Search

Very little is known about the feeding of naupliar and juvenile life stages of omnivorous fairy shrimps (Crustacea: Anostraca). Here, we aim to reveal whether the fairy shrimp Branchinecta orientalis is an ontogenetic omnivore and at which age and ontogenetic stage they gain the ability to feed on zooplankton. We assess how food uptake rates change with age until reaching maturity by providing algae (pico- and nanoplanktonic unicellular algae) and zooplankton (rotifers and copepod nauplii) as food in individual experiments. We found that the fairy shrimp B. orientalis started to feed on both types of algal prey immediately after hatching. Nanoplanktonic algae likely represented the most important food source until reaching maturity. Moreover, fairy shrimps started to feed on zooplankton already when they were 7 days old. Slow-moving rotifers gradually gained importance in the fairy shrimp diet with time. Our results reveal an ontogenetic change in the prey spectrum of fairy shrimp. The systematic shift towards omnivory likely affects both phyto- and zooplankton community composition, possibly contributing to temporal changes in food web dynamics in fairy shrimp habitats, and temporary ponds, which may warrant more detailed investigations in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our experimental study was designed to assess the effects of temperature on food isotopic integrity and trophic fractionations (of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes: Δ13C and Δ15N) in chironomid larvae. A laboratory experiment was run using Chironomus riparius larvae at 15, 18 and 23°C, and under three pulverized food resources. There were significant changes in the stable isotopic composition of the uneaten food, revealing the difficulty of preventing food microbial degradation in rearing experiments. C/N ratios of chironomid larvae were also affected by temperature, regardless of the food resource, suggesting changes in lipid contents and associated effects on the larval δ13C values. Therefore, differences in calculation methods (with vs. without lipid normalizations, fresh vs. old food isotopic baselines) induced large variability in Δ13C and Δ15N values, but our trophic fractionation estimates were similar to those previously reported in literature. Therefore, we conclude that temperature is not a major driver of the variability in trophic fractionations for chironomid larvae, and stable isotope composition of aquatic consumers can be used in food webs studies under changing temperature conditions. Variability in trophic fractionation estimates should, however, be considered to avoid misinterpretations of food web structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread omnivory in aquatic food webs has been recognized to compromise interpretation of Lindeman's 'pyramid of energy' wherein organism biomass is constrained into rigidly delineated trophic levels. A compilation of global, pre-1997 stable nitrogen isotope data for aquatic food webs produced vertical energy profiles that were ataxonomic and therefore similar to Elton's 'pyramid of numbers' which he believed to be based on size-structured feeding relationships. Further, the present secondary-analysis confirms findings from other recent data compilations in suggesting that aquatic animals in real food webs are rarely found above the fifth or sixth broadly based trophic category. Therefore, δN analysis of food webs permits a reconciliation between theoreticians and empiricists by assuming a middle position in estimates made of the vertical length of food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread omnivory in aquatic food webs has been recognized to compromise interpretation of Lindeman’s “pyramid of energy” wherein organism biomass is constrained into rigidly delineated trophic levels. A compilation of global, pre-1997 stable nitrogen isotope data for aquatic food webs produced vertical energy profiles that were ataxonomic and therefore similar to Elton’s “pyramid of numbers” which he believed to be based on size-structured feeding relationships. Further, the present secondary-analysis confirms findings from other recent data compilations in suggesting that aquatic animals in real food webs are rarely found above the fifth or sixth broadly based trophic category. Therefore, δ 15N analysis of food webs permits a reconciliation between theoreticians and empiricists by assuming a middle position in estimates made of the vertical length of food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riparian vegetation typically provides substantial allochthonous material to aquatic ecosystems where micro-organisms can play an important role in organic matter degradation which can support consumer biomass. We examined the effects of leaf litter quality (e.g., leaf nutrients, lignin and cellulose content), leaf species mixing, and microbial community diversity on in-stream breakdown rates of litter from dominant riparian trees ( Melaleuca argentea, M. leucadendra, and Nauclea orientalis) in both a perennial and intermittent river in Australia's wet-dry tropics. Leaf mass remaining after 82 days of in-stream incubation was negatively correlated ( P < 0.05) with initial leaf N and P content while initial lignin and cellulose content had no statistically significant effect. Breakdown rates of incubated leaves of both Melaleuca and Nauclea were significantly higher in mixed litter bags compared with single species litter bags. Although it was expected that leaf N content would decrease from initial levels during decomposition, we found either similar or slightly higher N content following in-stream incubation suggesting microbial colonisation increased overall N content. Stable isotopes of δC and δN for the major sources and consumers in both rivers provide evidence that leaf litter was an important macroinvertebrate food source in the perennial river where heavy shading may limit algal production. However, in the intermittent river where riparian cover was low, benthic algae were the major organic carbon source for consumers. Our findings suggest that riparian tree species influence rates of in-stream organic matter processing, microbial community composition, and aquatic food web dynamics in tropical wet-dry streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined trophic positions and fatty acid concentrations of riverine, lacustrine, and aquaculture diet and fish in Austrian pre-alpine aquatic ecosystems. It was hypothesized that dietary fatty acid (FA) profiles largely influence the FA composition of the salmonids Salvelinus alpinus, Salmo trutta, and Oncorhynchus mykiss. We analyzed trophic positions using stable isotopes (δ15N) and tested for correlations with polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations. Gut content analysis revealed benthos (rivers), pellets (aquaculture), and zooplankton (lakes) as the predominant diet source. Results of dorsal muscle tissues analysis showed that the omega-3 PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 n − 3), was the mostly retained PUFA in all fish of all ecosystems, yet with the highest concentrations in S. alpinus from aquaculture (mean: 20 mg DHA/g dry weight). Moreover, we found that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 n − 3) in fish of natural habitats (rivers, lakes) was the second most abundant PUFA (3–5 mg/g DW), whereas aquaculture-raised fish had higher concentrations of the omega-6 linoleic acid (18:2 n – 6; 9–11 mg/g DW) than EPA. In addition, PUFA patterns showed that higher omega-3/-6 ratios in aquacultures than in both riverine and lacustrine fish. Data of this pilot field study suggest that salmonids did not seem to directly adjust their PUFA to dietary PUFA profiles in either natural habitats or aquaculture and that some alterations of PUFA are plausible. Finally, we suggest that trophic positions of these freshwater salmonids do not predict PUFA concentrations in their dorsal muscle tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish play a key role in the trophic dynamics of lakes, not least in shallow systems. With climate warming, complex changes in fish community structure may be expected owing to the direct and indirect effects of temperature, and indirect effects of eutrophication, water-level changes and salinisation on fish metabolism, biotic interactions and geographical distribution. We review published and new data supporting the hypotheses that, with a warming climate, there will be changes in: fish community structure (e.g. higher or lower richness depending on local conditions); life history traits (e.g. smaller body size, shorter life span, earlier and less synchronised reproduction); feeding mode (i.e. increased omnivory and herbivory); behaviour (i.e. stronger association with littoral areas and a greater proportion of benthivores); and winter survival. All these changes imply higher predation on zooplankton and macroinvertebrates with increasing temperatures, suggesting that the changes in the fish communities partly resemble, and may intensify, the effects triggered by eutrophication. Modulating factors identified in cold and temperate systems, such as the presence of submerged plants and winter ice cover, seem to be weaker or non-existent in warm(ing) lakes. Consequently, in the future lower nutrient thresholds may be needed to obtain clear-water conditions and good ecological status in the future in currently cold or temperate lakes. Although examples are still scarce and more research is needed, we foresee biomanipulation to be a less successful restoration tool in warm(ing) lakes without a strong reduction of the nutrient load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]