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Predictability and possible mechanisms of plankton response to reduction of planktivorous fish

  • Conference paper
Biomanipulation Tool for Water Management

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 61))

Abstract

The predictability of plankton response to reductions of planktivorous fish was investigated by comparing the plankton community in three biomanipulated lakes and ten unmanipulated lakes differing in intensity of fish predation. Data collected on total phosphorus, phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass and share of cyanobacteria and large grazers, as well as specific growth rate of phytoplankton, were further used to test some of the proposed underlying response-mechanisms. In the biomanipulated lakes the algal biomass and share of cyanobacteria decreased, specific growth rate of phytoplankton increased, and zooplankton biomass and share of large grazers increased or remained unchanged. This pattern was largely reflected in the differences in food-chain structure between the unmanipulated lakes with high versus those with low fish predation. The qualitative response to planktivorous fish reduction thus seems largely predictable. The biomanipulated lakes differed, however, in magnitude of response: the smallest hypertrophic, rotenone-treated lake (Helgetjern) showed the most dramatic response, whereas the large, deep mesotrophic lake (Gjersjøen), which was stocked with piscivorous fish, showed more moderate response, probably approaching a new steady state. These differences in response magnitude may be related to different perturbation intensity (rotenone-treatment versus stocking with piscivores), food-chain complexity and trophic state. Both decreased phosphorus concentration and increased zooplankton grazing are probably important mechanisms underlying plankton response to biomanipulation in many lakes. The results provide tentative support to the hypothesis that under conditions of phosphorus limitation, increased zooplankton grazing can decrease algal biomass via two separate mechanisms: reduction of the phosphorus pool in the phytoplankton, and reduction of the internal C: P-ratio in the phytoplankton cells.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Limnology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1027, Blindern, 0315, Oslo 3, Norway

    Anne Lyche

  2. Norwegian Institute for Water Research, P.O. Box 69, Korsvoll, 0808, Oslo 8, Norway

    Bjørn A. Faafeng

  3. Zoological Museum, Sarsgt. 1, 0562, Oslo 5, Norway

    Åge Brabrand

Authors
  1. Anne Lyche
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  2. Bjørn A. Faafeng
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  3. Åge Brabrand
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Nieuwersluis, The Netherlands

    Ramesh D. Gulati , Eddy H. R. R. Lammens , Marie-Louise Meijer  & Ellen van Donk , ,  & 

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Lyche, A., Faafeng, B.A., Brabrand, Å. (1990). Predictability and possible mechanisms of plankton response to reduction of planktivorous fish. In: Gulati, R.D., Lammens, E.H.R.R., Meijer, ML., van Donk, E. (eds) Biomanipulation Tool for Water Management. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 61. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0924-8_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0924-8_21

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