Impact of nutrient enrichment and fish introductions on the structure and function of experimental shallow littoral lagoons
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1
Universitat de Barcelona, Animal Biology, Vertebrates, Spain
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2
Estación Biólogicade Doñana (CSIC), Integrative Ecology, Spain
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3
Universitat de Barcelona, Ecology, Spain
Mediterranean coastal lagoons are probably one of the most singular and endangered ecosystems worldwide. Common threats to other aquatic ecosystems are nutrient enrichment and species introductions. In shallow and warm areas, the environmental concern may be even exacerbated by an increase in nutrient levels and biotic interactions due to the low water flow, coupled to the temperature-sensitivity of ectotherms’ metabolism and hence ecological processes. Nutrient enrichment can benefit ecosystem productivity when the bottom-up effect of nutrients is counteracted by top-down controllers such as macro-invertebrates and/or fish. This balance can, however, be directly and indirectly disrupted by excessive fertilization and/or the release of exotic species. Ammonia and nitrite has long been considered a water quality hazard but the toxic effects of nitrates are still poorly studied. The present study examined experimentally the multi-trophic impacts of chronic nitrate exposure and/or the invasive eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) on the structure and function of shallow littoral lagoons. Specifically, we monitored ecosystem metabolism (primary production and leaf litter decomposition) and the community structure of pelagic and benthonic macro-invertebrates during 2 months. Preliminary results show that chronic nitrate pollution and/or G. holbrooki can profoundly alter the structure and function of coastal lagoon ecosystems, and that pelagic and benthonic sub-systems are coupled in response to these anthropogenic stressors. Although the long-term consequences of these findings remain to be examined in detail, this study will increase our mechanistic understanding of how the top-down and bottom-up controllers of aquatic ecosystems are affected by major drivers of global change typified by nitrate pollution and an invasive species.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr. Carles Aranda and all the team from the Mosquito Control Service of Baix Llobregat, as well as the agricultural park (Parc Agrari), for his support in doing the field experiment. Nicole Colin, Sergi Vargas and Maria GP, team members in the Dept. Animal Biology also contributed to this study.
Study funded by Fundació Zoo BCN , U.Barcelona (APIF grant, OCR) and Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC (Severo Ochoa programme, AMV).
Keywords:
nutrient enrichment,
Gambusia holbrooki,
Nitrates,
mesocosm experiments,
Coastal lagoons
Conference:
XV European Congress of Ichthyology, Porto, Portugal, 7 Sep - 11 Sep, 2015.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Ecology, Conservation and Invasive Species
Citation:
Cano-Rocabayera
O,
Maceda-Veiga
A,
Muñoz
I,
Díaz-Catalán
D and
De Sostoa
A
(2015). Impact of nutrient enrichment and fish introductions on the structure and function of experimental shallow littoral lagoons.
Front. Mar. Sci.
Conference Abstract:
XV European Congress of Ichthyology.
doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2015.03.00205
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Received:
07 Dec 2015;
Published Online:
07 Dec 2015.
*
Correspondence:
Mr. Oriol Cano-Rocabayera, Universitat de Barcelona, Animal Biology, Vertebrates, Barcelona, 08028, Spain, canorocabayera@gmail.com