Extended larval development compensates for sublethal effects of fish predation in a mayfly population (Rhithrogena semicolorata, Ephemeroptera)

AbstractMany predation experiments in streams are carried out in enclosures. Hence, the relevance of their results to predict population dynamics is often unclear due to the relatively small spatial and temporal scale of the experiments. To enhance the transferability of experimental results on the ecosystem scale the impact of fish predators on a prey population was observed in a reach scale approach over 2 years in a natural stream. A 400-m reach inhabited by the small benthivorous fishes gudgeon (Gobio gobio) and stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) was compared with a fishless reference reach.It was shown that fish predation may affect the population of the grazing mayfly Rhithrogena semicolorata on the ecosystem scale. Although the larvae grew slower in the fish reach than in the fishless reach, the adults reached the same size and fecundity because they emerged 2–3 weeks later. By this compensation, the prey species avoided a reduction of their individual fecundity. On the other hand, the extended exposure to the fish predators resulted in an enhanced mortality and a reduced density of adult mayflies. Thus, there was obviously a trade-off between maximising fecundity and minimising mortality from fish predation.The observed differences were almost certainly caused be fish predation and not by natural differences of the reaches. This was concluded from results gained after eliminating all benthivorous fish from the former fish reach.With the help of scenario analyses based on our empirical data and simple model assumptions we could demonstrate that compensating the potential loss in fecundity by extending development time led to higher average fitness of the prey population than emerging at an earlier fixed time to avoid additional predation losses. Therefore, we concluded that this strategy was adaptive in the presence of benthivorous fish

Der Einfluss von Klimavariabilität auf aquatische Nahrungsnetze: Der Einfluss von Klimavariabilität auf aquatische Nahrungsnetze

In den gemäßigten Breiten zeigte sich die allgemeine Erwärmung der letzten Jahrzehnte insbesondere im Winter und im zeitigen Frühjahr. Dementsprechend traten Veränderungen in der Phänologie, dem zeitlichen Verlauf von Populations- und Entwicklungsprozessen von Organismen (z. B. Zeitpunkt der Knospung bei Pflanzen oder der Laichperiode bei Fischen), vor allem im Frühjahr auf. Obwohl generell eine frühere und beschleunigte Entwicklung als Reaktion auf die Erwärmung beobachtet wurde, zeigten sich doch Unterschiede in der Sensitivität von Organismen. Dadurch kann es in Nahrungsnetzen zu Match- oder Mismatch- Situationen in Räuber-Beute Beziehungen kommen. Am Beispiel der komplexen Interaktionen im Nahrungsnetz der Talsperre Saidenbach wird der Einfluss verschiedener Erwärmungsszenarien auf Schlüsselorganismen und deren Interaktionen im Nahrungsnetz und letztlich auf die Wassergüte in dieser Trinkwassertalsperre im Rahmen des DFG-Schwerpunktprogramms AQUASHIFT analysiert.In temperate regions, the warming trends of the last decades have been observed primarily in winter and early spring. Accordingly, changes in the phenology of individual species, e.g. sprouting in plants or spawning of fish, occurred mainly in spring. Although the general pattern is earlier and faster development in response to warming, differences in sensitivity have been apparent between species, potentially giving rise to match or mismatch scenarios in predator-prey relations. The impact of warming scenarios on key species, their interactions and ultimately on the water quality is studied at Saidenbach Reservoir within the framework of the DFG priority program AQUASHIFT

Toxicity to Daphnia of a compound extracted from laboratory and natural Microcystis spp., and the role of microcystins

1. The microcystin content of a variety of Microcystis spp., from both laboratory strains and natural blooms, was analysed by HPLC. The microcystin content of laboratory strains ranged from 1.6 to 4.3 mug mg-1 dry weight. Yearly and seasonal variation was detected in an analysis of bloom material collected from Bautzen Reservoir over a 3-year period. The microcystin concentration in bloom material ranged from undetectable to 1.16 mug ml-1 dry weight. 2. Toxicity of laboratory and natural Microcystis to Daphnia pulicaria was determined using an established LC50 technique. Partially purified water extracts from different Microcystis samples exhibited a wide range of toxicity. The highest activity was found in natural Microcystis samples, with an LC50 of 36 mug ml-1 dry weight of Microcystis, whereas one strain did not appear toxic at 1600 mug ml-1. 3. No correlation was found between the concentrations of microcystins of different laboratory and natural Microcystis strains and the toxicity of extracts to Daphnia pulicaria from the same strains. Therefore, we discriminated between hepatotoxic microcystins and the compound(s) that is toxic to Daphnia, here termed DTC (Daphnia-toxic compound), which is independent of microcystins

Importance of pre-reservoirs for the control of eutrophication of reservoirs

Pre-reservoirs are small reservoirs, with a water-retention time of a few days, that reduce the phosphorus input in main reservoirs. The process of phosphorus removal involves the biochemical conversion from the dissolved to the particulate form (mainly phytoplankton) and the sedimentation of this particulate matter. The input variables are light, orthophosphate concentration, temperature of the inflowing water and discharge. The phytoplankton activity plays the most important role among the various processes. The maximization of orthophosphate elimination depends on adequate design, construction and operation of prereservoirs. A simple calculation procedure for the removal rates of orthophosphate-P has been developed. The efficiency of pre-reservoirs is limited, because the light intensity and the temperature during the winter period are low; on the other hand, discharge is often high in March and April (snowmelt). Although prereservoirs are an important tool for reservoir water-quality management, but they cannot substitute remedial action in the catchment area

