| one publication added to basket [56594] | The structuring role of free-floating versus submerged plants in a subtropical shallow lake
Meerhoff, M.; Mazzeo, N.; Moss, B.; Rodríguez-Gallego, L. (2003). The structuring role of free-floating versus submerged plants in a subtropical shallow lake. Aquat. Ecol. 37(4): 377-391
In: Aquatic Ecology. Springer: Dordrecht; London; Boston. ISSN 1386-2588; e-ISSN 1573-5125, more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic communities > Plankton > Phytoplankton
Aquatic communities > Plankton > Zooplankton
Composition > Community composition
Distribution > Geographical distribution > Vertical distribution
Habitat selection
Population characteristics > Biomass
Structures > Hydraulic structures > Offshore structures > Floating structures
Water > Shallow water
Water bodies > Inland waters > Lakes > Freshwater lakes
Uruguay [Marine Regions]
Fresh water |
| Authors | | Top |
- Meerhoff, M.
- Mazzeo, N.
- Moss, B.
- Rodríguez-Gallego, L.
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| Abstract |
In shallow temperate lakes many ecological processes depend on submerged macrophytes. In subtropical and tropical lakes, free-floating macrophytes may be equally or more important. We tested the hypothesis that different macrophyte growth forms would be linked with different bottom-up and top-down mechanisms in out-competing phytoplankton. We compared experimentally the effects of submerged and free-floating plants on water chemistry, phytoplankton biomass, zooplankton and fish community structure in a shallow hypertrophic lake (Lake Rodó, 34°55′S 56°10′W, Uruguay). Except for the retention of suspended solids, we found no other significant bottom-up process connected with either Eichhornia crassipes or Potamogeton pectinatus. Free-floating plants had a lower abundance of medium-sized zooplankton than any other microhabitat and submerged plants were apparently preferred by microcrustaceans. Fish showed a differential habitat use according to species, size-class and feeding habits. Dominant omnivore-planktivores, particularly the smallest size classes, preferred submerged plants. In contrast, omnivore-piscivores were significantly associated with free-floating plants. The density of omnivorous-planktivorous fish, by size class, significantly explained the distribution of medium-sized zooplankton, the high number of size 0 fish being the main factor. The abiotic environment and the structure of the zooplankton community explained little of the fish distribution pattern. Our results suggest that bottom-up effects of free-floating plants are weak when cover is low or intermediate. Top-down effects are complex, as effects on zooplankton and fish communities seem contradictory. The low piscivores:planktivores ratio in all microhabitats suggests, however, that cascading effects on phytoplankton through free-floating plant impacts on piscivorous fish are unlikely to be strong. |
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