Abstract
For 60 years, Lake Vesijärvi, especially the Enonselkä basin (2600 ha), received sewage water discharge from the City of Lahti. In 1976 the municipal sewage loading was diverted from the lake. Initially, the recovery of the lake proceeded well but after some years summer blooms of blue-green algae (Aphanizomenon, Microcystis) increased again. High biomass of roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) was considered to play an important role in maintaining high algal productivity and biomass in the lake water. Field experiments in mesocosms (22–24 m3) with different densities of roach suggested that fish biomass should be less than 30 g m−2, or 300 kg ha−1, to ensure a significant reduction in the current productivity and biomass of phytoplankton. Bioturbation of sediments and recycling of nutrients, rather than zooplanktivory, seemed to be the main factors linking roach to water quality in the mesocosms. The applicability of the mesocosm results to the management of Lake Vesijärvi is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersson, G., H. Berggren, G. Cronberg & C. Gelin, 1978. Effects of planktivorous and benthivorous fish on organisms and water chemistry in eutrophic lakes. Hydrobiologia 59: 9–15.
Bloesch, J., P. Bossard, H. Buhrer, H. R. Burgi & U. Uehlinger, 1988. Can results from limnocorral experiments be transferred toin situ conditions. Hydrobiologia 159: 297–308.
Braband, Å., 1985. Food of roach (Rutilus rutilus) and ide (Leusiscus idus): significance of diet shift for inter-specific competition in omnivorous fishes. Oecologia (Berlin) 66: 461–467.
Hammer, C., 1985. Feeding behaviour of roach (Rutilus rutilus) larvae and the fry of perch (Perca fluviatilis) in Lake Lankau. Arch. Hydrobiol. 103: 61–74.
Henriksson, L., H. G. Nyman, H. G. Oscarson & J. A. E. Stenson, 1978. Trophic changes without changes in the external nutrient loading. Hydrobiologia 68: 257–263.
Johansson L. & L. Persson, 1986. The fish community of temperate eutrophic lakes. In B. Riemann & Søndergaard (eds), Carbon Dynamics in Eutrophic Temperate Lakes. Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam: 237–266.
Järnefelt, H., 1929. Zur limnologie einiger Gewässer Finnlands. V. Vesijärvi. Ann. Zool. Soc. Vanamo 8: 8, 1–17.
Kairesalo, T., 1984. The seasonal succession of epiphytic communities within anEquisetum fluviatile L. stand in Lake Pääjärvi, southern Finland. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 69: 475–505.
Keto, J., 1982. The recovery of L. Vesijärvi following sewage diversion. Hydrobiologia 86: 195–199.
Keto, J. & I. Sammalkorpi, 1988. A fading recovery: A conceptual model for Lake Vesijärvi management and research. Aqua Fennica 18: 193–204.
Koroleff, F., 1979. Methods for the chemical analysis of seawater. Meri 7: 1–60 (in Finnish).
Lampert, W., 1988. The relationship between zooplankton biomass and grazing: A review. Limnologica (Berlin) 19: 11–20.
Murphy, J. & J. P. Riley, 1962. A modified single-solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Anal. Chim. Acta 27: 31–36.
Persson, L., 1983a. Food consumption and the significance of detritus and algae to intraspecific competition in roachRutilus rutilus in a shallow eutrophic lake. Oikos 41: 118–125.
Persson, L., 1983b. Effects of intra- and interspecific competition on dynamics and size structure of a perchPerca fluviatilis and a roachRutilus rutilus population. Oikos 41: 126–132.
Persson, L., 1987. Effects of habitat and season on competitive interactions between roach (Rutilus rutilus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis). Oecologia (Berlin) 73: 170–177.
Riemann, B., M. Søndergaard, L. Persson & L. Johansson, 1986. Carbon metabolism and community regulation in eutrophic, temperate lakes. In B. Riemann & M. Søndergaard (eds.), Carbon Dynamics in Eutrophic, Temperate Lakes. Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam: 267–283.
Salonen, K., 1981. Rapid and precise determination of total inorganic carbon and some gases in aqueous solutions. Wat. Res. 15: 403–406.
Solorzano, L., 1969. Determination of ammonia in natural waters by the phenolhypochlorite method. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14: 799–801.
Wood, E. D., F. A. J. Amstrong & F. A. Richards, 1967. Determination of nitrate in sea water by cadmium-copper reduction to nitrite. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 47: 23–31.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Horppila, J., Kairesalo, T. A fading recovery: the role of roach (Rutilus rutilus L.) in maintaining high phytoplankton productivity and biomass in Lake Vesijärvi, southern Finland. Hydrobiologia 200, 153–165 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02530336
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02530336