Short-term effects of elevated velocity and sediment abrasion on benthic algal communities

Francoeur, Steven N.; Biggs, Barry J. F.

doi:10.1007/1-4020-5070-4_4

Cited by 53 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…There is evidence that the specific wave exposure influences the community structure of benthic organisms and fishes (Scheifhacken 2006;Schleuter 2006). Furthermore, ship waves limit or even suppress the growth of macrophytes and biofilms (Eriksson et al 2004;Francoeur and Biggs 2006). These effects are enhanced by their frequent occurrence, especially during summer.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the most prominent differences between the littoral and the pelagic zone is the role of surface waves. In the littoral zone, waves interact directly with the sediment surface and biota and thus cause, for example, resuspension, erosion, and transport of particles (Luettich et al 1990;Hawley and Lee 1999;Hå kanson 2005); release of nutrients and methane (Gü de et al 2000;Bussmann 2005); reallocation and stress on zoobenthos affecting zoobenthos diversity (Scheifhacken 2006); abrasion of biofilms from stones (Cattaneo 1990;Peters 2005;Francoeur and Biggs 2006) and aquatic macrophytes (Eriksson et al 2004); and damage of reed belts . Surface waves also influence the growth and behavior of fish that cannot escape from the fluctuating currents by vertical migration (Stoll pers.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The relative importance of wind and ship waves in the littoral zone of a large lake

Hofmann

Lorke

Peeters

2008

Limnology & Oceanography

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Surface waves and their interactions with sediments and benthic organisms are the main hydrodynamic process affecting littoral ecosystems. Here, we present a long-term data set on surface-wave parameters, which was obtained from the analysis of measurements with a pressure sensor. The data set covers a time period of a year and allows for resolving waves with heights down to less than a centimeter and frequencies up to 0.8 Hz. Wind waves and three different types of ship waves were distinguished by their spectral properties. In Lake Constance, ship-generated waves are as important as wind-generated waves and contribute about 41% of the annual mean wave energy flux to shore. In summer, during the most productive time period, ship waves dominate the wave field in terms of the energy flux to shore and also in their frequency of occurrence. Ship waves cause a diurnal and a seasonal pattern in the frequency of occurrence and in the heights of surface waves, whereas in the case of wind waves these parameters do not vary significantly with season or between nighttime and daytime. In contrast to wind waves that occur only sporadically, ship waves propagate into the littoral zone very frequently at regular time intervals. The different pattern of occurrence of ship and wind waves results in a different pattern of disturbance in the littoral ecosystem.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The relative importance of wind and ship waves in the littoral zone of a large lake

Hofmann

Lorke

Peeters

2008

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…To date, most attention on current-mediated processes has focussed on large-scale and/or physical mechanisms such as scour disturbance and hydraulic shear (Biggs, Goring & Nikora, 1998;Wellnitz & Rader, 2003;Francoeur & Biggs, 2006;Hart et al, 2013). Few studies have explored how near-bed current controls the flow of biological energy through food webs in benthic habitats (but see Peckarsky et al, 1990;Lancaster, 1996;Meissner et al, 2009), much less how small-scale heterogeneity in flow affects the overall stream food web.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can current velocity mediate trophic cascades in a mountain stream?

