Reimchen hypothesized that pelvic reduction in threespine stickleback is favored by an absence of piscivorous fishes and the resulting increase in predation by insects, but Giles hypothesized that the predation regime is unimportant and that a low dissolved calcium concentration favors evolution of pelvic reduction. Substantial pelvic reduction in threespine stickleback sampled from 179 lakes around Cook Inlet, Alaska is strongly associated both with an absence of predatory fishes and a low calcium concentration. However, the association of pelvic reduction with low calcium concentration appears to be contingent on the absence of predatory fishes. These results emphasize the importance of interactions between seemingly unrelated environmental variables for selection of a single trait. However, these results also conflict with some observations elsewhere and do not rule out the possibility that other environmental factors are important for selection for pelvic reduction in threespine stickleback.

Variations in underwater light regimes among 58 Alaskan lakes were indexed by Secchi disk (SD) transparency and by vertical attenuation coefficients (&) and euphotic zone depths (EZD) derived from using a submarine photometer (SP) sensitive to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Lake-specific ratios between turbidity (light scattering) and color (light absorption) explained 52% of the variation (P < 0.0001) in Kd x SD values, which ranged as a continuum between 0.52 and 3.83. A clear-water median value of 1.86 (range, 1.13-3.26) is elevated by color to a median of 2.70 (range, 1.81-3.83), whereas turbidity reduces the median value of 0.93 (range, 0.52-2.56). EZD : SD, PAR at the SD depth, and PAR reflection (backscatter) also changed with the turbidityto-color ratio. The nearly lo-fold ranges between & x SD (05911.09) and EZD: SD (0.89-8.67) values taken from 35 studies on lakes, estuaries, and oceans could be explained by color and turbidity differences. Background attenuation from small amounts of color (< 10 Pt units) and turbidity (~5 NTU) uncoupled SD and SP measurements from changes in Chl a, limiting their use as an index of trophic state. Changes in Kd x SD can serve, however, as a useful index of system loading by turbid particulate material or organic color.

Turbidity results from the scattering of light in water by organic and inorganic particles; however, high turbidities usually are caused by suspended inorganic particles, particularly sediment. For several Alaskan lakes, we found that the depth to which 1% of subsurface light penetrated had a strong inverse correlation with sediment‐induced turbidity. We also developed a model that describes the decrease in primary production in shallow interior Alaskan streams caused by sediment‐induced turbidity. Euphotic volume in lakes correlated strongly with production of juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). We also observed reduced abundance of zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in naturally and artificially turbid aquatic systems. Turbidity measurements correlated less consistently with measures of suspended sediment concentration (total nonfilterable residue), but provided an adequate estimator for use as a water quality standard to protect aquatic habitats.

Reimchen hypothesized that pelvic reduction in threespine stickleback is favored by an absence of piscivorous fishes and the resulting increase in predation by insects, but Giles hypothesized that the predation regime is unimportant and that a low dissolved calcium concentration favors evolution of pelvic reduction. Substantial pelvic reduction in threespine stickleback sampled from 179 lakes around Cook Inlet, Alaska is strongly associated both with an absence of predatory fishes and a low calcium concentration. However, the association of pelvic reduction with low calcium concentration appears to be contingent on the absence of predatory fishes. These results emphasize the importance of interactions between seemingly unrelated environmental variables for selection of a single trait. However, these results also conflict with some observations elsewhere and do not rule out the possibility that other environmental factors are important for selection for pelvic reduction in threespine stickleback.

Glacial lakes, turbid (@>5 nephleometric turbidity units) with suspended particles (1—30 @mm), have both lower May—November levels of chlorophyll a and temperatures compared to nonglacial systems. Macro—zooplankton densities are also lower and dominated by Cyclops and Diaptomus. Extensive surveys showed that, regardless of the presence or absence of planktivorous fish, filter—feeding caldocerans (e.g., Bosmina, Daphnia, and Holopedium) were only absent from the limnetic zooplankton community of the glacial lakes. Both laboratory and in situ biochamber experiments demonstrated that turbidity reduced Daphnia survival and recruitment. Nondiscriminating filter feeders ingest glacial silt (average diameter of °11 @mm) because the size—range overlaps that of the phytoplankton. We speculate that such an inefficient foraging strategy, especially when silt levels are high and algal numbers low, lowers energy extractable from ingested food below maintenance levels. Thus, the limnetic macro—zooplankton community of most Alaskan glacial lakes is restricted to either the selective herbivore Diaptomus and the raptorial feeding Cyclops, or to just Cyclops.