Responses of stream algae to grazing minnows and nutrients: a field test for interactions

Summary Previous studies have shown that an algivorous grazing minnow (Campostoma anomalum) is the major herbivore in Brier Creek, a hardwater stream in south central Oklahoma. In summer and autumn schools of Campostoma virtually eliminate algae from substrate surfaces in deeper areas of some pools. The pool-to-pool distributions of algae and Campostoma reported for this stream could occur if nutrient limitation permits grazing by Campostoma to outrun algal growth. To test this hypothesis, mesh pens were built to exclude Campostoma from substrates in each of four typical Campostoma pools. N+P+K lawn fertilizer was added daily to two of the four pools; the other two, which received no fertilizer additions and which were not visibly affected by fertilizer transported downstream from the pools enriched with nutrients, served as controls. Algae accumulated rapidly on natural substrates and on unglazed ceramic tiles in grazer-exclusion pens in pools receiving N+P+K additions and more slowly in pens in both control pools. Periphyton biomass on grazed substrates in all four pools remained low throughout the experiment. Hence, Campostoma at normal densities were able to outrun algal growth even when nutrients were added. Eleven days after the experiment started, I determined biomass, biomass-specific net primary productivity, and areal net primary productivity of periphyton on substrates exposed to all combinations of grazer (+,0) and nutrient (+,0) treatments. Grazing increased biomass-specific primary productivity, prevented accumulation of biomass, and decreased areal primary productivity of periphyton. Additions of N+P+K increased biomass-specific net primary productivity of grazed and ungrazed periphyton and markedly increased biomass of periphyton on substrates protected from Campostoma. Although food supply for Campostoma appeared to be greater with nutrient additions, condition of Campostoma in pools receiving N+P+K was not significantly different from Campostoma collected from control pools 35 days after the experiment started. I conclude that although nutrient supply limits biomass-specific primary productivity of periphyton in Brier Creek, nutrient limitation in this stream exacerbates, rather than causes, the visually conspicuous pool-to-pool complimentary distribution of algae and Campostoma: in this stream, grazing by Campostoma at natural densities can outrun periphyton growth even when nutrients are added.