Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Causes and consequences of the success of bream in Dutch eutrophic lakes

  • Published:
Hydrobiological Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the last decennia eutrophication has caused a shift in the species composition of fish communities in Dutch fresh waters. The changes have led to the disappearance of vegetation in lakes and ponds; zooplankton and chironomids are now the most abundant food organisms for fish. In the turbid, open waters bream and pikeperch are the dominant fish species. Only small bream is vulnerable to predation, but because bream grows much faster than the other cyprinids the time span in which the fish is vulnerable is the shortest. The large bream (>20 cm) can coexist with pikeperch since it is not vulnerable to predation and still utilizes the food organisms efficiently. Eutrophication is accelerated if both bream populations are composed of small-sized specimens preventing large-sized zooplankton to develop, and if they are composed of large-sized individuals which can efficiently stir up the bottom sediments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ANDERSSON, G., H. BERGGREN, G. CRONBERG and C. GELIN, 1978. Effect of planktivorous and benthivorous fish on organisms and water chemistry in eutrophic lakes. Hydrobiologia, 59: 9–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • BEATTIE, M., 1982. Distribution and production of the larval chironomids populations in Tjeukemeer. Hydrobiologia, 95: 287–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • BNINSKA, M., 1985. The possibilities of improving catchable fish stocks in lakes undergoing eutrophication. J. Fish Biol., 27: 253–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • BRABRAND, A., B. FAAFENG and J.P.M. NILSSEN, 1986. Juvenile fish and invertebrate predators: delaying the recovery phase of eutrophic lakes by suppression of efficient filter feeders. J. Fish Biol., 29: 99–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • BRENNER, R.W., J.R. STRICKLER and W.J. O'BRIEN, 1978. Capture probability: the role of zooplankter escape in the selective feeding of planktivorous fish. J. Fish. Res. Board Can., 35: 1370–1373.

    Google Scholar 

  • GRIMM, M.P., 1989. Northern pike (Esox lucius L.) and aquatic vegetation, tools in the management of fisheries and water quality in shallow waters. Hydrobiol. Bull., 23: 59–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • HARTLEY, P.H.T., 1947. The natural history of some British freshwater fishes. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 117: 129–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • HARTMANN, J., 1977. Fischereiliche Veränderungen in kulturbedingt eutrophierenden Seen. Schweiz. Z. Hydrol., 39: 243–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • HOLCIK, J., 1977. Changes in fish community of Klicava reservoir with particular reference to Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), 1957–72. J. Fish Res. Board Can., 34: 1734–1747.

    Google Scholar 

  • HOSPER, S.H., M.-L. MEIJER and E. JAGTMAN, 1987. De mogelijkheden van actief biologisch beheer bij het herstel van onze meren en plassen. H2O, 1987: 274–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • LAMMENS, E.H.R.R., 1984. A comparison between the feeding of white bream (Blicca bjoerkna) and bream (Abramis brama). Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 22: 886–890.

    Google Scholar 

  • LAMMENS, E.H.R.R., 1985. A test of a model for planktivorous filter feeding by bream (Abramis brama). Envir. Biol. Fish., 13: 288–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • LAMMENS, E.H.R.R., 1986. Interactions between fishes and the structure of fish communities in Dutch shallow eutrophic lakes. Ph. D. Thesis. Agricultural University Wageningen, 100 pp.

  • LAMMENS, E.H.R.R., 1988. Trophic interactions in the shallow, eutrophic lake Tjeukemeer: bottom-up and top-down effects in relation to hydrology, bioturbation and predation during the period 1974–1985. Hydrobiologica, 19: 81–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • LAMMENS, E.H.R.R., W.L.T. VAN DENSEN and J. VIJVERBERG, 1986. The role of predation in the community structure of fish and zooplankton in Dutch hypetrophic lakes, a comparative study. In: Interactions between fishes and the structure of fish communities in Dutch shallow eutrophic lakes. Ph. D. Thesis (Lammens). Agricultural University Wageningen.

  • LAMMENS, E.H.R.R., J. GEURSEN and P.J. McGILLAVRY, 1987. Diet shifts, feeding efficiency and coexistence of bream (Abramis brama), roach (Rutilus rutilus) and white bream (Blicca björkna) in eutrophicated lakes. Proc. V Congr. Europ. Ichtyol., Stockholm, p. 153–162.

