Study about Top-Down and Bottom-Up Controls in Regulating the Phytoplankton Biomass in a Eutrophic Reservoir in Northeastern Brazil

Juliana dos Santos Severiano, Ariadne do Nascimento Moura, Enaide Marinho de Melo Magalhães, Viviane Lúcia dos Santos Almeida

Institute of Biological Sciences and Health—IBSH.
Prefecture of Recife.
Rural and Federal University of Pernambuco.

DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2012.48071                

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effects of nutrients and predation by zooplankton on phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) in a eutrophic reservoir in Brazil (Apipucos Reservoir, State of Pernambuco), through experiments in microcosms. For this, samples of water were placed in 1 L Erlenmeyer flasks and kept for seven days. Treatments included the addition of nutrients (nitrogen combined with phosphorus and isolated additions of nitrogen and phosphorus), with presence and absence of zooplankton and a control which contained the reservoir water without any manipulation. The addition of nutrients did not stimulate phytoplankton growth. However, zooplankton significantly decreased phytoplankton biomass in the treatments it was added to (p < 0.05). The results of this study showed that for the reservoir studied, predation by zooplankton is the most significant factor in the regulation of phytoplankton, contradicting several studies which show that phytoplankton biomass is more strongly controlled by nutrients (bottom-up control) than by predation (top-down control).

