Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of fish introduction and eutrophication on the cladoceran community in Lake Fuxian, a deep oligotrophic lake in southwest China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Paleolimnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fish introduction and eutrophication are important disturbances to aquatic ecosystems, especially to oligotrophic plateau lakes that are generally considered to be very vulnerable ecosystems. Planktivorous fish Neosalanx taihuensis were introduced to Lake Fuxian, an oligotrophic (TP 17 μg/l) deep (average depth 89.7 m) plateau lake in southwest China, in the middle of the 1980s. After the introduction, N. taihuensis became the dominant fish species, and the total fish yield increased about threefold. Although the lake is still oligotrophic, the trophic state of Lake Fuxian has started to shift with increasing nutrient supply (eutrophication) due to an increase in human activities in the drainage basin. This study investigated the effects of N. taihuensis introduction and eutrophication on the cladoceran community of Lake Fuxian by examining changes in cladoceran assemblages and abundance, as well as the morphological features of Bosmina microfossils in the lake sediment. Absolute abundance of total Bosmina increased substantially after the middle of the 1980s. In addition, dominance of Bosmina with straight antennules was replaced by Bosmina with hooked antennules. The morphological variables (length of carapace, antennule and mucro) of Bosmina all decreased when planktivorous fish N. taihuensis achieved relatively large numbers. Eutrophication was the most important process determining cladoceran abundance, while fish introduction played an important role in structuring the cladoceran community in this oligotrophic, deep plateau lake.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allan JD, Flecker AS (1993) Biodiversity conservation in running waters. Bioscience 43:32–43. doi:10.2307/1312104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amsinck SL, Jeppesen E, Ryves D (2003) Cladoceran stratigraphy in two shallow brackish lakes with special reference to changes in salinity, macrophyte abundance and fish predation. J Paleolimnol 9:495–507. doi:10.1023/A:1024470329314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Appleby PG (2001) Chronostratigraphic techniques in recent sediments. In: Last WM, Smol JP (eds) Tracing environmental changes using lake sediments, vol 1. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, pp 171–203

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Appleby PG, Oldfield F (1978) The calculation of 210Pb dates assuming a constant rate of supply of unsupported 210Pb to sediment. Catena 5:1–8. doi:10.1016/S0341-8162(78)80002-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Appleby PG, Nolan PJ, Battarbee DW (1986) 210Pb dating by low background gamma counting. Hydrobiologia 141:21–27. doi:10.1007/BF00026640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Appleby PG, Richardson N, Nolan PJ (1991) 241Am dating of lake sediments. Hydrobiologia 214:35–42. doi:10.1007/BF00050929

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brodersen KP, Whiteside MC, Lindegaard C (1998) Reconstruction of trophic state in Danish lakes using subfossil chydorid (Cladocera) assemblages. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 55:1093–1103. doi:10.1139/cjfas-55-5-1093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brooks JL, Dodson SI (1965) Predation, body size and composition of the plankton. Science 150:28–35. doi:10.1126/science.150.3692.28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G, Zhang B (1990) Reproductive biology of salangid fishes in Poyang lake. Sci Limnol Sin 2:59–67 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Donald DB, Vniebrooke RD, Andreson RS, Syrgiannis J, Graham MD (2001) Recovery of zooplankton assemblages in mountain lakes from the effects of introduced sport fish. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 58:1822–1830. doi:10.1139/cjfas-58-9-1822

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frey DG (1986) Cladocera analysis. In: Berglund BE (ed) Handbook of Holocene palaeoecology and palaecohydrology. Wiley, New York, pp 667–692

