Dynamics of Lake Michigan Phytoplankton: Mechanisms Controlling Epilimnetic Communities

Lake Michigan epilimnetic algal and particulate organic carbon sedimentation rates, determined from moored and floating sediment traps, and algal loss rates due to crustacean zooplankton grazing, determined from manipulation experiments with natural assemblages, were estimated during 1983 and 1984 f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Great Lakes research 1987, Vol.13 (2), p.103-120
Main Authors: Scavia, Donald, Fahnenstiel, Gary L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
aquatic productivity
eutrophication
Freshwater
sedimentation rates
zooplankton
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Summary:Lake Michigan epilimnetic algal and particulate organic carbon sedimentation rates, determined from moored and floating sediment traps, and algal loss rates due to crustacean zooplankton grazing, determined from manipulation experiments with natural assemblages, were estimated during 1983 and 1984 field seasons. Sedimentation was the most important algal loss in spring when colonial diatoms and calanoid copepods dominated the plankton. Grazing was the most important loss during summer when phytoflagellates and Daphnia spp. dominated. Comparisons between algal community production and loss due to sedimentation and grazing suggest that natural mortality may be significant, but it does not dominate control. An hypothesis is offered for overall control of phytoplankton dynamics in Lake Michigan.
ISSN:0380-1330
DOI:10.1016/S0380-1330(87)71635-9