Biomanipulation of hypereutrophic ponds: when it works and why it fails |
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Authors: | Anatoly Peretyatko Samuel Teissier Sylvia De Backer Ludwig Triest |
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Institution: | (1) Plant Science and Nature Management, Department of Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium |
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Abstract: | Phytoplankton, zooplankton, submerged vegetation and main nutrients have been monitored in 48 eutrophic ponds from the Brussels
Capital Region (Belgium) between 2005 and 2008. Nine ponds have been biomanipulated in order to improve their ecological quality
and prevent the occurrence of noxious cyanobacterial blooms. The 4-year study of a large number of ponds allowed identification
of the factors having the strongest influence on phytoplankton growth. Continuous monitoring of the biomanipulated ponds allowed
the significance of changes caused by biomanipulation to be tested as well as the main reasons of biomanipulation successes
and failures to be elucidated. The main factors controlling phytoplankton in the ponds studied appeared to be grazing by large
cladocerans and inhibition of phytoplankton growth by submerged vegetation. Biomanipulation resulted in a significant decrease
in phytoplankton biomass in general and biomass of bloom-forming cyanobacteria in particular that were associated with a significant
increase in large Cladocera density and size. In six out of nine ponds biomanipulation resulted in the restoration of submerged
vegetation. The maintenance of the restored clearwater state in the biomanipulated ponds was strongly dependent on fish recolonisation
and nutrient level. In the absence of fish, the clearwater state could be maintained by submerged vegetation or large zooplankton
grazing alone. In case of fish recolonisation, restoration of extensive submerged vegetation could buffer, to a considerable
degree, the effect of fish except for ponds with high nutrient levels. |
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