Effects of Food Web Compensation After Manipulation of Rainbow Trout in an Oligotrophic Lake

• Published in: Ecology (Durham) 1995, Vol.76 (1), p.52-69
• Main Authors: Elser, James J., Luecke, Chris, Brett, Michael T., Goldman, Charles R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Ecology; Environmental aspects; Fish; Food chains; Food chains (Ecology); Food webs; Fresh water ecosystems; Freshwater; Freshwater ecology; Freshwater fishes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Lake ecology; Lakes; Lentic systems; Limnology; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Predation; Productivity; Rainbow trout; Surface water; Synecology; Trout; Zooplankton
• ISSN: 0012-9658; 1939-9170
• DOI: 10.2307/1940631

Stocking of the dominant planktivore of Castle Lake (rainbow trout) was discontinued to examine the impact of food web interactions on zooplankton communities and inter— and intra—annual dynamics of ecosystem properties (light penetration, primary productivity). Dynamics of zooplankton and ecosystem processes were examined for 3 yr following the manipulation and compared to 2—3 yr of premanipulation data. Sampling of vertebrate and invertebrate planktivores documented shifts in other members of the zooplanktivore guild as rainbow trout declined. Reduction of rainbow trout densities led to compensatory responses in other components of the Castle Lake fish assemblage as brook trout and golden shiners increased in abundance. This compensation resulted in increased rates of vertebrate planktivory on daphnids within 2 yr after trout stocking was discontinued. Zooplankton shifts in response to discontinuance of trout stocking were more rapid, particularly an immediate increase in a previously rare invertebrate predator (Diacyclops thomasi). Other limnological parameters also responded rapidly following the manipulation: water transparency declined and primary productivity (PPr) increased. In addition, intra—annual patterns (i.e., seasonal development) and the vertical distribution (shallow vs. deep) of PPr appeared to be affected by the food web manipulation. Our results indicate that complexities of real food webs complicate the prediction of the outcome of food web perturbations. Reduction of the previously dominant planktivore (rainbow trout) led to increases in other zooplanktivores (Diacyclops, golden shiners, brook trout) that resulted in enhanced predation pressure on zooplankton herbivores. Our results also indicated that alterations in water quality parameters (transparency, PPr) in response to food web alterations need not necessarily be mediated through changes in the abundance of Daphnia, as strong limnological responses preceded reductions in Daphnia by a year. We hypothesize an alternative mechanism for food—web—induced changes in lake ecosystem dynamics: changes in water clarity and productivity can result when cyclopoid predation strongly affects micrograzers.