  • LAMMENS, E.H.R.R., H.W. DE NIE, J. VIJVERBERG and W.L.T. VAN DENSEN, 1985. Resource partitioning and niche shifts of bream (Abramis brama) and eel (Anguilla anguilla) mediated by predation of smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) onDaphnia hyalina. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 42: 1342–1351.

    Google Scholar 

  • LASKAR, K., 1948. Die Ernährung des Brassens (Abramis brama) im eutrophen See. Arch. Hydrobiol. 42: 1–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • MULLER, M., J.W.M. OSSE and J.H.G. VERHAGEN, 1982. A quantitative hydrodynamical model of suction feeding in fish. J. Theor. Biol., 95: 49–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • PIVNICKA, K. and M. SVATORA, 1977. Factors affecting the shift in predominance from Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilus) to roach (Rutilus rutilus) in the Klicava reservoir, Czechoslovakia. J. Fish. Res. Board Can., 34: 1571–1575.

    Google Scholar 

  • POPOVA, O.A. and L.A. SYTINA, 1977. Food and feeding relations of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilus) and pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca) in various waters of the USSR. J. Fish. Res. Board Can., 34: 1559–1570.

    Google Scholar 

  • PREJS, A., 1976. Fishes and their feeding habits. In: Problems of littoral lake ecology, Ed. E. Pieczinska. Warsaw, 238 pp.

  • RUNDBERG, H., 1977. Trends in harvest of pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca), Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilus) and northern pike (Esox lucius) and associated environmental changes in lakes Malaren and Hjalmaren, 1914–74. J. Fish. Res. Board Can., 34: 1720–1724.

    Google Scholar 

  • SIBBING, F.A., 1984. Pharyngeal mastication and food processing in carp. Ph. D. Thesis. Agricultural University Wageningen.

  • SVARDSON, G., 1976. Interspecific population dominance in fish communities of Scandinavian lakes. Rep. Inst. Freshwat. Res. Drottningholm, 56: 144–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • TEN WINKEL, E.H., 1987. Chironomid larvae and their food web relation in the littoral zone of Lake Maarsseveen. Ph. D. Thesis. University of Amsterdam, 145 pp.

  • VAN DENSEN, W.L.T., 1985. Feeding behaviour of major 0+ fish species in a shallow, eutrophic lake (Tjeukemeer, The Netherlands). J. Appl. Ichthyol., 2: 49–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • VAN DENSEN, W.L.T., and J. VIJVERBERG, 1982. The relations between 0+ fish density, zooplankton size and vulnerability of pikeperch,Stizostedion lucioperca, to angling in the Frisian lakes. Hydrobiologia, 95: 321–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • VAN DENSEN, W.L.T., C. DIJKERS and R. VEERMAN, 1986. The fish community of the Loosdrecht Lakes and the perspective for biomanipulation. Hydrobiol. Bull., 20: 147–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • VAN DONK, E., R.D. GULATI and M.P. GRIMM, 1989. Food web manipulation in lake Zwemlust: positive and negative effects during the first two years. Hydrobiol. Bull., 23: 19–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • VIJVERBERG, J. and A.F. RICHTER, 1982a. Population dynamics and production ofDaphnia hyalina Leydig andDaphnia cucullata Sars in Tjeukemeer. Hydrobiologia 95: 235–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • VIJVERBERG, J., and A.F. RICHTER, 1982b. Population dynamics and production ofAcanthocyclops robustus Sars andMesocyclops leuckartii Claus. Hydrobiologia, 95: 261–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • WILLEMSEN, J., 1977. Population dynamics of percids in Lake IJssel and some smaller lakes in The Netherlands. J. Fish. Res. Board Can., 1710–1719.

  • WINFIELD, I.J., G. PEIRSON, M. CRYER and C.R. TOWNSEND, 1983. The behavioural basis of prey selection by underyearling bream (Abramis brama (L.)) and roach (Rutilus rutilus (L.)). Freshwater Biology, 13: 139–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • WUNDSCH, H.H., 1949. Grundlagen der Fischhwirtschaft in den Grosstaubecken. Abh. Fisch. Hilfwiss., Lief 1: 17–186.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. E. H. R. R. Lammens

    Present address: Tjekemeer Laboratory, Limnological Institute, De Akkers 47, 8536 VD, Oosterzee, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. E. H. R. R. Lammens
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    Lammens, E.H.R.R. Causes and consequences of the success of bream in Dutch eutrophic lakes. Hydrobiological Bulletin 23, 11–18 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02286423

    Download citation

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02286423

    KeyWords

    Search

    Navigation