Spatial patterns of autochthonous and allochthonous resources in aquatic food webs

Although ecologists have recognized the importance of spatial structure within food webs, this aspect of ecosystems remains difficult to characterize quantitatively. Stable-isotope techniques have recently been used to provide evidence of spatial structure within aquatic food webs. Here, I review cu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Population ecology 2009-01, Vol.51 (1), p.57-64
Main Author: Doi, Hideyuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Anthropogenic factors
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic plants
Behavioral Sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Creeks & streams
Ecologists
Ecology
Ecosystems
Evolutionary Biology
Food chains
Food webs
Forestry
Habitats
Human influences
Lake
Lakes
Life Sciences
Light
Nutrient
Nutrient concentrations
nutrients
Plankton
Plant Sciences
Productivity
Resource availability
River
River ecology
River networks
Rivers
Special Feature: Review
Stable isotope
Stable isotopes
Water depth
Zoology
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Summary:Although ecologists have recognized the importance of spatial structure within food webs, this aspect of ecosystems remains difficult to characterize quantitatively. Stable-isotope techniques have recently been used to provide evidence of spatial structure within aquatic food webs. Here, I review current literature on spatial patterns of autochthonous and allochthonous resources in aquatic food webs in lakes and rivers. Across various habitats and ecosystems, the factors determining the major resources of aquatic food webs are primarily phytoplanktonic productivity, benthic algal productivity, and amount of subsidization from terrestrial habitats. Autochthonous and allochthonous resource availability in food webs shifts with gradients in water depth, nutrient concentrations, degree of canopy cover, and distance from terrestrial habitats. Size of lake and river ecosystem (i.e., lake volume and stream width) also affects the relative contribution of the resources to the food webs, as this factor determines the system primary productivity and linkage to terrestrial habitats. Human activities have fragmented river and lake ecosystems and have subsequently modified the structure of aquatic food webs. The responses of food webs to anthropogenic effects differ across ecosystems, and stable isotope techniques can help to quantitatively assess the effects of human impacts on aquatic food webs.
ISSN:1438-3896
1438-390X
DOI:10.1007/s10144-008-0127-z