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao L, Zhang D, Che M, Chen L, Zhang J (1989) Test study of introducing Neosalanx taihuensis Chen into Lake Dianchi. Sci Limnol Sin 1:79–88 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasiorowski M, Szeroczysńka K (2004) Abrupt changes in Bosmina (Cladocera, Crustacea) assemblages during the history of the Ostrowite Lake (northern Poland). Hydrobiologia 526:137–144. doi:10.1023/B:HYDR.0000041592.09564.e6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofmann W (1996) Empirical relationships between cladoceran fauna and trophic state in thirteen northern German lakes: analysis of surficial sediments. Hydrobiologia 318:195–201. doi:10.1007/BF00016680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou C (2001) Study on status, tendency and the causes of eutrophication in Fuxian Lake. Yunnan Environ Sci 20:39–41 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacques JMS, Douglas MSV, Price N, Drakulic N, Gubala CP (2005) The effect of fish introductions on the diatom and cladoceran communities of Lake Opeongo, Ontario, Canada. Hydrobiologia 549:99–113. doi:10.1007/s10750-005-5765-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeppesen E, Jensen JP, Skovgaard H, Hvidt CB (2001) Changes in the abundance of planktivorous fish in lake Skanderborg during the last two centuries—a palaeoecological approach. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 172:143–152. doi:10.1016/S0031-0182(01)00279-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang X, Du N (1979) Fauna Sinica: freshwater cladocera. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin X, Tu Q (1990) Investigation criteria for lake eutrophication. Chinese Environmental Science Press, Beijing, pp 229–230 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kappes H, Sinsch U (2002) Morphological variation in Bosmina longirostris (O. F. Müller 1785) (Crustacea: Cladocera): consequence of cyclomorphosis or indication of cryptic species? J Zool Syst Evol Res 40:113–122. doi:10.1046/j.1439-0469.2002.00184.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerfoot WC (1975) The divergence of adjacent populations. Ecology 56:1298–1313. doi:10.2307/1934698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerfoot WC (1977a) Implications of copepod predation. Limnol Oceanogr 22:316–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerfoot WC (1977b) Competition in cladoceran communities: the cost of evolving defenses against copepod predation. Ecology 58:303–313. doi:10.2307/1935605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerfoot WC (1981) Long-term replacement cycles in cladoceran communities: a history of predation. Ecology 62:216–233. doi:10.2307/1936683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leavitt PR, Sanford PR, Carpenter SR, Kitchell JF (1994) An annual fossil record of production, planktivory and piscivory during whole-lake manipulations. J Paleolimnol 1:133–149. doi:10.1007/BF00686862

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Yu M, Li G, Zeng J, Chen J, Gao B, Huang H (1963) The investigation for plateau lakes of Yunnan Province. Oceanol Limnol Sin 5:100–110 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Liu H, Lu Y, Wang L (2003) Preliminary studies on eutrophication in Fuxian Lake. J Lake Sci 15:285–288 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z (2001a) Changes in abundance of the icefish Neosalanx pseudotaihuensis Zhang (Salangidae) and the impact on the zooplankton community of Xujiahe Reservoir, central China. Hydrobiologia 445:193–198. doi:10.1023/A:1017569816372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z (2001b) Diet of a zooplanktivorous icefish Neosalanx pseudotaihuensis Zhang. Hydrobiologia 459:51–56. doi:10.1023/A:1012578919268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Zhu S (1994) Feeding behavior of Neosalanx taihuensis Chen in Lake Dianchi. Arcta Zool Sin 40:253–261 in Chinese with English abstract

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Zhu S, Wang Y (1995) Successful introduction of Neosalanx taihuensis Chen into a highland lake, Lake Dianchi, China. In: Timotius KIL, Goelltenboth F (eds) Tropical limnology II. Satya Wacana Christian University Press, Salatiga, pp 123–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Lodge DM, Stein RA, Brown KM, Covich AP, Bronmark C, Garvey JE, Klosiewski SP (1998) Predicting impact of freshwater exotic species on native biodiversity: challenges in spatial scaling. Aust J Ecol 23:53–67. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.1998.tb00705.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers PA (1994) Preservation of elemental and isotopic source identification of sedimentary organic matter. Chem Geol 114:289–302. doi:10.1016/0009-2541(94)90059-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers PA, Teranes JL (2001) Sediment organic matter. In: Last WM, Smol JP (eds) Tracing environmental changes using lake sediments, vol 2. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, pp 239–269

