Timothy D. Mussen, Gry Mine Berg, Sara Driscoll, Justin D. Nordin, Lisa C. Thompson
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Shallow-water habitats are being restored in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta with the goal of enhancing phytoplankton production and food availability for higher trophic levels. However, elevated grazing pressure from the non-native freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea and localized depletions of dissolved inorganic nitrogen may limit phytoplankton biomass accumulation in restored habitats. To evaluate interactions between nutrients and grazing on phytoplankton productivity and biomass accumulation, Sacramento River water high or low in phytoplankton biomass was amended with wastewater effluent, presence of C. fluminea, or both, in 48 h in situ incubations. We measured changes in chl a concentration, phytoplankton community composition, and photosynthetic efficiency as well as carbon and nitrogen uptake rates as indicators of phytoplankton responses. Diatoms dominated phytoplankton communities before and after incubation. Chl a concentrations increased 0.7 and 7.4 times in the high and low phytoplankton biomass controls, respectively, and 4.5 and 14 times in the high and low phytoplankton biomass effluent-added treatments, respectively. In the clam treatments, chl a accumulation was suppressed to near zero regardless of effluent additions or initial phytoplankton biomass. In treatments with clams and effluent combined, phytoplankton photosynthetic efficiency was nearly 50% lower than in the effluent-only treatments, suggesting phytoplankton were stressed in the presence of clams. This experiment demonstrated that the presence of clams can prevent the accumulation of phytoplankton biomass, both directly by clam filtering and indirectly by depressing phytoplankton photosynthetic efficiency and rate of growth. We recommend that future wetland restoration projects promoting increased phytoplankton biomass assess clam settlement likelihood as well as nutrient availability.
期刊介绍:
AB publishes rigorously refereed and carefully selected Feature Articles, Research Articles, Reviews and Notes, as well as Comments/Reply Comments (for details see MEPS 228:1), Theme Sections, Opinion Pieces (previously called ''As I See It'') (for details consult the Guidelines for Authors) concerned with the biology, physiology, biochemistry and genetics (including the ’omics‘) of all aquatic organisms under laboratory and field conditions, and at all levels of organisation and investigation. Areas covered include:
-Biological aspects of biota: Evolution and speciation; life histories; biodiversity, biogeography and phylogeography; population genetics; biological connectedness between marine and freshwater biota; paleobiology of aquatic environments; invasive species.
-Biochemical and physiological aspects of aquatic life; synthesis and conversion of organic matter (mechanisms of auto- and heterotrophy, digestion, respiration, nutrition); thermo-, ion, osmo- and volume-regulation; stress and stress resistance; metabolism and energy budgets; non-genetic and genetic adaptation.
-Species interactions: Environment–organism and organism–organism interrelationships; predation: defenses (physical and chemical); symbioses.
-Molecular biology of aquatic life.
-Behavior: Orientation in space and time; migrations; feeding and reproductive behavior; agonistic behavior.
-Toxicology and water-quality effects on organisms; anthropogenic impacts on aquatic biota (e.g. pollution, fisheries); stream regulation and restoration.
-Theoretical biology: mathematical modelling of biological processes and species interactions.
-Methodology and equipment employed in aquatic biological research; underwater exploration and experimentation.
-Exploitation of aquatic biota: Fisheries; cultivation of aquatic organisms: use, management, protection and conservation of living aquatic resources.
-Reproduction and development in marine, brackish and freshwater organisms