TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of nutrient additions and macrophyte composition on invertebrate community assembly and diversity in experimental ponds.
AU - Declerck, S.A.J.
AU - Bakker, E.S.
AU - van Lith, B.
AU - Kersbergen, A.P.
AU - Van Donk, E.
N1 - Reporting year: 2011
Metis note: 5037; WAG; AnE; AqE
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Macrophytes and nutrient loading are two factors that can strongly determine the diversity and composition of aquatic
invertebrate communities. Both factors may also interact, because macrophyte species may be differentially affected by nutrients.
Macrophyte community characteristics, such as species composition, morphotype and biomass have the potential to mediate the
response of invertebrate communities to nutrient loading. In 36 newly constructed experimental ponds,weorthogonally combined
three macrophyte community types (Chara-, Potamogeton- and Elodea-dominated) with two levels of nutrient additions (no
addition and an addition of 0.5 mg P and 3mg N/L per week) and studied community assembly in three functional groups of
invertebrates (epiphytic macroinvertebrates, littoral and pelagic crustacean zooplankton). Macrophyte biomass was negatively
affected by nutrient addition. General linear models indicated negative responses of species richness in the zooplankton functional
groups to nutrient addition and phytoplankton chlorophyll-a, but demonstrated no effects of macrophyte community type.
Conversely, macroinvertebrate taxon richness differed among macrophyte community types but showed no response to nutrient
enrichment. Macrophyte biomass correlated positively with the richness of littoral zooplankton and macroinvertebrates and
was a better predictor of these diversity variables than macrophyte community type. Overall, our results indicate that lake
management practices that aim at obtaining a nutrient poor and macrophyte dominated clear water state contribute also to the
maintenance of aquatic invertebrate diversity.
AB - Macrophytes and nutrient loading are two factors that can strongly determine the diversity and composition of aquatic
invertebrate communities. Both factors may also interact, because macrophyte species may be differentially affected by nutrients.
Macrophyte community characteristics, such as species composition, morphotype and biomass have the potential to mediate the
response of invertebrate communities to nutrient loading. In 36 newly constructed experimental ponds,weorthogonally combined
three macrophyte community types (Chara-, Potamogeton- and Elodea-dominated) with two levels of nutrient additions (no
addition and an addition of 0.5 mg P and 3mg N/L per week) and studied community assembly in three functional groups of
invertebrates (epiphytic macroinvertebrates, littoral and pelagic crustacean zooplankton). Macrophyte biomass was negatively
affected by nutrient addition. General linear models indicated negative responses of species richness in the zooplankton functional
groups to nutrient addition and phytoplankton chlorophyll-a, but demonstrated no effects of macrophyte community type.
Conversely, macroinvertebrate taxon richness differed among macrophyte community types but showed no response to nutrient
enrichment. Macrophyte biomass correlated positively with the richness of littoral zooplankton and macroinvertebrates and
was a better predictor of these diversity variables than macrophyte community type. Overall, our results indicate that lake
management practices that aim at obtaining a nutrient poor and macrophyte dominated clear water state contribute also to the
maintenance of aquatic invertebrate diversity.
U2 - 10.1016/j.baae.2011.05.001
DO - 10.1016/j.baae.2011.05.001
M3 - Article
VL - 12
SP - 466
EP - 475
JO - Basic and Applied Ecology
JF - Basic and Applied Ecology
SN - 1439-1791
IS - 5
ER -