ALBERT

Notes: SUMMARY. 1. Feeding preference trials conducted with male and female crayfish (Orconectes virilis) showed that out of ten submersed aquatic plant species, Chara sp. and Lemna trisulca were the preferred food sources, followed by Myriophyllum exalbescens or Utricularia vulgaris.2. Analysis of plant fibre, alkaloid, total phosphorus, total and available nitrogen, and organic content showed that crayfish feeding preferences were not related (P〉0.5) to plant fibre or alkaloid content but were negatively correlated (P〈0.05) with plant nutrient content such that species of low nutritional value (Chara and Lemna) were consistently preferred.3. Despite this preference for low nutrient food, daily intake rates by crayfish for phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter were greatest when feeding on Lemna or Chara due to the large quantity consumed.4. We suggest that feeding preferences of O. virilis are not determined by plant chemistry but, rather, relate to ease of handling small, short, bottom-dwelling plants such as Chara and Lemna as compared with large erect, roseate or floating-leaved forms. Because crayfish are selective herbivores, their introduction into waters where they do not naturally occur could have a dramatic effect on both the species composition and biomass of submersed plants.

Notes: SUMMARY. 1. The impact of crayfish on the biomass, density and shoot morphology of four submersed plant species was examined under semi-natural conditions. Male or female crayfish (Orconectes virilis) were held for 5 weeks at biomasses of 0, 5, 10 or 18 g m−2 (live weight) in twelve plastic pools (4.67 m2, surface area) containing Potamogeton richardsonii, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Nuphar variegatum and Sparganium eurycarpum.2. Crayfish significantly affected biomass, density and/or shoot morphology of all four macrophyte species. Differences in the effect of crayfish on macrophyte growth were related to plant species, crayfish sex and activity, and the abundance of alternative foods.3. The effect of female crayfish on macrophyte growth was generally stimulatory. Myriophyllum and Potamogeton biomass, Potamogeton density and Myriophyllum length increased in the presence of female crayfish, possibly due to the reduction in herbivorous snails as a result of crayfish predation. In contrast, plant growth decreased in the presence of male crayfish: Myriophyllum, Nuphar and Potamogeton biomass, Myriophyllum and Sparganium density, and Sparganium and Poiamogeton length were reduced at male crayfish biomasses between 5 and 18 g m−2.4. These results indicate that even relatively low densities of crayfish can greatly affect the growth of submersed aquatic plants. Because of their ability to modify aquatic macrophyte, macroinvertebrate and, ultimately, fish communities, the introduction of crayfish into lakes where they do not occur could have a major effect on the structure and composition of the littoral zone.

Notes: SUMMARY. 1. The impact of crayfish predation on the abundance of macroinvertebrates was examined under semi-natural conditions. Female (Experiment 1) or male (Experiment 2) crayfish (Orconectes virilis) were held for 5 weeks in twelve small pools (4.67 m2 surface area) at biomasses of 0. 5, 10 or 18 g m−2 (live weight). The pools were stocked with known densities of macroinvertebrates.2. Crayfish significantly affected the abundance of macroinvertebrates in the pools. Differences in the effects of crayfish on macroinvertebrates were related to crayfish sex, the presence of age-0 crayfish, and the species of macroinvertebrate.3. The abundance of snails (Stagnicola elodes and Physa gyrina) was greatly reduced, in comparison with controls, by biomass of female crayfish ≥10 g m−2 and by biomasses of male crayfish ≥5 g m−2. The total density of non-molluscan invertebrates was inversely correlated with the biomass of female crayfish but the total biomass of non-molluscan invertebrates did not differ between treatments. This is consistent with our observation that small invertebrates (〈2 mg wet weight) were less numerous, and large amphipods (32–64 mg) were more numerous, in pools stocked with female crayfish. In contrast, male crayfish had little apparent effect on the abundance of non-molluscan invertebrates.4. Age-0 crayfish hatched at the end of Experiment 1 and were present in each pool at the start of Experiment 2. Surprisingly, male crayfish preyed little on age-0 crayfish. At the end of Experiment 2, the densities of age-0 crayfish varied between six and 116 individuals m−2 and there was a strong inverse correlation between the mean biomass and density of age-0 crayfish recovered from the pools. This suggests age-0 crayfish were food limited in the pools and may explain the dominance of oligochaetes (which largely escape predation by burrowing) in the invertebrate community at the end of Experiment 2.5. These results indicate that even relatively low densities of crayfish could greatly affect the abundance of macroinvertebrates in lakes. The introduction of crayfish into lakes (most lakes in Alberta currently have no crayfish) could substantially affect abundance and species composition of the macroinvertebrate community and, ultimately, the fish populations.

Notes: 1. To assess the influence of lake trophic status on the occurrence of microcystin-LR (MCLR) in the tissue of resident pulmonate snails, we sampled seven lakes of varying primary productivity in Alberta, Canada. Parameters associated with productivity were measured every 2 weeks from mid-May through mid-September 1995. Phytoplankton and resident pulmonate snails were collected and analysed for MCLR concentration via high-performance liquid chromatography.2. For all species of gastropod (i.e. Lymnaea stagnalis, Helisoma trivolvis and Physa gyrina), the concentration of MCLR in the tissue was correlated (P ≤ 0.03) with toxin in the phytoplankton, but not with extracellular aqueous microcystin (P 〉 0.28). The concentrations of toxin in the tissues of L. stagnalis and P. gyrina were also correlated with the relative abundance of Microcystis spp. (P 〈 0.01).3. Given that Microcystis spp. abundance and MCLR concentration within phytoplankton are correlated with indicators of productivity, we conclude that trophic status is important in influencing the occurrence and concentration of MCLR in pulmonate snails.

