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Feeding dynamics of the copepod Diacyclops thomasi before, during and following filamentous cyanobacteria blooms in a large, shallow temperate lake

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Abstract

Cyanobacteria blooms are an increasing problem in temperate freshwater lakes, leading to reduced water quality and in some cases harmful effects from toxic cyanobacteria species. To better understand the role of zooplankton in modulating cyanobacteria blooms, from 2008 to 2010 we measured water quality and plankton abundance, and measured feeding rates and prey selectivity of the copepod Diacyclops thomasi before, during and following summertime cyanobacteria blooms in a shallow, eutrophic lake (Vancouver Lake, Washington, USA). We used a combined field and experimental approach to specifically test the hypothesis that copepod grazing was a significant factor in establishing the timing of cyanobacteria bloom initiation and eventual decline in Vancouver Lake. There was a consistent annual succession of zooplankton taxa, with cyclopoid copepods (D. thomasi) dominant in spring, followed by small cladocerans (Eubosmina sp.). Before each cyanobacteria bloom, large cladocerans (Daphnia retrocurva, Daphnia laevis) peaked in abundance but quickly disappeared, followed by brief increases in rotifers. During the cyanobacteria blooms, D. thomasi was again dominant, with small cladocerans abundant in autumn. Before the cyanobacteria blooms, D. thomasi substantially consumed ciliates and dinoflagellates (up to 100% of prey biomass per day), which likely allowed diatoms to flourish. A shift in copepod grazing toward diatoms before the blooms may have then helped to facilitate the rapid increase in cyanobacteria. Copepod grazing impact was the highest during the cyanobacteria blooms both years, but focused on non-cyanobacteria prey; copepod grazing was minimal as the cyanobacteria blooms waned. We conclude that cyclopoid copepods may have an indirect role (via trophic cascades) in modulating cyanobacteria bloom initiation, but do not directly contribute to cyanobacteria bloom decline.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Vancouver Lake Watershed Partnership, the Clark County Department of Public Works, the State of Washington Water Research Center/US Geological Survey, and the Washington Department of Ecology for financial support of this project in the form of grants to G.R.B. and S.M.B. We also acknowledge the contributions of Mr. Steve Prewitt, La Center High School science teacher, and the Murdock Charitable Trust “Partners in Science” program which provided summer support for his participation. We also thank the Departments of Zoology and Marine Science at the University of Otago, New Zealand, for generously providing office space to G.R.B and S.M.B, as well as Washington State University for providing sabbatical support to S.M.B, during the preparation of this manuscript. Finally, we acknowledge the contributions of two anonymous reviewers who provided many helpful comments.

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  1. School of the Environment, Washington State University, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave, Vancouver, WA, 98686, USA

    Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, Stephen M. Bollens, Alejandro Gonzalez, Julie Zimmerman, Tammy Lee & Josh Emerson

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  1. Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens
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Correspondence to Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens.

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Rollwagen-Bollens, G., Bollens, S.M., Gonzalez, A. et al. Feeding dynamics of the copepod Diacyclops thomasi before, during and following filamentous cyanobacteria blooms in a large, shallow temperate lake. Hydrobiologia 705, 101–118 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1385-5

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