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How do UV radiation, temperature, and zooplankton influence the dynamics of alpine phytoplankton communities?

  • MOUNTAIN LAKES
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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 July 2010

Abstract

Plankton in mountain lakes are confronted with generally higher levels of incident ultraviolet radiation (UVR), lower temperatures, and shorter growing seasons than their lower elevation counterparts. The direct inhibitory effects of high UVR and low temperatures on montane phytoplankton are widely recognized. Yet little is known about the indirect effects of these two abiotic factors on phytoplankton, and more specifically whether they alter zooplankton grazing rates which may in turn influence phytoplankton. Here, we report the results of field microcosm experiments that examine the impact of temperature and UVR on phytoplankton growth rates and zooplankton grazing rates (by adult female calanoid copepods). We also examine consequent changes in the absolute and relative abundance of the four dominant phytoplankton species present in the source lake (Asterionella formosa, Dinobryon sp., Discostella stelligera, and Fragilaria crotonensis). All four species exhibited higher growth rates at higher temperatures and three of the four species (all except Dinobryon) exhibited lower growth rates in the presence of UVR versus when shielded from UVR. The in situ grazing rates of zooplankton had significant effects on all species except Asterionella. Lower temperatures significantly reduced grazing rates on Fragilaria and Discostella, but not Dinobryon. While UVR had no effect on zooplankton grazing on any of the four species, there was a significant interaction effect of temperature and UVR on zooplankton grazing on Dinobryon. Discostella and Dinobryon increased in abundance relative to the other species in the presence of UVR. Colder temperatures, the presence of zooplankton, and UVR all had consistently negative effects on rates of increase in overall phytoplankton biomass. These results demonstrate the importance of indirect as well as direct effects of climate forcing by UVR and temperature on phytoplankton community composition in mountain lakes, and suggest that warmer climates and higher UVR levels may favor certain species over others.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Ryan Lockwood, Kirsten Kessler, Lindsay Boateng, Shaina Keseley, and Caren Scott for field assistance. This work was supported by NSF Grant DEB-IRCEB-0210972.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, 18015, USA

    Craig E. Williamson & Sandra. L. Cooke

  2. Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA

    Craig E. Williamson

  3. Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, USA

    Courtney Salm & Jasmine. E. Saros

  4. Department of Biology & Ecology, Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Courtney Salm & Jasmine. E. Saros

  5. Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90025, Durham, NC, 27708, USA

    Sandra. L. Cooke

Authors
  1. Craig E. Williamson
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  2. Courtney Salm
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  3. Sandra. L. Cooke
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  4. Jasmine. E. Saros
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Correspondence to Craig E. Williamson.

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Guest editors: Hilde Eggermont, Martin Kernan & Koen Martens / Global change impacts on mountain lakes

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0336-2

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Williamson, C.E., Salm, C., Cooke, S.L. et al. How do UV radiation, temperature, and zooplankton influence the dynamics of alpine phytoplankton communities?. Hydrobiologia 648, 73–81 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0147-5

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