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Miskimmin BM, Leavitt PR, Schindler DW (1995) Fossil record of cladoceran and algal responses to fishery management practices. Freshw Biol 34:177–190. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1995.tb00434.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nanjing Institute of geography and limnology, Chinese Academy of Science (NIGLAS) (1990) Lake Fuxian. Ocean Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian J, Zhang L, Le M (1990) The determination of total nitrogen and total phosphorus by digestion of persulphate. Soil 22:258–262 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin J (2005) Ecological effects of the invasive Icefish Neosalanx taihuensis in a deep oligotrophic plateau lake, Lake Fuxian. PhD dissertation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Science (submitted)

  • Sanford PR (1993) Bosmina longirostris antennule morphology as an indicator of intensity of planktivory by fish. Bull Mar Sci 53:216–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Shumate BC, Schelske CL, Crisman TL, Kenney WF (2002) Response of the cladoceran community to trophic state change in Lake Apopka, Florida. J Paleolimnol 27:71–77. doi:10.1023/A:1013599502262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweetman JN, Finney BP (2003) Differential responses of zooplankton populations (Bosmina longirostris) to fish predation and nutrient-loading in an introduced and a natural sockeye salmon nursery lake on Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA. J Paleolimnol 30:183–193. doi:10.1023/A:1025543421436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanni MJ (1987) Effects of food availability and fish predation on a zooplankton community. Ecol Monogr 57:61–88. doi:10.2307/1942639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang S, Dou H (1998) China lakes chorography. Science Press, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Fu C, Lei G (2002) Biodiversity of Chinese icefishes (Salangidae) and their conserving strategies. Biodivers Sci 10:416–424 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiteside MC (1970) Danish chydorid cladocera: modern ecology and core studies. Ecol Monogr 40:79–118. doi:10.2307/1942442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Gagan MK, Jiang X, Xia W, Wang S (2004) Sedimentary geochemical evidence for recent eutrophication of Lake Chenghai, Yunnan, China. J Paleolimnol 32:85–94. doi:10.1023/B:JOPL.0000025290.09365.98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Schleser GH, Lücke A, Li S (2007) A stable isotope record from freshwater lake shells of the eastern Tibetan Plateau, China, during the past two centuries. Boreas 36:38–46. doi:10.1080/03009480600923352

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang J (1996) The alien and indigenous fishes of Yunnan: a study on impact ways, degrees and relevant issues. In: Schei PJ, Wang S, Xie Y (eds) Conserving biodiversity of China (II). China Environmental Science Press, Beijing, pp 157–168 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng H, Wu J (2007) Recent fifty-year sedimentary record of heavy metal pollution in the Fuxian Lake. Quat Sci 27:128–132 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (40371103, 40602039 and 40772204). The authors give their thanks to Xiangdong Yang and Rong Wang for their help with software and data analysis. Thanks to Jinglu Wu for his valuable suggestions and providing recent references. We are grateful to Weilan Xia and Guirong Sui for sediment analyses. Special thanks are due to Jianhui Qin for providing his unpublished manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Lake Science & Environments, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Science, 73 East Beijing Road, 210008, Nanjing, China

    Guimin Liu, Zhengwen Liu, Yanling Li & Feizhou Chen

  2. Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Science, No. 19A Yuquan Road, 100049, Beijing, China

    Guimin Liu

  3. Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Huang Pu Da Dao Xi 601, 510632, Guangzhou, China

    Zhengwen Liu

  4. Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Geography, University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, Davis Hall 258, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA

    Binhe Gu & Joseph M. Smoak

Authors
  1. Guimin Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhengwen Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanling Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Feizhou Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Binhe Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Joseph M. Smoak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhengwen Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, G., Liu, Z., Li, Y. et al. Effects of fish introduction and eutrophication on the cladoceran community in Lake Fuxian, a deep oligotrophic lake in southwest China. J Paleolimnol 42, 427–435 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-008-9286-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-008-9286-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation