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Ecosystem Linkages Between Lakes and the Surrounding Terrestrial Landscape in Northeast Iceland

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Abstract

Despite a recent emphasis on understanding cross-habitat interactions, few studies have examined the ecological linkages between lakes and surrounding terrestrial habitats. The current paradigm of land–lake interactions is typically unidirectional: the view is that nutrients and matter are transported downslope from the surrounding watershed to their ultimate lacustrine destination. Emergent aquatic insects, which spend their larval stages in lake sediments and emerge as adults to mate over land, can act as vectors of material, energy and nutrients from aquatic to terrestrial habitats. In this study, we document a gradient of midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) infall rates into terrestrial habitats (measured as g dw midges m−2 d−1) surrounding eight lakes in Northern Iceland (≈66°N latitude). Lakes ranged from having virtually no midge infall (for example, Helluvaðstjörn, 0.03 g m−2 d−1) to extreme levels (for example, Mývatn, 19 g m−2 d−1) with abundances of midges decreasing logarithmically with distance from shore. Annual midge input rates are estimated as high as 1200–2500 kg midges ha−1 y−1. As midges are approximately 9.2% total N, this can result in a significant fertilization effect of terrestrial habitats with consequences for plant quality and community structure. In addition, we used naturally-occurring δ13C and δ15N isotopes to examine food web structure and diet sources of terrestrial arthropod consumers surrounding lakes with differing amounts of midge input. Terrestrial arthropods showed increased utilization of aquatic-derived (that is, midge) C relative to terrestrial sources as midge infall increased. This pattern was particularly pronounced for predators, such as spiders and opiliones, and some detritivores (Collembola). These findings suggest that, despite being largely ignored, aquatic-to-terrestrial linkages can be large and midges can fuel terrestrial communities by directly serving as resources for predators and decomposers.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank foremost Dr. Árni Einarsson for introducing us to Iceland and giving us the logistic, intellectual, and enthusiastic support that allowed us to carry out this work in Iceland. Much appreciated are the discussions of spatial subsidies with A. Ives, B. Peckarsky, and P. Townsend, who helped shape some of the ideas in this study. Thanks to E. Stanley, C. Kingdon, N. Tull and N. Klick for help in data collection, analysis and sample preparation, and A. Kruger for performing the stable isotope analyses. Comments from three anonymous reviewers significantly improved earlier manuscript drafts. Support for this project came in part from the National Science Foundation (Ecosystems, DEB-0717148), University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Division and International Studies Program, and the UW Graduate School. Special thanks to I. Goldman, K. Shapiro, and D. Paulnock for helping to get this project off the ground.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1630 Linden Dr., 444 Russell Labs, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA

    Claudio Gratton & Jack Donaldson

  2. Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA

    M. Jake Vander Zanden

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  1. Claudio Gratton
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  2. Jack Donaldson
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  3. M. Jake Vander Zanden
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Correspondence to Claudio Gratton.

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Author contributions: CG conceived and designed the study, helped perform the research, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. JRD and JVZ helped design the study and perform the research. Additionally, JVZ assisted with writing and contributed editorial input.

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Gratton, C., Donaldson, J. & Zanden, M.J.V. Ecosystem Linkages Between Lakes and the Surrounding Terrestrial Landscape in Northeast Iceland. Ecosystems 11, 764–774 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9158-8

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