Invertebrate communities and epiphytic biomass associated with metaphyton and emergent and submerged macrophytes in a large river

Abstract

The contribution of metaphyton and submerged and emergent macrophytes as support to phytophilous organisms was compared from the standpoint of epiphytic chlorophyll and of invertebrate biomass, taxonomic composition and size distribution. This study was carried out in a fluvial lake of the St. Lawrence River (Lac Saint-Pierre, QuØbec) at 5 sites with chemically and physically distinct water masses. Invertebrate and epiphyton biomass were consistently higher in complex filamentous mats (overall mean: 61 AE 5 [SE] mg and 124 AE 18 mg Chl a /g vegetation dry mass, respectively) and submerged plants (overall mean: 48 AE 7 mg and 195 AE 56 mg Chl a /g vegetation d.m.) than in the simple emergent stems (overall mean: 4 AE 1 mg and 45 AE 15 mg Chl a /g vegetation d.m.). Taxonomic composition of the invertebrate communities varied largely among types of vegetation and sites. Sampling site (and hence water physical and chemical characteristics) explained a larger fraction of the variation in invertebrate composition (28 %) than vegetation type (9 %). Overall, metaphyton hosted an invertebrate fauna more abundant and more diverse, with larger organisms and more semi-aquatic taxa, than that of nearby vascular macrophytes. However, at the scale of this river segment (~300 km 2 ), metaphyton contributed < 1 % to total phytophilous invertebrate biomass compared to 96 % and 4 % for submerged and emergent plants, respectively. In the river trophic network, vascular plants thus appear to support the bulk of the food supply, which is periodically enriched and diversified by the appearance of metaphyton blooms.

Epiphytic metazoans on emergent macrophytes in oxbow lakes of the Krapina River, Croatia: differences related to plant species and limnological conditions

“…Thus our results do not confirm the results of other authors that macrophytes with complex architecture harbour a higher amount of epiphyton (DUGGAN 2001, TESSIER et al 2008. We explain our results on assessment that Mentha surface area does not exceed that of Iris.…”

“…This can be explained by reference to several circumstances. The greater surface area of well dissected submerged macrophytes may benefit invertebrates by offering better food resources and protection against predators than macrophytes with simple stems (MEERHOFF et al 2007, TESSIER et al 2008. Moreover, complex macrophytes respond promptly to eutrophication effects and are obligate in lake restoration (MOSS et al 1997, HILT et al 2006).…”

“…It is a result of several factors and has a keystone position in the food web and nutrient circulation since it is sensitive to both bottom-up and top-down control mechanisms (JEPPESEN et al 1999). Macrophyte architecture (simple or complex stem with dissected leaves) and surface structure are important factors in epiphyton development (VIEIRA et al 2007, TESSIER et al 2008. Macrophytes with dissected leaves and more structural complexity provide a suitable area for epiphyton growth characterised by higher biodiversity than those with undissected leaves (LAGUSTE and REUNANEN 2005).…”

Are macrophyte-dwelling Chironomidae (Diptera) largely opportunistic in selecting plant species?

“…This is surprising because of the great variety in the morphology and taxonomic composition of the macrophyte taxa occurring at BKHT and NAGM, and several other authors (e.g. Ali et al, 2007;Papas, 2007;Tessier et al, 2008) record a positive correlation between the diversity of macro-invertebrate communities and heterogeneity of aquatic macro-vegetation. Similarly, there are positive correlations recorded between plant and arthropod species compositions in terrestrial environments (e.g.…”

Effects of Pond Fertilization and Feeding of Carp Fry (Cyprinus carpio L.) on Diversity of Zooplankton Groups (Rotifera, Cladocera, and Copepoda)

“…That is why zooplankton plays such an important role both in ponds and in other aquatic ecosystems. The structure of zooplankton can differ between habitats due to physicochemical conditions [6] and the diversity of algal and macrophyte communities [11][12].…”