals to cannibalism or predation resulting in reversed species dominance in IGP hierarchies. We discuss the potential significance of parasites for community structure and biodiversity, in particular their role in promoting species exclusion or coexistence and the impact of emerging diseases. Ongoing invasions provide examples where parasites mediate native/invader interactions and play a key role in determining the outcome of invasions. We highlight the need for more quantitative data to assess the impact of parasites on communities, and the combination of theoretical and empirical studies to examine how the effects of parasitism scale up to community-level processes.     

Drifting plankton from a reservoir subsidize downstream food webs and alter community structure

Subsidy between ecosystems has been considered in many natural ecosystems, and should alter food webs and communities in human-impacted ones. We estimated how drifting plankton from a reservoir contribute to downstream food webs and showed that they alter community structures over a 10-km reach below the dam. To estimate the contribution of the drifting plankton to macroinvertebrates, we used C and N isotopes and an IsoSource mixing model. In spring and autumn, contributions of plankton to collector-filterer species were highest 0.2 km downstream of the dam, and clearly decreased from 0.2 to 10 km. At 0.2 km, the contribution of plankton to a predator stonefly was remarkably high. These results indicated that drifting plankton from a dam reservoir could subsidize downstream food webs and alter their energy base, but the importance of this subsidy decreased as distance from the reservoir increased. The general linear models indicated that the abundance of collector-filterers and predators was related positively to zooplankton density in stream water. Thus, food source alteration by drifting plankton also influenced the community structures downstream of the dam.     

Phytoplankton equilibrium phases during thermal stratification in a deep subtropical reservoir

1. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium hypotheses have often been used to explain observations in community ecology. Published case studies have demonstrated that steady state phytoplankton assemblages are more likely to occur in deep lakes than in shallow mixed ones.
2. Phytoplankton seasonal succession was studied by weekly sampling in Faxinal Reservoir (S Brazil), a subtropical deep, clear, warm monomictic and slightly eutrophic reservoir. This study demonstrated an alternation of steady and non-steady state phases of phytoplankton assemblages with different dominant species during the steady states.
3. During the studied period, three steady states were identified with different dominant algal species: Anabaena crassa (Cyanobacteria), Nephrocytium sp. (green algae) and Asterionella (diatoms).
4. Each steady state in Faxinal Reservoir developed under stratified conditions of the water column according to the predictions of the disturbance concepts. Apparently, the major forces driving the development and persistence of these steady-state phases were closely related to thermal stratification and its consequences.
5. This study is the first report on development of more than one steady state within a year in a stratified water body. The development of three steady states might be the result of the relatively long stratification period in the Faxinal Reservoir and to its unique geochemical features.     

Isolation of thermotolerant,halotolerant, facultative biosurfactant-producing bacteria

Several facultative bacterial strains tolerant to high temperature and salinity were isolated from the oil reservoir brines of an Iranian oil field (Masjed-I Soleyman). Some of these isolates were able to grow up to 60°C and at high concentration of NaCl (15% w/v). One of the isolates grew at 40°C, while it was able to grow at 15% w/v NaCl. Tolerances to NaCl levels decreased as the growth temperatures were increased. Surfactant production ability was detected in some of these isolates. The use of biosurfactant is considered as an effective mechanism in microbial-enhanced oil recovery processes detected in some of these isolates. The surfactant producers were able to grow at high temperatures and salinities to about 55°C and 10% w/v, respectively. These isolates exhibited morphological and physiological characteristics of the Bacillus genus. The partial sequencing of the 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid gene of the selected isolates was assigned them to Bacillus subtilis group. The biosurfactant produced by these isolates caused a substantial decrease in the surface tension of the culture media to 26.7 mN/m. By the use of thin-layer chromatography technique, the presence of the three compounds was detected in the tested biosurfactant. Infrared spectroscopy and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance analysis were used, and the partial structural characterization of the biosurfactant mixture of the three compounds was found to be lipopeptidic in nature. The possibility of use of the selected bacterial strains reported, in the present study, in different sectors of the petroleum industry has been addressed.     

Metals,trace elements,and organochlorine compounds in bottom sediment of Tuttle Creek Lake,Kansas, U.S.A.

Bottom-sediment cores were used to investigate the occurrence of 44 metals and trace elements, and 15 organochlorine compounds in Tuttle Creek Lake, a reservoir with an agricultural basin in northeast Kansas, U.S.A. On the basis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sediment-quality guidelines, concentrations of Ag, As, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn frequently or typically exceeded the threshold-effects levels for toxic biological effects. Organochlorine compounds either were not detected or were detected at concentrations generally below the threshold-effects levels. Statistically significant positive depositional trends were determined for several elements. However, because the vertical profiles of element concentrations typically indicated a bimodal distribution and much of the variability could be attributable to analytical variance, the statistical trends may not represent actual trends. DDE concentrations reflected the history of DDT use. Substantial increases in grain corn and soybean production, irrigated land, and hog production in the basin have not had a discernible effect on sediment quality in the reservoir. Future research focused on small impoundments throughout the basin may enhance understanding of the effects of human activity on sediment quality within the Tuttle Creek Lake system and elsewhere.     

