Abstract
The elemental composition of phytoplankton is highly variable compared to the relatively narrow stoichiometry of zooplankton grazers. Using a full factorial design, we tested the effects of alterations in algal elemental composition (i.e., food quality) combined with food quantity on the life history of a Daphnia galeata clone from Lake IJsselmeer. Lower food quality reduced survival, growth, and reproduction. Food quantity became important at high food quality only. The strong effect of food quality indicates the potential for a stoichiometric bottleneck in Lake IJsselmeer, resulting in less high quality food for higher trophic levels as a result of re-oligotrophication.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 363-368 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Inland Waters |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Funding
This study was supported as part of the "Autonomous Downward Trends Lake IJssel-Markermeer, The Netherlands" project by Rijkswaterstaat. We thank Nico Helmsing for chemical analysis of the phytoplankton samples and Michaela Brehm, Tanitha Fermont, and Judith Schenzel for help in cultivation and technical assistance.
Keywords
- Daphnia galeata
- food quality and quantity
- life history
- phosphorus
- re-oligotrophication
- stoichiometry
- PHOSPHORUS LIMITATION
- NUTRIENT LIMITATION
- LONG-TERM
- LAKES
- CARBON
- EUTROPHICATION
- GROWTH