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Effects of eutrophication on the interaction between algae and grazers in an Andean stream

  • GLOBAL CHANGE AND RIVER ECOSYSTEMS
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Abstract

Nutrient excess is a common disturbance that affects biological interactions in river ecosystems. The response of nutrient supply on primary producers and Tricorythodes sp., a common mayfly grazer, was determined in experimental chambers set in a tropical, high Andean stream. Chambers in an experimentally fertilized reach developed higher amount of both benthic and detached chlorophyll than chambers in an upstream control reach. Fertilization produced a slight increase in grazer biomass, and reduced algal biomass compared to grazer-free chambers. These results show that nutrient excess spread bottom-up effects through the food web, and that relevant top-down effects could also be detected. Eutrophication may produce relevant changes in the food web of tropical high-mountain streams.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the financing of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Colciencias and the BBVA Foundation, in the framework of the project “Global Changes in fluvial systems: effects on the trophic web, biodiversity and functional aspects” (GLOBRIO). We appreciate the critical reading of the manuscript by Gary Stiles, Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Av (Cra.) 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia

    John Ch. Donato-Rondón & María Isabel Castro-Rebolledo

  2. Escuela de Biología, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Cra. 27 Cll. 9, Bucaramanga, Colombia

    Silvia Juliana Morales-Duarte

Authors
  1. John Ch. Donato-Rondón
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  2. Silvia Juliana Morales-Duarte
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  3. María Isabel Castro-Rebolledo
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Correspondence to John Ch. Donato-Rondón.

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Guest editors: R. J. Stevenson, S. Sabater / Global Change and River Ecosystems – Implications for Structure, Function and Ecosystem Services

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Donato-Rondón, J.C., Morales-Duarte, S.J. & Castro-Rebolledo, M.I. Effects of eutrophication on the interaction between algae and grazers in an Andean stream. Hydrobiologia 657, 159–166 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0194-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0194-y

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