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Interdependence of phosphorus, fish, and site effects on phytoplankton biomass and zooplankton
Author(s) -
Drenner Ray W.,
Threlkeld Stephen T.,
Smith J. Durward,
Mummert John R.,
Cantrell Patricia A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1989.34.7.1315
Subject(s) - zooplankton , phosphorus , phytoplankton , plankton , turbidity , chlorophyll a , biomass (ecology) , eutrophication , gambusia , secchi disk , biology , biomanipulation , environmental science , ecology , fishery , nutrient , fish <actinopterygii> , chemistry , botany , organic chemistry
We conducted an outdoor tank experiment of factorial design with three levels of phosphorus addition cross‐classified with two levels of mosquitofish ( Gambusia affinis ) at two lake sites, allowing us to examine both main effects and interaction effects of phosphorus, fish, and site on phytoplankton biomass and zooplankton. Phosphorus addition significantly increased total phosphorus concentration and chlorophyll and decreased Secchi depth. Fish significantly decreased cladoceran densities and Secchi depth and increased chlorophyll and turbidity. Most phosphorus and fish effects were independent of each other except for a significant phosphorus × fish interaction on rotifers. The two sites had significant differences in total phosphorus concentration, turbidity, Secchi depth, chlorophyll, and densities of cladocerans, copepods, and rotifers. The only significant site ×phosphorus interaction was for total phosphorus. Significant site x fish interactions were detected for turbidity, Secchi depth, chlorophyll, and densities of cladocerans and rotifers. Fish effects were independent of phosphorus addition but dependent on site‐specific plankton community composition.