Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Recovery of the fish community and changes in the lower trophic levels in a eutrophic lake after a winter kill of fish

  • SHALLOW LAKES
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A severe oxygen deficit induced a fish kill in the eutrophicated two-basin Lake Äimäjärvi in southern Finland during winter 2002–2003, resulting in cascading effects on the lower trophic levels of the lake. Pikeperch disappeared from the lake and bleak and white bream decreased to low numbers. The recovery of the populations of other species started immediately when strong year-classes of roach and perch appeared in summer 2003 and onwards. A sharp increase in the growth of perch and roach was recorded, and perch became the dominant fish species during 2004–2006. Consequent responses after the fish kill included increased Secchi depth, expansion of submerged macrophytes, decreased nutrient concentrations and reduction of Cyanophyta from the more eutrophic northern basin of the lake, and a temporary increase in the size of Daphnia in the early summer 2003. However, the ecosystem of the lake returned gradually to the earlier structure and level of eutrophication. Bluegreen algae have returned since 2005, the water has become more turbid, macrophytes declined in 2007 and the fish community was again dominated by small cyprinid fishes in 2008.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bagenal, T. B. & F. W. Tesch, 1978. Age and growth. In Bagenal, T. (ed.), Methods for Assessment of Fish Production in Fresh Waters. Blackwell, Oxford: 101–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brönmark, C. & S. E. B. Weisner, 1992. Indirect effects of fish community structure on submerged vegetation in shallow, eutrophic lakes: an alternative mechanism. Hydrobiologia 243(244): 293–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brönmark, C., C. A. Paszkowski, W. M. Tonn & A. Hargeby, 1995. Predation as a determinant of size structure in populations of crucian carp (Carassius carassius) and tench (Tinca tinca). Ecology of Freshwater Fish 4: 85–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, S. R., J. F. Kitchell & J. R. Hodgson, 1985. Cascading trophic interactions and lake productivity. BioScience 35: 634–639.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, S. R., J. J. Cole, J. R. Hodgson, J. F. Kitchell, M. J. Pace, D. Bade, K. L. Cottingham, T. E. Essington, J. N. Houser & D. E. Schindler, 2001. Trophic cascades, nutrients, and lake productivity: whole lake experiments. Ecological Monographs 71: 163–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CEN, 2005. Water quality – sampling fish with multi-mesh gillnets. European Standard EN 14757:2005: 27 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eloranta, P. & M. Järvinen, 1991. Growth of Gonyostomum semen (Ehr.) Diesing (Raphidophyceae): results from culture experiments. – Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte. Limnologie 24: 2657–2659.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erhard, D. & E. M. Gross, 2006. Allelopathic activity of Elodea canadensis and Elodea nuttallii against epiphytes and phytoplankton. Aquatic Botany 85: 203–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galloway, J. N., J. D. Aber, J. W. Erisman, S. P. Seitzinger, R. W. Howarth, E. B. Cowling & B. J. Cosby, 2003. The nitrogen cascade. BioScience 53: 341–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Göthberg, A., 1983. Intensive fishing – a way to reduce the mercury level in fish. Ambio 12: 259–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hargeby, A., H. Blom, I. Blindow & G. Andersson, 2005. Increased growth and recruitment of piscivorous perch, Perca fluviatilis, during a transient phase of expanding submerged vegetation in a shallow lake. Freshwater Biology 50: 2053–2062.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Häyhä, T. & H. Jutila, 2006. Tammelan Liesjärven ja Kalvolan Äimäjärven vesikasvillisuus. Hämeenlinnan seudullisen ympäristötoimen julkaisuja 6: 77 pp. ISBN 952-9509-31-6 (in Finnish with English abstract).

  • Horppila, J. & A. Liljendahl-Nurminen, 2005. Clay-turbid interactions may not cascade – a reminder for lake managers. Restoration Ecology 13: 242–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horppila, J., J. Ruuhijärvi, M. Rask, C. Karppinen, K. Nyberg & M. Olin, 2000. Seasonal changes in the diets and relative abundances of perch and roach in the littoral and pelagic zones of a large lake. Journal of Fish Biology 56: 51–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeppesen, E., J. P. Jensen, M. Søndergaard, T. Lauridsen, L. J. Pedersen & L. Jensen, 1997. Top-down control in freshwater lakes: the role of nutrient state, submerged macrophytes and water depth. Hydrobiologia 342(343): 151–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luokkanen, E., 1995. Vesikirppuyhteisön lajisto, biomassa ja tuotanto Vesijärven Enonselällä. Helsingin yliopiston Lahden tutkimus- ja koulutuskeskuksen raportteja ja selvityksiä 25: 1–53 (in Finnish with an English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzeo, N., L. Rodriguez-Gallego, C. Kruk, M. Meerhoff, J. Gorga, G. Lacerot, F. Quintans, M. Loureiro, D. Larrea & F. Garcia-Rodriguez, 2003. Effect of Egeria densa Planch. beds on a shallow lake without piscivorous fish. Hydrobiologia 506–509: 591–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meijer, M.-L., I. de Bois, M. Scheffer, R. Portielje & H. Hosper, 1999. Biomanipulation in shallow lakes in The Netherlands: an evaluation of 18 case studies. Hydrobiologia 408(409): 13–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyberg, K., J. Raitaniemi, M. Rask, J. Mannio & J. Vuorenmaa, 1995. What can perch population data tell us about the acidification history of a lake? Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 85: 395–400.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olin, M. & J. Ruuhijärvi (eds), 2005. Kalakuolemien vaikutusten seurantatutkimus 2003-2004. (Monitoring the effects of fish kills in 2003-2004). Kala- ja riistaraportteja 361: 75 pp. ISBN 951-776-504-5 (in Finnish).