Der Einfluss von Klimavariabilität auf aquatische Nahrungsnetze: Der Einfluss von Klimavariabilität auf aquatische Nahrungsnetze

In den gemäßigten Breiten zeigte sich die allgemeine Erwärmung der letzten Jahrzehnte insbesondere im Winter und im zeitigen Frühjahr. Dementsprechend traten Veränderungen in der Phänologie, dem zeitlichen Verlauf von Populations- und Entwicklungsprozessen von Organismen (z. B. Zeitpunkt der Knospung bei Pflanzen oder der Laichperiode bei Fischen), vor allem im Frühjahr auf. Obwohl generell eine frühere und beschleunigte Entwicklung als Reaktion auf die Erwärmung beobachtet wurde, zeigten sich doch Unterschiede in der Sensitivität von Organismen. Dadurch kann es in Nahrungsnetzen zu Match- oder Mismatch- Situationen in Räuber-Beute Beziehungen kommen. Am Beispiel der komplexen Interaktionen im Nahrungsnetz der Talsperre Saidenbach wird der Einfluss verschiedener Erwärmungsszenarien auf Schlüsselorganismen und deren Interaktionen im Nahrungsnetz und letztlich auf die Wassergüte in dieser Trinkwassertalsperre im Rahmen des DFG-Schwerpunktprogramms AQUASHIFT analysiert.In temperate regions, the warming trends of the last decades have been observed primarily in winter and early spring. Accordingly, changes in the phenology of individual species, e.g. sprouting in plants or spawning of fish, occurred mainly in spring. Although the general pattern is earlier and faster development in response to warming, differences in sensitivity have been apparent between species, potentially giving rise to match or mismatch scenarios in predator-prey relations. The impact of warming scenarios on key species, their interactions and ultimately on the water quality is studied at Saidenbach Reservoir within the framework of the DFG priority program AQUASHIFT

Der Einfluss von Klimavariabilität auf aquatische Nahrungsnetze Der Einfluss von Klimavariabilität auf aquatische Nahrungsnetze

In den gemäßigten Breiten zeigte sich die allgemeine Erwärmung der letzten Jahrzehnte insbesondere im Winter und im zeitigen Frühjahr. Dementsprechend traten Veränderungen in der Phänologie, dem zeitlichen Verlauf von Populations- und Entwicklungsprozessen von Organismen (z. B. Zeitpunkt der Knospung bei Pflanzen oder der Laichperiode bei Fischen), vor allem im Frühjahr auf. Obwohl generell eine frühere und beschleunigte Entwicklung als Reaktion auf die Erwärmung beobachtet wurde, zeigten sich doch Unterschiede in der Sensitivität von Organismen. Dadurch kann es in Nahrungsnetzen zu Match- oder Mismatch- Situationen in Räuber-Beute Beziehungen kommen. Am Beispiel der komplexen Interaktionen im Nahrungsnetz der Talsperre Saidenbach wird der Einfluss verschiedener Erwärmungsszenarien auf Schlüsselorganismen und deren Interaktionen im Nahrungsnetz und letztlich auf die Wassergüte in dieser Trinkwassertalsperre im Rahmen des DFG-Schwerpunktprogramms AQUASHIFT analysiert.In temperate regions, the warming trends of the last decades have been observed primarily in winter and early spring. Accordingly, changes in the phenology of individual species, e.g. sprouting in plants or spawning of fish, occurred mainly in spring. Although the general pattern is earlier and faster development in response to warming, differences in sensitivity have been apparent between species, potentially giving rise to match or mismatch scenarios in predator-prey relations. The impact of warming scenarios on key species, their interactions and ultimately on the water quality is studied at Saidenbach Reservoir within the framework of the DFG priority program AQUASHIFT

How internal waves influence the vertical distribution of zooplankton

1. We present data with a high spatio-temporal resolution from a 72-h field survey in Bautzen Reservoir (Saxony, Germany). The aims of this survey were to observe hydrophysical processes during a period of unstable stratification in spring and investigate the effect of wind-induced internal waves on the vertical distribution of zooplankton.2. Wind velocities up to 10 m s)1 caused a strong downwelling event of warm water at the sampling site and led to the generation of internal waves with an amplitude of 4 m.3. The zooplankton community, which was dominated by Daphnia galeata, inhabitedepilimnetic waters. Downwelling enlarged the thickness of the epilimnetic layer and, hence, led to high zooplankton abundances down to relatively deep water strata indicating lateral transport of zooplankton. As a consequence, area-specific zooplankton abundances increased considerably (max. fourfold) during downwelling.4. We conclude that classical limnological field sampling, such as for monitoring purposes, can lead to severely biased estimates of zooplankton abundance due to the interfering effects of hydrophysical processes like internal waves.5. Backscattering strengths measured by a simultaneously deployed Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (600 kHz) were found to be correlated with estimated zooplankton abundances based on plankton samples