Premium
Habitat structure determines resource use by zooplankton in temperate lakes
Author(s) -
Francis Tessa B.,
Schindler Daniel E.,
Holtgrieve Gordon W.,
Larson Eric R.,
Scheuerell Mark D.,
Semmens Brice X.,
Ward Eric J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01597.x
Subject(s) - zooplankton , detritus , environmental science , ecology , terrestrial ecosystem , phytoplankton , oceanography , food web , aquatic ecosystem , ecosystem , temperate climate , nutrient , biology , geology
Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 364–372 Abstract While the importance of terrestrial linkages to aquatic ecosystems is well appreciated, the degree of terrestrial support of aquatic consumers remains debated. Estimates of terrestrial contributions to lake zooplankton have omitted a key food source, phytoplankton produced below the mixed layer. We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data from 25 Pacific Northwest lakes to assess the relative importance of particulate organic matter (POM) from the mixed layer, below the mixed layer and terrestrial detritus to zooplankton. Zooplankton and deep POM were depleted in 13 C relative to mixed layer POM in lakes that can support deep primary production. A Bayesian stable isotope mixing model estimated that terrestrial detritus contributed <5% to zooplankton production, and confirms the role of lake optical and thermal properties; deep POM accounted for up to 80% of zooplankton production in the clearest lakes. These results suggest terrestrial support of lake zooplankton production is trivial.