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Changes in phosphorus cycling in a shallow lake due to food web manipulations
Author(s) -
BOERS PAUL,
BALLEGOOIJEN LEO,
UUNK JAN
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1991.tb00468.x
Subject(s) - biomanipulation , eutrophication , macrophyte , phosphorus , environmental science , food web , phytoplankton , grazing pressure , nutrient , ecology , algal bloom , nutrient cycle , bloom , biology , grazing , chemistry , trophic level , organic chemistry
SUMMARY. 1. Food web manipulation, by removal of planktivorous or benthivorous fish, is a promising method for reducing phytoplankton concentrations in shallow lakes. The part that nutrients may play in the success of such a measure is not well documented. 2. In this study, we analysed the flow of phosphorus through the food web of the shallow, eutrophic Lake Wolderwijd/Nuldernauw. Our studies occurred in the years 1981 (when a bloom of cyanobacteria occurred) and 1987 (no bloom); a hypothetical situation was also examined in which most of the bream are assumed to be removed. 3. The analysis shows that the success of biomanipulation is probably due not only to an increased grazing pressure on the phytoplankton, but also to a decreased availability of phosphorus. The reason for this is the removal of detrital phosphorus by increased sedimentation as a result of a predicted increase in growth of macrophytes after biomanipulation.