Predicted warming and browning affect timing and magnitude of plankton phenological events in lakes: a mesocosm study

1. Aquatic ecosystems in Northern Europe are expected to face increases in temperature and water colour (TB) in future. While effects of these factors have been studied separately, it is unknown whether and how a combination of them might affect phenological events and trophic interactions. 2. In a mesocosm study, we combined both factors to create conditions expected to arise during the coming century. We focused on quantifying effects on timing and magnitude of plankton spring phenological events and identifying possible mismatches between resources (phytoplankton) and consumers (zooplankton). 3. We found that the increases in TB had important effects on timing and abundance of different plankton groups. While increased temperature led to an earlier peak in phytoplankton and zooplankton and a change in the relative timing of different zooplankton groups, increased water colour reduced chlorophyll‐a concentrations. 4. Increased TB together benefitted cladocerans and calanoid copepods and led to stronger top‐down control of algae by zooplankton. There was no sign of a mismatch between primary producers and grazers as reported from other studies. 5. Our results point towards an earlier onset of plankton spring growth in shallow lakes in future with a stronger top‐down control of phytoplankton by zooplankton grazers.     

Benthic resources are the key to Daphnia middendorffiana survival in a high arctic pond

1. Shallow arctic lakes and ponds have simple and short food webs, but large uncertainties remain about benthic–pelagic links in these systems. We tested whether organic matter of benthic origin supports zooplankton biomass in a pond in NE Greenland, using stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen in the pond itself and in a ¹³C‐enrichment enclosure experiment. In the latter, we manipulated the carbon isotope signature of benthic algae to enhance its isotopic discrimination from other potential food sources for zooplankton. 2. The cladoceran Daphnia middendorffiana responded to the ¹³C‐enrichment of benthic mats with progressively increasing δ¹³C values, suggesting benthic feeding. Stable isotope analysis also pointed towards a negligible contribution of terrestrial carbon to the diet of D. middendorffiana. This agreed with the apparent dominance of autochthonous dissolved organic matter in the pond revealed by analysis of coloured dissolved organic matter. 3. Daily net production by phytoplankton in the pond (18 mg C m^?2 day^?1) could satisfy only up to half of the calculated minimum energy requirements of D. middendorffiana (35 mg C m^?2 day^?1), whereas benthic primary production alone (145 mg C m^?2 day^?1) was more than sufficient. 4. Our findings highlight benthic primary production as a major dietary source for D. middendorffiana in this system and suggest that benthic organic matter may play a key role in sustaining pelagic secondary production in such nutrient‐limited high arctic ponds.     

The outcome of the invasion of Florida lakes by Daphnia lumholtzi

1. We examined 7–12 years of monthly to quarterly historical data from 15 lakes in FL, U.S.A. to determine the extent and outcome of invasion by the alien cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi Sars. 2. The alien species was found in 10 of the 15 lakes, including Florida’s three largest lakes: Okeechobee, George and Apopka. All the surveyed lakes had resident populations of the smaller native species Daphnia ambigua Scourfield. 3. In most of the lakes, D. ambigua occurred seven to ninefold more often in plankton samples than D. lumholtzi, and at 10‐ to 100‐fold higher maximal densities. One exception was a small lake in central Florida (Lake Jesup), where D. lumholtzi attained high densities on several occasions in the 10 years of sampling. 4. In Lake Okeechobee, where data were of sufficient quality and quantity to perform statistical analyses, the results of canonical correlation analysis indicated that high densities of D. lumholtzi were correlated with lower concentrations of suspended solids, high algal biomass and higher temperature, whereas the opposite conditions were correlated with high densities of D. ambigua. 5. Based on the majority of data, D. lumholtzi has successfully invaded many lakes in Florida, yet it has not become a substantive component of the zooplankton. Additional research is needed to determine whether resources, fish predation or some other factor is responsible for this outcome of invasion.     