Keywords

Chlorophyll a; Nutrients; Zooplankton; Tropical Regions

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	N. G. Hairston, F. E. Smith and L. B. Slobodkin, “Community Structure, Population Control, and Competition,” The American Naturalist, Vol. 94, No. 879, 1960, pp. 421-425. doi:10.1086/282146
[2]	D. Tilman, S. S. Kilham and P. Kilham, “Phytoplankton Community Ecology: The Role of Limiting Nutrients,” Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, No. 13, 1982, pp. 349-372. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.13.110182.002025
[3]	D. J. Mcqueen, M. R. S. Johannes and J. R. Post, “Bottom-Up and Top-Down Impacts on Freshwater Pelagic Community Structure,” Ecological Monographs, Vol. 59, No. 3, 1989, pp. 289-309. doi:10.2307/1942603
[4]	S. R. Carpenter, J. F. Kitchell and J. R. Hodgson, “Cascading Trophic Interactions and Lake Productivity,” BioScience, Vol. 35, No. 10, 1985, pp. 634-639. doi:10.2307/1309989
[5]	A. M. Bergquist and S. R. Carpenter, “Limnetic Herbivory: Effects on Phytoplankton Populations and Primary Production,” Ecology, Vol. 67, No. 5, 1986, pp. 1351- 1360. doi:10.2307/1938691
[6]	S. R. Carpenter, J. F. Kitchell, J. R. Hodgson, P. A. Cochran, J. J. Elser, M. M. Elser, D. M. Lodge, D. Kretchmer and X. He, “Regulation of Lake Primary Productivity by Food Web Structure,” Ecology, Vol. 68, No. 6, 1987, pp. 1863-1876. doi:10.2307/1939878
[7]	J. J. Elser and C. R. Goldman, “Zooplankton Effects on Phytoplankton in Lakes of Contrasting Trophic Status,” Limnology and Oceanography, Vol. 36, No. 1, 1991, pp. 64-90. doi:10.4319/lo.1991.36.1.0064
[8]	K. Muylaert, S. Declerck, J. V. Wichelen, L. De Meester and W. Vyverman, “An Evaluation of the Role of Daphnids in Controlling Phytoplankton Biomass in Clear Water Versus Turbid Shallow Lakes,” Limnologica, Vol. 36, No. 2, 2006, pp. 69-78. doi:10.1016/j.limno.2005.12.003
[9]	G. S. Steinhart, G. E. Likens and D. Soto, “Nutrient Limitation in Lago Chaiquenes (Parque Nacional Alerce Andino, Chile): Evidence from Nutrient Enrichment Experiments and Physiological Assays,” Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, Vol. 72, 1999, pp. 559-568.
[10]	E. J. González, “Nutrient Enrichment and Zooplankton Effects on the Phytoplankton Community in Microcosms from El Andino Reservoir (Venezuela),” Hydrobiologia, Vol. 434, No. 1-3, 2000, pp. 81-96. doi:10.1023/A:1004060027616
[11]	F. M. Hassan, H. A. Al-Saadi and F. M. Alkam, “Laboratory Study on the Effects of Nutrient Enrichment on a Phytoplankton Population in Sawa Lake, Iraq,” Um- Salama Science Journal, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2008, pp. 230- 236.
[12]	F. R. A. Camara, A. K. A. Lima, O. Rocha and N. T. Chellappa, “The Role of Nutrient Dynamics on the Phyto- plankton Biomass (Chlorophyll-a) of a Reservoir-Channel Continuum in a Semi-Arid Tropical Region,” Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia, Vol. 21, No. 4, 2009, pp. 431-439.
[13]	C. P. Queimali?os, B. E. Modenutti and E. G. Balseiro, “Phytoplankton Responses to Experimental Enhancement of Grazing Pressure and Nutrient Recycling in a Small Andean Lake,” Freshwater Biology, Vol. 40, No. 1, 1998, pp. 41-49. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2427.1998.00326.x
[14]	S. Neumann-Leit?o, J. D. Nogueira-Paranhos and F. B. V. A. Souza, “Zooplancton do A?ude de Apipucos, Recife, PE (Brasil),” Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, Vol. 32, No. 4, 1989, pp. 803-821.
[15]	V. L. S. Almeida, M. M. G. Mel?o and A. N. Moura, “Plankton diversity and Limnological Characterization in Two Shallow Tropical Urban Reservoirs of Pernambuco State, Brazil,” Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, Vol. 84, No. 2, 2012.
[16]	F. J. H. Mackereth, J. Heron and J. F. Talling, “Water Analysis: Some Revised Methods for Limnologists (Fresh- water Biological Association Scientific Publication, 36),” Titus Wilson & Sons Ltda, Kendall, 1978.
[17]	F. Koroleff, “Determination of Nutrients,” In: K. Grasshoff, Ed., Methods of Seawater Analysis, Verlag Chemie, Weinhein, 1976, pp. 117-187.
[18]	J. D. H. Strickland and T. R. Parsons, “A Manual of Seawater Analysis (With Special Reference to the More Com- mon Micronutrients and to Particulate Organic Material),” Fisheries Research Board of Canada, No. 125, 1960, pp. 1-185.
[19]	V. L. S. Almeida, “Comunidades Planct?nicas e Qualidade da água em Reservatórios Tropicais Urbanos Com Diferentes Graus de Trofia,” Ph.D. Dissertation, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, S?o Carlos, 2011.
[20]	L. Lawton, B. Marsalek, J. Padisák and I. Chorus, “Determination of Cyanobacteria in the Laboratory,” In: I. Chorus and J. Bartram, Eds., Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water, E & FN Spon, London, 1999, pp. 347-367.
[21]	K. L. Cottingham, S. E. Knight, S. R. Carpenter, J. J. Cole, M. L. Pace and A. E. Wagner, “Response of Phytoplankton and Bacteria to Nutrients and Zooplankton: A Mesocosm Experiment,” Journal of Plankton Research, Vol. 19, No. 8, 1997, pp. 995-1010. doi:10.1093/plankt/19.8.995
[22]	S. R. Carpenter, J. J. Cole, J. F. Kitchell and M. L. Pace, “Impact of Dissolved Organic Carbon, Phosphorus, and Grazing on Phytoplankton Biomass and Production in Experimental Lakes,” Limnology and Oceanography, Vol. 43, No. 1, 1998, pp. 73-80. doi:10.4319/lo.1998.43.1.0073