Wellnitz

2014

Freshwater Biology

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Summary Trophic cascades can be context‐dependent in that they occur under some conditions but not others. An important context for stream benthic communities is near‐bed current velocity, which varies at the spatial scale at which benthic species interactions occur. To investigate how centimetre‐scale variation in near‐bed current velocity influenced the occurrence of benthic cascades, I studied a stonefly/mayfly/algal system in a high‐gradient Rocky Mountain stream and examined the effect of 10 and 25 cm s−1 current (i.e. ‘slow’ and ‘fast’, respectively) on stonefly predation and its top‐down effects. There were two experiments using stream‐side mesocosms and a third using in‐stream troughs. The two mesocosm experiments had known numbers of stoneflies and mayflies and examined how near‐bed current influenced (i) top‐down cascades driven by non‐trophic, behaviourally mediated predator effects (stonefly mouthparts were glued shut) and (ii) direct predation. The in‐stream experiment allowed mayfly grazers to arrive and depart freely and examined how near‐bed current and stoneflies influenced algal accumulation and community structure. Results from these experiments showed that top‐down cascades occurred in slow, but not fast current, and that these cascades are driven largely by the non‐trophic effects of predation. The mesocosm experiment showed that mayflies removed less algae in slow current when stoneflies with glued mouthparts were present. There was 33% greater algal biomass in slow compared with fast current, and algal biomass in the slow current did not differ from that in the grazer‐free controls. The predation experiment showed that stoneflies captured approximately twice as many mayflies in slow as compared to fast current. The in‐stream experiment found that algal biomass increased when stoneflies were present, but grazer densities did not differ from stonefly‐free controls, supporting the hypothesis that effects mediated by behaviour drove the cascade. This study suggests that near‐bed current can turn stonefly/mayfly/algae cascades ‘on’ and ‘off’ at small spatial scales and provides a new perspective for understanding algal heterogeneity on natural streambeds.

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“…Water velocity and flow disturbance have pervasive effects on benthic organisms influencing colonisation, biotic interactions and the accrual and loss of biomass (Flinders & Hart, 2009;Francoeur & Biggs, 2006;Hart, Biggs, Nikora, & Flinders, 2013;Wellnitz & Poff, 2006). Didymosphenia geminata biomass has been observed to increase with velocity up to c. 0.5 per ms (Bray et al, 2016) and velocity may play a role in establishment and persistence of D. geminata and community succession.…”

Section: (A) (C) (B)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological eustress? Nutrient supply, bloom stimulation and competition determine dominance of the diatom Didymosphenia geminata

Bray

Kilroy

Gerbeaux³

2017

Freshwater Biology

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Nuisance proliferations of the invasive benthic alga Didymosphenia geminata (Bacillariophyceae) are of major concern in many temperate regions due to their severe effects on river habitats and communities. Proliferations result from the production of basal stalk material, stimulated by phosphorus limited, high light conditions. An unresolved disconnect occurs where nitrogen and phosphorus are observed to stimulate D. geminata cell division, but, within a realised niche, disappearance or establishment failure occurs where dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations occur above c. 2–5 μg/L. Our aims were to examine the mechanisms behind D. geminata bloom stimulation and absence/disappearance. We examined: (1a) whether prolonged nitrogen (NaNO3 – N) and phosphorus (NaH2PO4 – P) addition would stimulate cell division, and (1b) whether subsequent nutrient limitation stimulated stalk production; (2) whether the mechanism behind D. geminata absence at >5 μg/L DRP, occurred either as (2a) a deleterious consequence of prolonged N + P exposure or (2b) was associated with increasing densities of co‐occurring algae; and (3) whether water velocity stimulated D. geminata cell division thereby influencing outcomes. Didymosphenia geminata cell densities, frequencies of dividing cells, stalk production and densities of competing algae were examined in flow‐through channel mesocosms over 8 weeks. Treatments included: Waitaki River water (control); N + P amended water; and two treatments in which nutrient amendments were changed over time, these being N + P to N, and N + P to Waitaki water. Continued N + P amendment was positively correlated with D. geminata cell densities. N‐replete P‐limited channels, however, accrued greatest densities of D. geminata cells, stalk fragments and dividing cells. Results suggest that within a realised niche short term N + P amendment followed by chronic P limitation could either hasten and/or worsen bloom development. Water velocity influenced community successional trajectories and D. geminata fitness outcomes. Across all nutrient and velocity treatments, a decline in D. geminata cell densities and cell division was correlated with increasing densities of competing algae. Phosphorus limitation stimulating stalk production appears to be an example of physiological stress resulting in increased fitness (known as eustress) and D. geminata dominance. This contrasts with a general pattern of competitive exclusion as nutrient concentrations increase.

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Short-term effects of elevated velocity and sediment abrasion on benthic algal communities

Cited by 53 publications

References 36 publications

The relative importance of wind and ship waves in the littoral zone of a large lake

The relative importance of wind and ship waves in the littoral zone of a large lake

Can current velocity mediate trophic cascades in a mountain stream?

Ecological eustress? Nutrient supply, bloom stimulation and competition determine dominance of the diatom Didymosphenia geminata

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