Original paper
Interannual changes in benthic biomass under climate-induced variations in productivity of a small northern lake
Maximov, Alexey A.; Berezina, Nadezhda A.; Maximova, Olga B.
Fundamental and Applied Limnology Volume 194 Nr. 3 (2021), p. 187 - 199
61 references
published: Jan 21, 2021
published online: Sep 29, 2020
manuscript accepted: Sep 10, 2020
manuscript revision received: Aug 17, 2020
manuscript revision requested: Jun 26, 2020
manuscript received: Dec 4, 2019
ArtNo. ESP141019403003, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Long-term (2002–2017) monitoring data were analyzed to highlight the interannual variations of macrozoobenthos in a small oligotrophic lake (area 0.5 km2, maximal depth 32 m, mean depth 12 m) located in northwestern Russia. Samples were taken at three sites situated in littoral (depth 0.5 m), sublittoral (8 m) and profundal (30 m) mainly during an ice-free period (as a rule five times a season). An attempt was made to relate the annual macrobenthic biomass with pelagic productivity (chlorophyll-a, Secchi depth) and changes in climatic variables (North Atlantic Oscillation and Arctic Oscillation indexes, air temperature and atmospheric precipitations). The results suggest that the interannual dynamic of biological communities in the lake is appreciably controlled by winter meteorological conditions. The concentration of chlorophyll-a correlated positively with wintertime air temperature and climatic indexes with a two-year lag. Benthic communities inhabiting different depths differed in their response to climatic variations. Climate-induced changes in primary production seem to be the main factor influencing the biomass of macrozoobenthos in the littoral zone. Intra- and interspecific biotic interactions may be more important in regulating sublittoral and profundal communities. Also, at the deepest site, late-winter oxygen depletion affected the biomass of macrozoobenthos. The potential mechanisms of the impact of climate variations on lake productivity in northern regions are discussed.
Keywords
macroinvertebrates • sub-Arctic lakes • chlorophyll-a • winter climate • North Atlantic Oscillation