[23]	S. J. Guildford and R. E. Hecky, “Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphorus and Nutrient Limitation in Lakes and Oceans: Is There a Common Relationship?” Limnology and Ocean- ography, Vol. 45, No. 6, 2000, pp. 1213-1223. doi:10.4319/lo.2000.45.6.1213
[24]	A. R. Dzialowski, S. Wang, N. Lim, W. W. Spotts and D. G. Huggins, “Nutrient Limitation of Phytoplankton Growth in Central Plains Reservoirs, USA,” Journal of Plankton Research, Vol. 27, No. 6, 2005, pp. 587-595. doi:10.1093/plankt/fbi034
[25]	S. Kosten, V. L. M. Huszar, N. Mazzeo, M. Scheffer, L. S. L. Sternberg and E. Jeppesen, “Lake and Watershed Characteristics rather than Climate Influence Nutrient Limitation in Shallow Lakes,” Ecological Applications, Vol. 19, No. 7, 2009, pp. 1791-1804. doi:10.1890/08-0906.1
[26]	W. M. J. Lewis, “Tropical Lakes: How Latitude Makes a Difference,” In: F. Schiemer and K. T. Boland, Eds., Perspectives in Tropical Limnology, SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, 1996, pp. 43-64.
[27]	P. Tendaupenyu, “Nutrient Limitation of Phytoplankton in Five Impoundments on the Manyame River, Zimbabwe,” Water SA, Vol. 38, No. 1, 2012, pp. 97-104. doi:10.4314/wsa.v38i1.12
[28]	R. Carignan and D. Planas, “Recognition of Nutrient and Light Limitation in Turbid Mixed Layers: Three Approaches Compared in the Parank Floodplain (Argentina),” Limnology and Oceanography, Vol. 39, No. 3, 1994, pp. 580-596. doi:10.4319/lo.1994.39.3.0580
[29]	M. F. Knowlton and J. R. Jones, “Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Suspended Sediment, Nutrients, and Algal Biomass in Mark Twain Lake, Missouri,” Archiv für Hydrobiologie, Vol. 135, No. 2, 1995, pp. 145-178.
[30]	E. J. Phlips, M. Cichra, K. Havens, C. Hanlon, S. Badylak, B. Rueter, M. Randall and P. Hansen, “Relationships between Phytoplankton Dynamics and the Availability of Light and Nutrients in a Shallow Sub-Tropical Lake,” Journal of Plankton Research, Vol. 19, No. 3, 1997, pp. 319-342. doi:10.1093/plankt/19.3.319
[31]	M. J. Vanni, J. S. Andrews, W. H. Renwick, M. J. González and S. J. Noble, “Nutrient and Light Limitation of Reservoir Phytoplankton in Relation to Storm-Mediated Pulses in Stream Discharge,” Archiv für Hydrobiologie, Vol. 167, No. 1-4, 2006, pp. 421-445.
[32]	B. L. Kimmel, O. T. Lind and L. J. Paulson, “Reservoir Primary Production,” In: K. W. Thornton, B. L. Kimmel and F. E. Payne, Eds., Reservoir Limnology: Ecological Perspectives, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1990, pp. 133-193.
[33]	C. B. C. B. Chamixaes, “Ficoflórula do A?ude de Apipucos (Recife, PE),” Revista Brasileira de Biologia, Vol. 50, No. 1, 1990, pp. 45-60.
[34]	G. Von Rückert and A. Giani, “Biological Interactions in the Plankton Community of a Tropical Eutrophic Reservoir: Is the Phytoplankton Controlled by Zooplankton?” Journal of Plankton Research, Vol. 30, No. 10, 2008, pp. 1157-1168. doi:10.1093/plankt/fbn065
[35]	C. H. Fernando, “Zooplankton, Fish and Fisheries in Tropical Freshwaters,” Hydrobiologia, Vol. 272, No. 1-3, 1994, pp. 105-123. doi:10.1007/BF00006516
[36]	S. S. S. Sarma, S. Nandini and R. D. Gulati, “Life History Strategies of Cladocerans: Comparisons of Tropical and Temperate Taxa,” Hydrobiologia, Vol. 542, No. 1, 2005, pp. 315-333. doi:10.1007/s10750-004-3247-2
[37]	E. W. Low, E. Clews, P. A. Todd, Y. C. Tai and P. K. L. Ng, “Top-Down Control of Phytoplankton by Zooplankton in Tropical Reservoirs in Singapore?” The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Vol. 58, No. 2, 2010, pp. 311-322.
[38]	C. W. Burns, “Insights into Zooplankton-Cyanobacteria Interactions Derived from Enclosure Studies,” New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, Vol. 21, No. 3, 1987, pp. 477-482. doi:10.1080/00288330.1987.9516243
[39]	A. A. Agrawal, “Algal Defense, Grazers, and Their Interactions in Aquatic Trophic Cascades,” Acta Oecologica, Vol. 19, No. 4, 1998, pp. 331-337. doi:10.1016/S1146-609X(98)80037-4
[40]	P. Barros, M. L. Fidalgol and A. M. V. M. Soares, “Resistance of Cladoceran Species to Toxic Microcystis,” Limnetica, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2001, pp. 173-177.
[41]	F. Chan, M. L. Pace, R. W. Howarth and R. M. Marino, “Bloom Formation in Heterocystic Nitrogen-Fixing Cyanobacteria: The Dependence on Colony Size and Zooplankton Grazing,” Limnology and Oceanography, Vol. 49, No. 6, 2004, pp. 2171-2178. doi:10.4319/lo.2004.49.6.2171
[42]	L. Allende and H. Pizarro, “Top-Down Control on Plankton Components in an Antarctic Pond: Experimental Approach to the Study of Low-Complexity Food Webs,” Polar Biology, Vol. 29, No. 10, 2006, pp. 893-901. doi:10.1007/s00300-006-0129-2
[43]	M. G. Danielsdottir, M. T. Brett and G. B. Arhonditsis, “Phytoplankton Food Quality Control of Planktonic Food Web Processes,” Hydrobiologia, Vol. 589, No. 1, 2007, pp. 29-41. doi:10.1007/s10750-007-0714-6
[44]	R. Sinistro, M. L. Sánchez, M. C. Marinone and I. Izaguirre, “Experimental Study of the Zooplankton Impacto on the Trophic Structure of Phytoplankton and the Microbial Assemblages in a Temperate Wetland (Argentina),” Limnologica, Vol. 37, No. 1, 2007, pp. 88-99. doi:10.1016/j.limno.2006.09.001