  • Olin, M., M. Rask, J. Ruuhijärvi, M. Kurkilahti, P. Ala-Opas & O. Ylönen, 2002. Fish community structure in meso- and eutrophic lakes of southern Finland: the relative abundances of percids and cyprinids along a trophic gradient. Journal of Fish Biology 60: 593–612.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olin, M., M. Rask, J. Ruuhijärvi, E. Saarijärvi & J. Keskitalo, 2005. Effects of mass removal of fish on the nutrient status of a eutrophic lake in southern Finland. Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie 29: 704–710.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olin, M., M. Rask, J. Ruuhijärvi, J. Keskitalo, J. Horppila, P. Tallberg, T. Taponen, A. Lehtovaara & I. Sammalkorpi, 2006. Effects of biomanipulation on plankton and fish communities in ten eutrophic lakes in southern Finland. Hydrobiologia 553: 67–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrow, M. R., M.-L. Meijer, P. Dawidowicz & H. Coops, 1997. Biomanipulation in shallow lakes: state of the art. Hydrobiologia 342(343): 355–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Persson, L., 1987. Effects of habitat and season on competitive interactions between roach (Rutilus rutilus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis). Oecologia 73: 170–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Persson, L. & L. Greenberg, 1990. Juvenile competitive bottlenecks: the perch (Perca fluviatilis)–roach (Rutilus rutilus) interaction. Ecology 71: 44–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrosky, B. R. & J. J. Magnuson, 1973. Behavioral responses of northern pike, yellow perch and bluegill to oxygen concentrations under simulated winterkill conditions. Copeia 1973: 124–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rask, M., M. Järvinen, K. Kuoppamäki & H. Pöysä, 1996. Limnological responses to the collapse of the perch population in a small lake. Annales Zoologici Fennici 33: 517–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rask, M., M. Olin, J. Keskitalo, A. Lehtovaara, J. Ruuhijärvi & S. Vesala, 2003. Responses of plankton and fish communities to mass removal of fish in a two-basin lake in southern Finland. Hydrobiologia 506: 451–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romare, P. & E. Bergman, 1999. Juvenile fish expansion following biomanipulation and its effect on zooplankton. Hydrobiologia 404: 89–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosseland, B. O., I. A. Blakar, A. Bulger, F. Kroklund, A. Kvellstad, E. Lydersen, D. H. Oughton, B. Salbu, M. Staurnes & R. Vogt, 1992. The mixing zone between limed and acidic river waters: complex aluminium chemistry and extreme toxicity for salmonids. Environmental Pollution 78: 3–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruuhijärvi, J., T. Malinen, P. Ala-Opas & A. Tuomaala, 2005. Fish stocks of Lake Vesijärvi: from nuisance to flourishing fishery in 15 years. Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie 29: 384–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salonen, K., A.-L. Holopainen & J. Keskitalo, 2002. Regular high contribution of Gonyostomum semen to phytoplankton biomass in a small humic lake. Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie 28: 488–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarvala, J., H. Helminen & J. Karjalainen, 2000. Restoration of Finnish lakes using fish removal: changes in chlorophyll–phosphorous relationship indicate multiple controlling mechanisms. Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie 27: 1473–1479.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheffer, M., 1990. Multiplicity of stable states in freshwater system. Hydrobiologia 200(201): 475–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheffer, M., 1998. Ecology of Shallow Lakes. Chapman & Hall, London: 357 pp.

  • Smith, V. H., 1983. Low nitrogen to phosphorus ratios favor dominance by blue-green algae in lake phytoplankton. Science 221: 669–671.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tonn, W. M., J. J. Magnuson, M. Rask & J. Toivonen, 1990. Intercontinental comparison of small-lake fish assemblages: the balance between local and regional processes. American Naturalist 13: 345–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, T., I. Sammalkorpi & P. Suuronen, 1997. Suitability of motorized under-ice seining in selective mass removal of coarse fish. Fisheries Research 31: 73–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Donk, E., R. D. Gulati, A. Iedema & J. T. Meulemans, 1993. Macrophyte-related shifts in the nitrogen and phosphorus contents of the different trophic levels in a biomanipulated shallow lake. Hydrobiologia 251: 19–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ventelä, A.-M., M. Tarvainen, H. Helminen & J. Sarvala, 2007. Long-term management of Pyhäjärvi (southwest Finland): eutrophication, restoration – recovery? Lake and Reservoir Management 23: 428–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Evo Game and Fisheries Research Station, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, 16970, Evo, Finland

    J. Ruuhijärvi, M. Rask, S. Vesala & A. Westermark

  2. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    M. Olin

  3. Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    J. Keskitalo & A. Lehtovaara

Authors
  1. J. Ruuhijärvi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Rask
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Vesala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Westermark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Olin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J. Keskitalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. Lehtovaara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Ruuhijärvi.

Additional information

Guest editors: M. Meerhoff, M. Beklioglu, R. Burks, F. García-Rodríguez, N. Mazzeo & B. Moss / Structure and Function of World Shallow Lakes: Proceedings from the 6th Shallow Lakes Congress, held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, 23–28 November, 2008

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ruuhijärvi, J., Rask, M., Vesala, S. et al. Recovery of the fish community and changes in the lower trophic levels in a eutrophic lake after a winter kill of fish. Hydrobiologia 646, 145–158 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0186-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0186-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation