ISSN:
1573-5117
Keywords:
Cladophora
;
benthos
;
desiccation
;
macroinvertebrates
;
regulated rivers
;
suspended sediment
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract We demonstrated that differences in habitatrequirements by C. glomerata and Oscillatoria havea profound bottom-up influence on the foodweb in thetailwaters below Glen Canyon Dam in the Colorado Riverthrough Grand Canyon National Park, USA. We examinedthe effects of suspended sediment and desiccation onthe colonization sequence of Cladophora glomerata andOscillatoria spp. and the consequent effects onmacroinvertebrates in each algal community in a seriesof reciprocal transplants in the regulated ColoradoRiver, AZ. Our experiments showed that C. glomeratagrows best in continuously submerged, clear-water,stable habitats, whereas Oscillatoria forms densemat-like matrices of trichomes and sand in varialzones and habitats with high suspended sedimentstypical of many southwestern USA streams. Varial zoneconditions have a stronger influence on communitystructure than habitats with high suspended sediments. Recruitment by chironomid larvae was less dependent onC. glomerata and less affected by suspended sedimentand periodic desiccation than Gammarus lacustris. Weestimated the energy from macroinvertebrate biomassassociated with tufts of C. glomerata to be an orderof magnitude higher than that in Oscillatoriamatrices. Therefore, loss of C. glomerata andreplacement of habitat more suitable for Oscillatoriaas a result of regulated flows indirectly reducespotential energy flow in the Colorado Riverfoodweb.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1003174517396
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