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Microhabitat variations in diatom composition and stable isotope ratios of the epilithic algae in Lake Malawi

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Abstract

Microhabitat-level spatial variations in diatom and isotope compositions of epilithic periphyton in the littoral zones of Lake Malawi were examined using periphyton samples collected from seven regions of the lake. Discriminant analysis revealed a clear difference in diatom composition among the slopes of the rocks from which the samples were collected. This difference may be associated with interspecific variation in the adhesive power of diatoms. The slope of the rocks also strongly affected the stable carbon isotope ratios of periphyton, together with subsidiary effects of algae size class, sampling site, depth, and some of their interaction terms. The effect of slope can be explained by the decrease in photosynthetic activity along the slope, which originates from the decline in sunlight. Thus, the diatom composition and carbon isotope ratios may be good indicators of microhabitat and have the potential to be powerful tools for quantitative measurement of microhabitat utilization of epilithic algae-feeding consumers of this lake, including territorial cichlids.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Mr R. Zatha, Mr Y. Kazembe, Mr B. Matundu, Mr A. Nyoni, and Mr A. Mangawa at the University of Malawi for their support during sample collection. We also thank Ms Y. Nonomatsu, Ms M. Umemoto, Mr Y. Nakamura, and Ms E. Ishizumi for their assistance with laboratory analyses. Our thanks go to Dr M. Yuma, Dr M. Genner, and anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticism. This study was conducted in accordance with the prevailing laws of the Republic of Malawi. Financial support was provided by the Joint Research Centre for Science and Technology of Ryukoku University and by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 25840144.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Technology, Ryukoku University, 1-5 Seta-Oe, Otsu, Shiga, 520-2194, Japan

    Atsushi Maruyama, Kohei Shinohara & Michito Sakurai

  2. Lake Biwa Museum, Oroshimo 1091, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-0001, Japan

    Taisuke Ohtsuka

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi

    Bosco Rusuwa

Authors
  1. Atsushi Maruyama
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  2. Kohei Shinohara
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  3. Michito Sakurai
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  4. Taisuke Ohtsuka
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  5. Bosco Rusuwa
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Correspondence to Atsushi Maruyama.

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Atsushi Maruyama and Kohei Shinohara contributed equally to this work.

Guest editors: S. Koblmüller, R. C. Albertson, M. J. Genner, K. M. Sefc & T. Takahashi / Advances in Cichlid Research: Behavior, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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Maruyama, A., Shinohara, K., Sakurai, M. et al. Microhabitat variations in diatom composition and stable isotope ratios of the epilithic algae in Lake Malawi. Hydrobiologia 748, 161–169 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-1977-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-1977-3

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