Synergistic effects between omnivorous filter-feeding fish and nutrient enrichment on algal biomass

Abstract

Aim: The Nile tilapia -Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus 1758) -is an exotic omnivorous filter-feeding fish that has been stocked for three decades in man-made lakes of Northeastern Brazil. Most experiments manipulating omnivorous filter-feeding fish in eutrophic lakes and reservoirs shows that their presence tends to increase phytoplankton biomass and primary production. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that tilapia interact synergistically with nutrient enrichment so that the effects of omnivorous fish on phytoplankton biomass becomes more intense with increasing nutrient concentration. Methods: A field experiment with a 2×3 factorial design was performed during four weeks in twenty-four mesocosms (0.25 m 3 ) to which six treatments were randomly allocated: fingerling addition (F), juvenile tilapia addition (J), nutrient addition (NP), nutrient and fingerling addition (NPF), nutrient and juvenile tilapia addition (NPJ) and a control treatment with no tilapia or nutrients addition (C). A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was done to test for time (t), tilapia and nutrients effects and their interaction on total phosphorus, total nitrogen and chlorophyll-a concentrations. Results: The results showed a positive effect of nutrient addition on total phosphorus, total nitrogen and chlorophyll-a concentrations and a positive effect of tilapia on the concentration of chlorophyll-a. As expected, we found a synergistic interaction between the positive effect of Nile tilapia and nutrient enrichment on phytoplankton biomass. Conclusions: The above results suggest that controlling tilapia abundance through fisheries management is a potential tool to improve water quality and mitigate the effects of lake and reservoir eutrophication.