Effects of an extensive Prymnesium polylepis bloom on breeding eiders in the Baltic Sea

Larsson, Kjell; Hajdu, Susanna; Kilpi, Mikael; Larsson, Rolf; Leito, Aivar; Lyngs, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.seares.2013.12.017

Cited by 22 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Supporting these expectations, reproduction problems were recently reported in breeding eiders, i.e. higher consumers of the Baltic food web, and linked to the bloom [37]. In the latter study, spatial distribution of P. polylepis in 2008 closely matched the observed distribution of non-breeding female eiders.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Responses of Phyto- and Zooplankton Communities to Prymnesium polylepis (Prymnesiales) Bloom in the Baltic Sea

2014

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A large bloom of Prymnesium polylepis occurred in the Baltic Sea during the winter 2007 – spring 2008. Based on numerous reports of strong allelopathic effects on phytoplankton exerted by P. polylepis and its toxicity to grazers, we hypothesized that during this period negative correlations will be observed between P. polylepis and (1) main phytoplankton groups contributing to the spring bloom (i.e., diatoms and dinoflagellates), and (2) zooplankton growth and abundance. To test these hypotheses, we analyzed inter-annual variability in phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics as well as growth indices (RNA∶DNA ratio) in dominant zooplankton in relation to the Prymnesium abundance and biomass. Contrary to the hypothesized relationships, no measurable negative responses to P. polylepis were observed for either the total phytoplankton stocks or the zooplankton community. The only negative response, possibly associated with P. polylepis occurrence, was significantly lower abundance of dinoflagellates both during and after the bloom in 2008. Moreover, contrary to the expected negative effects, there were significantly higher total phytoplankton abundance as well as significantly higher winter abundance and winter-spring RNA∶DNA ratio in dominant zooplankton species in 2008, indicating that P. polylepis bloom coincided with favourable feeding conditions for zooplankton. Thus, primary consumers, and consequently also zooplanktivores (e.g., larval fish and mysids), may benefit from haptophyte blooms, particularly in winter, when phytoplankton is scarce.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Responses of Phyto- and Zooplankton Communities to Prymnesium polylepis (Prymnesiales) Bloom in the Baltic Sea

2014

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“…Off the island of Gotland, eiders have recently undergone a major decline (K. Larsson, pers comm) but see also Larsson et al 2014). Initially, Larsson et al (2014) reported a rapid decline of up to 70% from 2007 to 2008, followed by a recovery .…”

Section: Common Eiders On the Swedish Coastmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Initially, Larsson et al (2014) reported a rapid decline of up to 70% from 2007 to 2008, followed by a recovery . The recovery has since again transformed into a very rapid decline, so that in 2014 only 20% of the 2007 population remained (K. Larsson, pers.…”

Section: Common Eiders On the Swedish Coastmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there are some dissimilarities as well. Larsson et al (2014) documented a rapid decline off the island of Gotland in 2007/2008 which was attributed to effects on Blue Mussels mediated via heavy blooms of a potentially harmful algae, Prymnesium polylepis. While there was a partial recovery of the population after this episodic event, the data gathered revealed that the clutch size of Eider Ducks at Gotland was reduced compared with the Finnish population (Tvärminne) used in the study, and at least qualitative observations confirmed a very low reproductive output.…”

Section: Why Did the Swedish Population Of Common Eiders Decline?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This population peaked in 1992 (3,000 pairs), after which it declined to 1,060 pairs in 2008 (Laursen & Möller 2014), after which it recovered again to 1,850 pairs in 2010. Incidentally, 2008 was the year when these Eiders likely were affected by the Prymnesium polylepis-event (Larsson et al 2014). However, in 2014 the population had already reached 2,075 pairs after a rapid recovery (http://www.chnf.dk/ aktuelt/edf14/edfugl14.php).…”

Section: Denmarkmentioning

confidence: 99%

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