Climate-driven changes on phytoplankton-zooplankton coupling and nutrient availability in high mountain lakes of Southern Europe

Summary 1. The effect of climate variability on phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics and nutrient availability was studied in two high mountain fishless lakes (La Caldera and Río Seco) of contrasting morphology, hydrology and dissolved inorganic nitrogen : soluble reactive phosphate (DIN : SRP) ra...

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Published in:Freshwater biology 2006-06, Vol.51 (6), p.989-998
Main Authors: MORALES-BAQUERO, RAFAEL, CARRILLO, PRESENTACIÓN, BAREA-ARCO, JOSÉ, PÉREZ-MARTÍNEZ, CARMEN, VILLAR-ARGAIZ, MANUEL
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
climate-driven changes
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Fresh water ecosystems
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
mountain lakes
nutrient availability
phytoplankton-zooplankton coupling
resource limitation
Synecology
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Summary:Summary 1. The effect of climate variability on phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics and nutrient availability was studied in two high mountain fishless lakes (La Caldera and Río Seco) of contrasting morphology, hydrology and dissolved inorganic nitrogen : soluble reactive phosphate (DIN : SRP) ratios during 1986 and after a 10‐year‐long drought in 1996 and 1997. 2. Thaw was delayed and water temperatures were lower in both lakes in 1996 than in 1986 and 1997. However, the lake‐specific DIN : SRP ratio was maintained in the 3 years studied, reflecting its local control. 3. On other hand, the presumptive limiting nutrient in each lake, P in La Caldera and N in Río Seco, showed higher concentrations in 1996 versus 1986 and 1997. Significant positive correlations between temperature and chlorophyll a were found in both lakes in 1996 but these relationships were negative or not significant in 1986 and 1997. Zooplankton biomass showed lower values in 1996 than in 1986 or 1997. 4. These findings can be explained by a decoupling of the phytoplankton–zooplankton interaction because of a constraint on zooplankton growth by low temperatures in the coldest year studied. This observation furnishes evidence that regional climatic control on the phytoplankton–zooplankton link can modulate the overall demand for nutrients.
ISSN:0046-5070
1365-2427
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2006.01545.x