Are Chaoborus larvae more abundant in acidified than in non‐acidified lakes in Central Canada?

Yan, Norman D.; Nero, Redwood W.; Keller, W.; Lasenby, David C.

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.1985.tb01158.x

Cited by 38 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…These lakes have a greatly reduced Daphnia fauna compared with their historical populations prior to a decline in calcium levels, or to similar lakes that have higher ambient calcium concentrations (27,28,33). Although lakes and ponds with low calcium concentrations are inhospitable to Daphnia for a variety of reasons (24)(25)(26)(27), the loss of effective antipredator defenses (resulting in increased mortality from predators) is likely a major contributor to their poor performance in these commonly Chaoborus-rich environments (34). Further, the threat to Daphnia will likely increase as the number of low calcium lakes increases in response to logging cycles and ongoing changes in atmospheric acid deposition (35).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in water chemistry can disable plankton prey defenses

Riessen

Linley

Altshuler

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The effectiveness of antipredator defenses is greatly influenced by the environment in which an organism lives. In aquatic ecosystems, the chemical composition of the water itself may play an important role in the outcome of predator–prey interactions by altering the ability of prey to detect predators or to implement defensive responses once the predator’s presence is perceived. Here, we demonstrate that low calcium concentrations (<1.5 mg/L) that are found in many softwater lakes and ponds disable the ability of the water flea, Daphnia pulex to respond effectively to its predator, larvae of the phantom midge, Chaoborus americanus. This low-calcium environment prevents development of the prey’s normal array of induced defenses, which include an increase in body size, formation of neck spines, and strengthening of the carapace. We estimate that this inability to access these otherwise effective defenses results in a 50–186% increase in the vulnerability of the smaller juvenile instars of Daphnia, the stages most susceptible to Chaoborus predation. Such a change likely contributes to the observed lack of success of daphniids in most low-calcium freshwater environments, and will speed the loss of these important zooplankton in lakes where calcium levels are in decline.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in water chemistry can disable plankton prey defenses

Riessen

Linley

Altshuler

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…In contrast, diurnally were rare in experimental ponds containing fish but benthic species have not been found to be more often abundant in those without fish. The Europeabundant in acid fishless lakes (Yan et al, 1985).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish predation, lake acidity and the composition of aquatic insect assemblages

1987

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Aquatic insect assemblages were sampled in 2 sets of 18 small lakes in 2 regions of northeastern Ontario. Both sets included lakes with and without fish. In the set near Sudbury, fishless lakes were acidic. Using a standardized sweep net procedure, fishless lakes in both areas were found to have a greater abundance and richness of insects than lakes with fish. Irrespective of pH, fishless lakes supported a similar aquatic insect assemblage which was characterized by an abundance of nekton, especially Notonectidae, Corixidae, Graphoderus liberus (Dytiscidae) and Chaoborus americanus (Chaoboridae). Those taxa were typically absent from lakes with fish, which often had a marked abundance of Gerridae. It is concluded that fish predation is the most immediate factor structuring such aquatic insect assemblages, and is responsible for their change coincident with lake acidification.

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“…Finally, abundances of the zooplanktivore Chaoborus spp. were quantified in samples from night-time vertical hauls at 10 stations visited during the autumn in all lakes in 1986 and in one lake from 1987 to 1994 [37]. In the laboratory, a minimum of 300 cells, colonies or filaments of phytoplankton were counted within the Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Dinophyceae and Euglenophyceae.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The jellification of north temperate lakes

et al. 2015

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Calcium (Ca) concentrations are decreasing in softwater lakes across eastern North America and western Europe. Using long-term contemporary and palaeo-environmental field data, we show that this is precipitating a dramatic change in Canadian lakes: the replacement of previously dominant pelagic herbivores (Ca-rich Daphnia species) by Holopedium glacialis, a jelly-clad, Ca-poor competitor. In some lakes, this transformation is being facilitated by increases in macro-invertebrate predation, both from native (Chaoborus spp.) and introduced (Bythotrephes longimanus) zooplanktivores, to which Holopedium, with its jelly coat, is relatively invulnerable. Greater representation by Holopedium within cladoceran zooplankton communities will reduce nutrient transfer through food webs, given their lower phosphorus content relative to daphniids, and greater absolute abundances may pose long-term problems to water users. The dominance of jelly-clad zooplankton will likely persist while lakewater Ca levels remain low.

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Are Chaoborus larvae more abundant in acidified than in non‐acidified lakes in Central Canada?

Cited by 38 publications

References 19 publications

Changes in water chemistry can disable plankton prey defenses

Changes in water chemistry can disable plankton prey defenses

Fish predation, lake acidity and the composition of aquatic insect assemblages

The jellification of north temperate lakes

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