Southern Ocean Biogeography of Tintinnid Ciliates of the Marine Plankton

Ciliate microzooplankton are important grazers in most pelagic ecosystems and among them, tintinnids, with their largely species‐specific loricas, allow relatively easy assessment of questions of diversity and distributions. Herein, we present the results of a survey of species records of tintinnids from the Southern Ocean (locations below 40°S) reported in 56 publications yielding 2,047 species records (synonyms included) from 402 locations. The 192 species reported can be parsed into two main groups: 32 endemic Southern Ocean species, known only from 40°S and further south, and a second group of 181 widespread species, forms with extensive geographic ranges extending into the Southern Ocean. Widespread species reported from the Southern Ocean can be further divided into a group of 81 species, each recorded multiple times in the Southern Ocean waters and 70 apparent “stray” species which have only been found but once. The endemic and widespread species of the Southern Ocean show both distinct distributional patterns and morphological differences. The assemblage of Southern Ocean endemics is found mostly within the Antarctic zone delimited by the average location of the Polar Front and contains a relatively large portion of wide‐mouthed forms. We give suggestions for future study.     

太湖梅梁湾大型控藻围栏对浮游甲壳动物群落结构的影响

2005年对太湖梅梁湾大型鲢、鳙控藻围栏内外浮游甲壳动物群落结构的季节变化进行了监测.结果表明:围栏内外的环境因子、浮游植物生物量、浮游甲壳动物种类组成无显著差异.但鲢、鳙放养对浮游甲壳动物的生物量产生了较大的影响,围栏内浮游甲壳动物的总生物量和枝角类的生物量显著低于围栏外.总体上,枝角类各种类的生物量受鲢、鳙放养的影响程度大于桡足类的种类.太湖梅梁湾浮游甲壳动物的季节演替明显,大部分种类只是季节性出现.冬季和春季以溞(Daphnia sp.)和近邻剑水蚤(Cyclops vicnus)等大型种类为主,夏季和秋季以象鼻溞(Bosmina sp.)、角突网纹溞(Ceriodaphnia cornuta)和中华窄腹剑水蚤(Limnoithona sinensis)等小型种类为主.典范对应分析表明,透明度、温度和浮游植物的生物量是影响浮游甲壳动物季节变化的主要因素.     

Assessment of the diets of cod Gadus morhua and whiting Merlangius merlangus juveniles in a frontal region close to the Norwegian Trench: co‐existence or competition?

Over 200 pelagic juvenile cod Gadus morhua and whiting Merlangius merlangus were sampled in spring 2001 at stations inside and outside a frontal region close to the Norwegian Trench, and their stomach contents analysed in the context of zooplankton samples taken at the same time and same locations. Merlangius merlangus juveniles appeared to feed on a diverse zooplankton community, whereas G. morhua juveniles appeared to preferentially select Pseudocalanus elongatus, even though these prey items were not the dominant component of the prey community. The results suggest that during the pelagic juvenile stage, M. merlangus and G. morhua are direct competitors for zooplanktonic prey. In addition, because M. merlangus are more opportunistic, they may be more tolerant to changes in the species composition of the prey community, and therefore out‐compete G. morhua juveniles at times of low preferred prey abundance or under changing environmental conditions.     

Size-selective dispersal of Daphnia resting eggs by backswimmers (Notonecta maculata)

Freshwater zooplankton is increasingly used to study effects of dispersal on community and metacommunity structure. Yet, it remains unclear how zooplankton disperses. Clearly, birds and wind play a significant role as zooplankton dispersal agents, but they may not always be the main vectors. This experimental study shows that a cosmopolitan aquatic insect, Notonecta, can be an important vector of cladoceran resting eggs (ephippia). Dispersing Notonecta frequently transported ephippia during flight, with a bias towards smaller ephippia in two species. A similar trend was present at the species level: Daphnia species with smaller ephippia were more often dispersed, suggesting that Notonecta could generate specific colonist communities. In addition, buoyancy appeared a critical trait, as non-floating ephippia of Daphnia magna were never dispersed. Our data suggest that Notonecta could be important dispersers of Daphnia, and that knowledge of dispersal dynamics of Notonecta may be used to predict Daphnia dispersal, colonization and resilience to disturbance.     

