Effect of Vallisneria americana (L.) on community structure and ecosystem function in lake mesocosms |
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Authors: | Cathleen Wigand John Wehr Karin Limburg Bernadette Gorham Sean Longergan Stuart Findlay |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Ecosystem Studies, P.O. Box AB, Millbrook, NY, 12545, U.S.A.;(2) Present address: Atlantic Ecology Division, US EPA–NHEERL, 27 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI, 02882, U.S.A.;(3) Louis Calder Center – Biological Station, Fordham University, P.O. Box K, Armonk, NY, 10504, U.S.A.;(4) Present address: Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | Submerged aquatic vegetation is known as a key structural component and regulator in ecosystems. In this mesocosm study, we examine community- and system-level responses to the presence of Vallisneria americana (L), a deep-rooted macrophyte. Phytoplankton, bacteria and filamentous algal biomasses were significantly lowered in the presence of V. americana. In addition, mesocosms with macrophytes had significantly reduced porewater phosphate and iron, water column dissolved organic carbon and total suspended solids, but elevated sediment redox. All mesocosms were net autotrophic (gross primary production/respiration >1). Compared to the macrophyte treatments, the control mesocosms had lower diel net primary production (NPP) midway through the experiment (d 16), but at the end of the experiment (d 36), the controls had the higher values, presumably due to increased filamentous algae. NPP and NPP/R were constant in the macrophyte treatments, whereas NPP/R increased significantly from middle to end of the experiment in the controls. We show that community and system-level responses to the presence of V. americana have significant consequences on system structure and function. |
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Keywords: | community structure ecosystem function Vallisneria mesocosms net primary production nutrients |
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