Notes: 1. Phosphorus (P) release from bottom sediments is an important source of nutrient enrichment in many lakes in sedimentary basins, such as those in western Canada. On the Boreal Plain, sediment P release is particularly strong during periods of seasonal anoxia.2. In this study, the effects of reduction–oxidation (redox)-sensitive and -insensitive chemicals on P release were examined in sediment cores collected from three eutrophic lakes.3. Contrary to expectations, redox-sensitive treatments were no more effective at lowering total phosphorus (TP) in sediment cores than some redox-insensitive treatments. Redox-sensitive treatments with FeCl3 and FeCl3 + O2 reduced TP to 8 and 6%, respectively, of reference concentrations, whereas redox-insensitive treatments with alum or lime + alum reduced TP to 14% of reference concentrations. Lime and O2 treatments reduced TP concentrations to 35 and 52% of reference concentrations, respectively.4. The fraction of P that adsorbed and co-precipitated with iron and aluminium in the sediment cores was low (non-apatite phosphorus fractions 〈 5%), suggesting that P release was controlled by apatite solubility and bacterial metabolism.

Notes: 1. The main focus of this study was to investigate the effects of single and multiple moderate doses of lime (slaked lime, Ca(OH)2, and/or calcite, CaCO3) on eutrophic hardwater lakes. This information would contribute to strategies to manage phytoplankton and macrophyte biomass in eutrophic lakes.2. Water chemistry and biota were monitored for up to 7 years after initial lime treatment and results were compared with reference systems.3. Complementary studies investigated the effect of lime on macrophytes in ponds, irrigation canals and microcosm experiments.4. When water pH was kept within its natural range (≤ 10), single and multiple lime applications to lakes and ponds controlled macrophyte biomass, without negatively affecting invertebrate communities.5. Single lime treatments at moderate dosages of lakes and ponds resulted in variable and mostly temporary changes in chlorophyll a (chl a) and phosphorus (P) concentration. Although sediment P release was reduced in single-dose lakes during the first winter following treatment, reductions appeared temporary.6. Multiple treatments of lakes and ponds were effective at reducing both chl a and P concentrations over longer periods. Mean winter P release rate was also reduced after initial treatment.7. In laboratory studies, sediment cores were incubated with eight different treatments to assess P release. Redox-sensitive treatments were no more effective at lowering total P concentration in overlying water than some redox-insensitive treatments. Lime reduced total P concentrations, but was not as effective as treatments with alum.8. The use of lime in managing macrophyte and phytoplankton biomass in shallow, hardwater lakes and ponds may be preferable over other treatments, because lime is economical and non-toxic as long as pH is kept within a natural range.

Notes: 1. We empirically modelled profundal macroinvertebrate biomass (PMB) from collections of macroinvertebrates and a suite of trophic, water chemistry and morphometric variables from 26 lakes located within the Boreal Mixedwood and Boreal Subarctic ecoregions of Alberta, Canada.2. Hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations (mg L−1) explained 37% of the variance in PMB ((g m−2)0.1) as a quadratic function, whereas water temperature (°C) explained 23% of variance in a linear relationship.3. In contrast with other studies based on oligotrophic systems, indirect indicators of food availability (i.e. chlorophyll a and total phosphorus concentrations and Secchi depth) were not significant predictors of PMB in this study.4. The predictive power of our models may be improved by obtaining more frequent (seasonal) estimates of PMB and hypolimnetic DO concentration and by quantifying biotic factors such as competition, predation, life history phenologies and recruitment success.

Notes: SUMMARY 1. Large in situ enclosures were used to study the effects of experimentally induced cyanobacterial blooms on zooplankton communities. A combination of N and P was added to shallow (2 m) and deep enclosures (5 m) with the goal of reducing the TN : TP ratio to a low level (∼5 : 1) to promote cyanobacterial growth. After nutrient additions, high biomass of cyanobacteria developed rapidly in shallow enclosures reaching levels only observed during bloom events in eutrophic lakes.2. In the shallow enclosures, particulate phosphorus (PP) was on average 35% higher in comparison with deep enclosures, suggesting that depth plays a key role in P uptake by algae. Phytoplankton communities in both deep and shallow enclosures were dominated by three cyanobacteria species –Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Anabaena flos-aquae and Microcystis aeruginosa– which accounted for up to 70% of total phytoplankton biomass. However, the absolute biomass of the three species was much higher in shallow enclosures, especially Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. The three cyanobacteria species responded in contrasting ways to nutrient manipulation because of their different physiology.3. Standardised concentrations of the hepatotoxic microcystin-LR increased as a result of nutrient manipulations by a factor of four in the treated enclosures. Increased biomass of inedible and toxin producing cyanobacteria was associated with a decline in Daphnia pulicaria biomass caused by a reduction in the number of individuals with a body length of 〉1 mm. Zooplankton biomass did not decline at moderate cyanobacteria biomass, but when cyanobacteria reached high biomass large cladocerans were reduced.4. Our results demonstrate that zooplankton communities can be negatively affected by cyanobacterial blooms and therefore the potential to use herbivory to reduce algal blooms in such eutrophic lakes appears limited.