Spatial and seasonal variation in nutrient excretion by benthic invertebrates in a eutrophic reservoir

1. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fluxes via excretion by benthic invertebrates were quantified in a eutrophic reservoir (Acton Lake, Ohio, U.S.A.). We quantified variation in nutrient fluxes seasonally (June until November 1997), spatially (three sites) and among taxa (chironomids, tubificid oligochaetes and Chaoborus). 2. The three taxa differed in spatial distribution and contribution to nutrient fluxes. Tubificids were the most abundant taxon at two oxic sites (1.5 and 4 m depth), and were exceedingly rare at an anoxic, hypolimnetic site (8 m). Chironomids were abundant only at the shallowest oxic site. Chaoborus was the only abundant taxon at the anoxic site. Total benthic invertebrate biomass was greatest at the shallowest site and lowest at the anoxic, hypolimnetic site. 3. Mass‐specific excretion rate [μmol NH₄–N or soluble reactive P (SRP) excreted mg dry mass^–1 h^–1] varied among experiments and was influenced by temperature. Differences among taxa were not significant. Thus, nutrient flux through benthic invertebrates was affected more by total invertebrate biomass and temperature than by species composition. 4. Fluxes of N and P via benthic invertebrate excretion (μmol NH₄–N or SRP m^–2 day^–1) were greatest at the oxic sites, where fluxes were dominated by the excretion of tubificids and chironomids. The N and P fluxes at the anoxic site were much lower, and were dominated by excretion by Chaoborus. The ratio of N and P excreted by the benthic invertebrate assemblage varied seasonally and was lowest at the anoxic site. 5. Comparison with other measured inputs shows that excretion by benthic invertebrates could be an important source of nutrients, especially of P. However, the relative importance of nutrient excretion by the benthos varies greatly spatially and temporally.     

Phytoplankton and physical-chemical features of Tavropos Reservoir,Greece

Phytoplankton biomass values in Tavropos Reservoir, ranging from 92 to 1071 mg m^–3, are within a range characteristic of oligotrophic waters. The seasonal sequence of biomass shows three annual peaks, differing from the monoacmic pattern seen in oligotrophic lakes. This sequence was profoundly affected by changes in water withdrawal and inflow rates. Diatoms, cryptophytes, chrysophytes and dinoflagellates, in that order, were the major constituents of the reservoir phytoplankton. The succession, from diatoms and chrysophytes in late winter-spring, to centric diatoms in late spring-summer and again to diatom-chrysophytes in late autumn was similar to that in oligotrophic lakes.     

The seasonality of zooplanktivorous fish in an African reservoir (Gebel Aulia Reservoir,White Nile,Sudan)

The fish fauna of Gebel Aulia reservoir (White Nile) consists of 52 species withAlestes baremoze Joannis andBrycinus nurse Rüppell dominating in numbers and biomass. The seasonality and condition ofA. baremoze, A. dentex (L.) andB. nurse are described in relation to various limnological factors in the reservoir, close to the dam. The zooplankton assemblage is small-sized, consists mainly of small Cladocera and shows striking seasonality. The hydrological regime, temperature and the grazing effect of fish are the major factors influencing its development.The three species belong to a eurytopic but basically riverine fish guild. They show a seasonal cycle of abundance with high numbers at periods of water storage (October–April) and low numbers during riverine conditions. This seasonal pattern of occurrence, the size structure of the population and the maturity indices give strong evidence that no resident population is present at the study site, but upstream migrations of the immature fish occur at low water level (May–September). Return migrations of juvenile fish into the area at the dam proper take place from October until April.

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Zusammenfassung In der Fischfauna des Gebel Aulia Stausees am Weißen Nil im Sudan dominieren Arten der Gatung Alestes. Die quantitative Bedeutung und das jahreszeitliche Auftreten vonA. baremoze Joannis,A. dentex Cuvier andB. nurse Rüppell wurde im Zusammenhang mit dem saisonalen Zyklus der hydrologischen und limnologischen Bedingungen untersucht. Die Häufigkeit der Fische im Staubereich ist in der Stauphase (Oktober–April) hoch und in den Monaten, in denen kein Rückstau erfolgt (Mai–September), gering.Das saisonale Muster des Auftretens, die größenstruktur der Fischpopulation and die Maturitätsfaktoren im eigentlichen Staubereich keine seßhafte Population vorhanden ist. Die Fische unternehmen kurz vor der Geschlechtsreife anadrome Wanderungen, die Jungfische wandern katadrom.