Grazing minnows increase benthic autotrophy and enhance the response of periphyton elemental composition to experimental phosphorus additions

Taylor, Jason M.; Back, Jeffrey A.; King, Ryan S.

doi:10.1899/11-055.1

Cited by 19 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…, Taylor et al. ). Complex responses toward external drivers, including the occurrence of indirect effects, are common for food webs (Fussmann and Heber ) and significantly contribute to the control of biofilm communities (Wey et al.…”

Section: The Food Web Perspective: Implications For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

Weitere

Erken

Majdi

et al. 2018

Ecological Monographs

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Biofilms, the complex communities of microbiota that live in association with aquatic interfaces, are considered to be hotspots of microbial life in many aquatic ecosystems. Although the importance of attached algae and bacteria is widely recognized, the role of the highly abundant biofilm‐dwelling micrograzers (i.e., heterotrophic protists and small metazoans) is poorly understood. Studies often highlight the resistance of bacterial biofilms to grazing within the microbial food web and therefore argue that the micrograzers have a modulating role (i.e., have effects on biofilm phenotype) rather than a direct trophic role within biofilms. In the present review, we show that this view comes too short, and we establish a conceptual framework of biofilm food webs consisting of three major elements. (1) Energy pathways and subsidization from plankton. As inhabitants of interfaces, biofilm‐dwelling grazers potentially access both planktonic organisms and surface‐associated organisms. They can play an important role in importing planktonic production into the biofilm food web and thus in the coupling of the planktonic and benthic food webs. Nevertheless, specialized grazers are also able to utilize significant amounts of autochthonous biofilm production. (2) Horizontal complexity of the basal food web. While bacteria and algae within biofilms are edible in general, food quality and accessibility of both bacteria and algae can differ considerably between different prey phenotypes occurring during biofilm formation with respect to morphology, chemical defense, and nutrient stoichiometry. Instead of considering bacteria and algae within biofilms to be generally resistant to feeding by micrograzers, we suggest considering a horizontal food‐quality axis to be at the base of biofilm food webs. This food quality gradient is probably associated with increasing costs for the micrograzers. (3) Vertical food web complexity and food chain length. In addition to the consumption of bacteria and algae, many predatory micrograzers exist within biofilm food webs. With the help of video microscopy, we were able to demonstrate the existence of a complex food web with several trophic levels within biofilms. Our conceptual framework should assist in integrating food web concepts and processes into whole‐biofilm budgets and in understanding food‐web‐related interactions within biofilms.

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Section: The Food Web Perspective: Implications For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Taylor et al. ). Food web theory can provide powerful tools for representing patterns of material and energy flow through networks on trophically interacting species and for linking biodiversity to ecosystem functions (Thompson et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

Weitere

Erken

Majdi

et al. 2018

Ecological Monographs

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“…Severe drought conditions with minimal precipitation and low stream flow during the summer and fall of 2006 resulted in most streams becoming dewatered with disconnected pools. In contrast, 2007 was an exceptionally wet year with periodic spring flooding and uncharacteristic sustained high flows throughout the summer (Stanley, Taylor, & King, ; Appendix , Figure ). We sampled nutrients and periphyton during a 2‐year period to examine: (1) the consistency of assemblage responses to spatial gradients in enrichment from data collected repeatedly from many field locations over a wide range of seasonal and annual hydrological conditions; and (2) the utility of diatom assemblage structure for identifying thresholds that can inform scientifically defensible regional nutrient criteria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial, temporal and experimental: Three study design cornerstones for establishing defensible numeric criteria in freshwater ecosystems

