Effects on periphyton and macroinvertebrates from removal of submerged wood in three Ontario lakes

We removed 40%-70% of nearshore wood habitat from three lakes to test the link between habitat and productive capacity, specifically focusing on the provision of substrate for periphyton and invertebrate production by submerged wood. Our objectives were fourfold: (i) to calculate the total amount of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences 2006-09, Vol.63 (9), p.2038-2049
Main Authors: Smokorowski, Karen E, Pratt, Thomas C, Cole, William G, McEachern, Laurie J, Mallory, Elaine C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Biomass
Competition
Energy efficiency
Environmental aspects
Fish production
Fresh water ecosystems
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Habitats
Invertebrates
Lakes
Macroinvertebrates
Marine fauna
Medical treatment
Productivity
Secondary productivity
Synecology
Water chemistry
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Summary:We removed 40%-70% of nearshore wood habitat from three lakes to test the link between habitat and productive capacity, specifically focusing on the provision of substrate for periphyton and invertebrate production by submerged wood. Our objectives were fourfold: (i) to calculate the total amount of invertebrate and periphyton biomass removed with the wood; (ii) to explore wood's value as habitat for invertebrates and periphyton; (iii) to determine the response within residual epixylic periphyton and invertebrate biomass; and (iv) to assess interactions between periphyton and invertebrates and other factors that may influence wood's productivity. Invertebrate biomass was greater on wood than in sediment, but the total available sediment area exceeded that of wood, thus a relatively small proportion of overall productivity was lost. Highly decayed wood supported greater chlorophyll a concentrations and more invertebrate biomass and diversity than fresh wood. The removal had no measurable effect on whole-lake water chemistry, nor did it result in a response in residual epixylic periphyton and invertebrate biomass. We conclude that we permanently reduced a dynamic and concentrated biomass of primary and secondary productivity in lakes by removing submerged wood habitat.
ISSN:0706-652X
1205-7533
DOI:10.1139/f06-104