浮游动物摄食在赤潮生消过程中的作用

浮游动物摄食在赤潮生消过程中起相当重要的作用。由于摄食过程的复杂性和生物物种与个体行为存在的多样性 ,使得赤潮过程中浮游动物的摄食研究具有相当难度。从浮游动物的摄食类型和习性、浮游动物摄食率测定、浮游动物选择性摄食对赤潮群落演替发展方向、浮游动物摄食在有毒微藻赤潮中的作用、浮游动物摄食在中国赤潮研究中的关键科学问题等几个方面探讨了浮游动物摄食对赤潮生物种群动力学的影响 ,为理解和治理赤潮提供科学依据     

Vitamin D content in Alaskan Arctic zooplankton,fishes, and marine mammals

We postulated that dietary ingestion of vitamin D may be used by some Alaskan Arctic marine mammal species in addition to, or instead of, cutaneous production to meet nutritional requirements. Zooplankton (n=5) sampled near Kaktovik, Alaska, contained no measurable vitamin D₂ or D₃, but did contain provitamin D (7‐dehydrocholesterol), the cutaneous precursor for previtamin D₃ in mammals. Fillets and livers from five fish species were sampled near Barrow, Alaska, and evaluated for vitamin D₃ content (no vitamin D₂ was detected). Differences in vitamin D₃ content appeared significant (P≤0.10) among fish livers (Kruskal‐Wallis [H test]=8.25, df=4, P=0.08) and among fish fillets (H=7.80, df=4, P=0.01). We also found significant differences in several pairwise comparisons (Mann‐Whitney U‐test) of vitamin D₃ levels in fillets and livers. Blubber from six species of marine mammals had no detectable vitamin D₂. The H test results for blubber vitamin D₃ concentration were highly significant: 28.12, df=5, P<0.001. There were also significant differences in vitamin D₃ content from blubber in pairwise comparisons of primarily invertebrate feeders (bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) [mean=4.20 SD±1.10 ng/g], and Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) [5.43±2.82 ng/g]) vs. primarily piscivorous feeders (ringed seal (Phoca hispida) [746.57±493.00 ng/g] and beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) [426.00±174.92 ng/g]) and a semiaquatic terrestrial carnivore (polar bear (Ursus maritimus) [406.17±311.70 ng/g]). The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) had intermediate blubber vitamin D₃ concentration (156.83±139.25 ng/g), which may reflect an intermediate‐type feeding strategy or an artifact of the small sample size. Zoo Biol 23:33–43, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Response of zooplankton to nutrient enrichment and fish in shallow lakes: a pan-European mesocosm experiment

1. Responses of zooplankton to nutrient enrichment and fish predation were studied in 1998 and 1999 by carrying out parallel mesocosm experiments in six lakes across Europe. 2. Zooplankton community structure, biomass and responses to nutrient and fish manipulation showed geographical and year‐to‐year differences. Fish had a greater influence than nutrients in regulating zooplankton biomass and especially the relative abundances of different functional groups of zooplankton. When fish reduced the biomass of large crustaceans, there was a complementary increase in the biomasses of smaller crustacean species and rotifers. 3. High abundance of submerged macrophytes provided refuge for zooplankton against fish predation but this refuge effect differed notably in magnitude among sites. 4. Large crustacean grazers (Daphnia, Diaphanosoma, Sida and Simocephalus) were crucial in controlling algal biomass, while smaller crustacean grazers and rotifers were of minor importance. Large grazers were able to control phytoplankton biomass even under hypereutrophic conditions (up to 1600 μg TP L^?1) when grazer biomass was high (>80–90 μg dry mass L^?1) or accounted for >30% of the grazer community. 5. The littoral zooplankton community was less resistant to change following nutrient enrichment in southern Spain, at high temperatures (close to 30 °C), than at lower temperatures (17–23 °C) characterising the other sites. This lower resistance was because of a greater importance of nutrients than zooplankton in controlling algal biomass. 6. Apart from the reduced role of large crustacean grazers at the lowest latitude, no consistent geographical patterns were observed in the responses of zooplankton communities to nutrient and fish manipulation.