Taylor

Back

Brooks

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Nutrient over‐enrichment increasingly threatens global water resources. Stressor‐response studies specifically designed to identify levels of nutrients strongly associated with undesirable ecological conditions are needed to inform numeric nutrient criteria that protect inland waters. Diatoms are important components of aquatic life, which support higher trophic levels and are sensitive to nutrient enrichment. We tested a framework that relies on stressor‐response modelling of phosphorus (P) enrichment and stream diatom assemblages across many field locations, multiple years and seasons within years, and under controlled experimental conditions to inform nutrient criteria development. Diatom species composition was nonlinearly correlated with total phosphorus (TP) throughout the 2‐year field study. This occurred despite temporal shifts in species composition between two hydrologically distinct years and over eight seasons. Species assemblages on rocks transplanted from a low P stream to mesocosms representing a P enrichment gradient (8, 20 and 100 μg/L) shifted into two groups over time. Species composition on rocks in low (20 μg/L) and high (100 μg/L) P mesocosms was consistent with assemblages at P‐enriched field sites, whereas rocks in control (8 μg/L) mesocosms had significantly different species composition, consistent with low P field sites. Species composition on rocks transplanted from high P streams did not shift as dramatically and were not significantly different after exposure to different P treatments in mesocosms. Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis identified synchronous declines in several diatom species that culminated in assemblage thresholds associated with TP concentrations >20 and 25 μg/L for 2006 and 2007 respectively. Synthesis and applications. Diatom assemblages show consistent responses to nutrient enrichment despite temporal shifts associated with confounding factors common in stream ecosystems. Regulators should include diatom assemblage responses when developing numeric nutrient criteria. We present a framework that includes spatial, temporal and experimental components, and has broad applicability for use in different ecological settings to evaluate ecological endpoints and set limits for a variety of contaminants threatening freshwater ecosystems throughout the world.

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“…Experimental streams.-We conducted the experiments at the Baylor Experimental Aquatic Research (BEAR) facility, THERMAL TOLERANCE IN CYPRINIDS which is located at the Lake Waco Wetlands in McLennan County, Texas (see Taylor et al 2012aTaylor et al , 2012b for images and details about the facility). Water from the North Bosque River is pumped into a constructed wetland complex, and polished source water is subsequently pumped from the wetland into a 160,000-L water tower.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Central Stoneroller is a widespread omnivore that may influence benthic communities and mediate nutrient dynamics and primary productivity (Taylor et al 2012a(Taylor et al , 2012b. We measured survival rates and used stable isotope analysis (SIA) to examine trophic interactions in the density treatments.…”

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confidence: 99%

Thermal Tolerance, Survival, and Recruitment of Cyprinids Exposed to Competition and Chronic Heat Stress in Experimental Streams

Dekar¹,

McCauley

Ray

et al. 2014

Trans Am Fish Soc

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We examined survival, competition, and recruitment among cyprinids that were subjected to interspecific and intraspecific competition and chronic heat stress in large, outdoor experimental streams. The study was conducted in 2011 during the hottest summer (also one of the driest summers) recorded in Texas. We measured survival of Red Shiners Cyprinella lutrensis, Blacktail Shiners Cyprinella venusta, and Central Stonerollers Campostoma anomalum stocked at varying densities to examine competitive interactions. Trophic interactions among Blacktail Shiner density treatments were assessed with stable isotope analysis (SIA), and mitochondrial markers were used to examine the lineage of young-of-the-year shiners spawned during the study. Stocking survival was significantly greater for Red Shiners, and both shiner species demonstrated higher overall survival rates than Central Stonerollers. Although SIA results were variable among replicate streams, more generalist foraging patterns were observed for Blacktail Shiners in the high-density treatment (intraspecific competition; no Red Shiners present) relative to the low-density Blacktail Shiner treatment. Less trophic redundancy was observed in the interspecific competition treatment (Blacktail Shiners and Red Shiners co-occurring) compared with the same density of Blacktail Shiners only (high-density treatment). Despite the potentially lethal water temperatures, including 4 d on which water temperatures exceeded 37 C, mitochondrial sequences showed that both Red Shiners and Blacktail Shiners were able to spawn during the study. These results collectively highlight potential mechanisms for explaining fish assemblage responses at local and landscape scales, such as the Red Shiner's recent range expansion and increased abundance in some areas of Texas. Our findings are relevant for forecasting regional changes in fish species distributions in response to more frequent droughts and warmer summers due to climate change.

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Grazing minnows increase benthic autotrophy and enhance the response of periphyton elemental composition to experimental phosphorus additions

Cited by 19 publications

References 87 publications

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

The food web perspective on aquatic biofilms

Spatial, temporal and experimental: Three study design cornerstones for establishing defensible numeric criteria in freshwater ecosystems

Thermal Tolerance, Survival, and Recruitment of Cyprinids Exposed to Competition and Chronic Heat Stress in Experimental Streams

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