From Greenland to green lakes: Cultural eutrophication and the loss of benthic pathways in lakes

TY - JOUR

T1 - From Greenland to green lakes: Cultural eutrophication and the loss of benthic pathways in lakes

AU - Vadeboncoeur, Y.

AU - Jeppesen, E.

AU - Zanden, M. J. V.

AU - Schierup, H.-H.

AU - Christoffersen, K.

AU - Lodge, D. M.

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - Benthic community responses to lake eutrophication are poorly understood relative to pelagic responses. Wecompared phytoplankton and periphyton productivity along a eutrophication gradient in Greenland, U.S., and Danishlakes. Phytoplankton productivity increased along the phosphorus gradient (total phosphorus [TP] 5 2–430 mgm23), but whole-lake benthic algal productivity decreased, substantially depressing increases in primary productivityat the whole-lake scale. In shallow, oligotrophic Greenland lakes, periphyton was responsible for 80–98% of primaryproduction, whereas in Danish lakes with TP . 100 mg m23, phytoplankton were responsible for nearly 100% ofprimary production. Benthic contributions ranged from 5 to 80% depending on morphometry and littoral habitatcomposition in lakes with intermediate phosphorus concentrations. Thus, eutrophication was characterized by aswitch from benthic to pelagic dominance of primary productivity. Carbon stable isotope analysis showed that theredistribution of primary production entailed a similar shift from periphyton to phytoplankton in the diets of zoobenthos.Benthic and pelagic habitats were energetically linked through food web interactions, but eutrophication erodedthe benthic primary production pathway.

AB - Benthic community responses to lake eutrophication are poorly understood relative to pelagic responses. Wecompared phytoplankton and periphyton productivity along a eutrophication gradient in Greenland, U.S., and Danishlakes. Phytoplankton productivity increased along the phosphorus gradient (total phosphorus [TP] 5 2–430 mgm23), but whole-lake benthic algal productivity decreased, substantially depressing increases in primary productivityat the whole-lake scale. In shallow, oligotrophic Greenland lakes, periphyton was responsible for 80–98% of primaryproduction, whereas in Danish lakes with TP . 100 mg m23, phytoplankton were responsible for nearly 100% ofprimary production. Benthic contributions ranged from 5 to 80% depending on morphometry and littoral habitatcomposition in lakes with intermediate phosphorus concentrations. Thus, eutrophication was characterized by aswitch from benthic to pelagic dominance of primary productivity. Carbon stable isotope analysis showed that theredistribution of primary production entailed a similar shift from periphyton to phytoplankton in the diets of zoobenthos.Benthic and pelagic habitats were energetically linked through food web interactions, but eutrophication erodedthe benthic primary production pathway.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0024-3590

SP - 1408

EP - 1418

JO - Limnology and Oceanography

JF - Limnology and Oceanography

IS - 48(4)

ER -