Effects of nutrients and fish on periphyton and plant biomass across a European latitudinal gradient |
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Authors: | Eloy Bécares Joan Gomá Margarita Fernández-Aláez Camino Fernández-Aláez Susana Romo Maria R. Miracle Anika Ståhl-Delbanco Lars-Anders Hansson Mykael Gyllström Wouter J. Van de Bund Ellen Van Donk Timo Kairesalo Jaana Hietala Debbie Stephen David Balayla Brian Moss |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of León, 24071, Leon, Spain 2. Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain 3. Department of Microbiology and Ecology, University of València, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain 4. Department of Ecology/Limnology, University of Lund, 223 62, Lund, Sweden 5. Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Limnology, 3631 AC, Nieuwersluis, The Netherlands 6. Institute for Environment, ISPRA, Via E. Fermi 1, 21020, Ispra, Italy 7. Department of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 15210, Lahti, Finland 8. School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, United Kingdom
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Abstract: | Replicated, factorial mesocosm experiments were conducted across Europe to study the effects of nutrient enrichment and fish density on macrophytes and on periphyton chlorophyll a (chl-a) with regard to latitude. Periphyton chl-a densities and plant decline were significantly related to nutrient loading in all countries. Fish effects were significant in a few sites only, mostly because of their contribution to the nutrient pool. A saturation-response type curve in periphyton chl-a with nutrients was found, and northern lakes achieved higher densities than southern lakes. Nutrient concentration and phytoplankton chl-a necessary for a 50% plant reduction followed a latitudinal gradient. Total phosphorus values for 50% plant disappearance were similar from Sweden (0.27 mg L−1) to northern Spain (0.35 mg L−1), but with a sharp increase in southern Spain (0.9 mg L−1). Planktonic chl-a values for 50% plant reduction increased monotonically from Sweden (30 μg L−1) to València (150 μg L−1). Longer plant growing-season, higher light intensities and temperature, and strong water-level fluctuations characteristic of southern latitudes can lead to greater persistence of macrophyte biomass at higher turbidities and nutrient concentration than in northern lakes. Results support the evidence that latitudinal differences in the functioning of shallow lakes should be considered in lake management and conservation policies. |
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Keywords: | Nutrients Fishes Periphyton Macrophytes Shallow lakes Latitude Mesocosms |
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