Article
Ecology
Dieison A. Moi, Gustavo Q. Romero, Pablo A. P. Antiqueira, Roger P. Mormul, Franco Teixeira de Mello, Claudia C. Bonecker
Summary: The study found that multitrophic richness had a stronger positive effect on multifunctionality than richness of single trophic groups. Removal of each single trophic group decreased the effect of multitrophic richness on multifunctionality. Larger predatory vertebrates and primary producers had stronger positive effects on multifunctionality, while the richness of basal trophic groups indirectly contributed to increasing multifunctionality through fueling large-sized predators.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jian Zhou, Peter R. Leavitt, Yibo Zhang, Boqiang Qin
Summary: The depth of lakes reflects their susceptibility to human disturbance, with shallow lakes being more prone to anthropogenic eutrophication. Deep lakes, on the other hand, are less affected by human activities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jacqueline Santos Silva-Cavalcanti, Jayne Crisleny Pereira Silva, Flavio Montenegro de Andrade, Andrea Monteiro Santana Silva Brito, Monica Ferreira da Costa
Summary: This study assessed microplastic pollution in tropical shallow lakes and found different types and colors of microplastics in lake sediments. The results showed that environmental factors influenced the concentration of microplastics, but there was only a small difference between different regions. The study also suggested that pollution from sanitation, sewage effluents, and solid waste may be the main factors contributing to microplastic contamination.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jose Luiz Attayde, Rosemberg F. Menezes, Sarian Kosten, Gissell Lacerot, Erik Jeppesen, Vera Huszar, Christina W. Castelo Branco, David Da Mota-Marques, Carla Kruk, Franco Teixeira-de-Mello, Jose H. C. Gomes, Celia C. C. Machado, Mariana Meerhoff, Nestor Mazzeo
Summary: By comparing the trophic structure of shallow lakes in tropical and subtropical regions in South America, researchers found that despite lower fish biomass in tropical lakes, there was no significant impact on zooplankton or phytoplankton communities. The study suggests that warming will have relatively minor impacts on the pelagic trophic structure of shallow subtropical lakes, supporting the idea of weaker trophic cascades in warm (sub)tropical lakes compared to temperate ones.
Article
Fisheries
Taciana Onesorge Miranda Lopes, Ernani Pinto, Larissa Souza Passos, Fabiane Dorr, Christiane Mileib Vasconcelos, Clarisse Arpini, Marli Oliveira Silva, Tatiana Miura Pereira, Gabriel Carvalho Coppo, Julia Mercon, Levy Carvalho Gomes
Summary: This study evaluated the influence of tilapia production in cages on the presence of GSM and MIB in water and sediment. The findings suggest that eutrophication caused by fish farming and inadequate governmental policies lead to off-flavors in fish products.
Article
Ecology
Fangmin Shuai, Jie Li, Sovan Lek
Summary: This study examines the impact of the invasive Nile tilapia on food webs in the Pearl River, China. It finds that the trophic position of native piscivorous fish has significantly lowered and their diet has shifted to lower trophic level as a result of the Nile tilapia invasion. These findings contribute to understanding the effects of non-native aquatic species on ecosystems and emphasize the importance of conserving freshwater ecosystems and improving conservation strategies.
ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jemma M. Fadum, Ed K. Hall
Summary: Despite common beliefs that low-latitude lakes are predominantly nitrogen limited, a literature review reveals that tropical lakes exhibit a wide range of nutrient limitation regimes, with considerable heterogeneity within individual lakes. The dominant limiting nutrient in these lakes is influenced by factors such as seasonal stratification, precipitation, land use, land cover, and lake morphology. To accurately characterize nutrient limitation, future research efforts should include spatial and temporal sampling to capture within-lake heterogeneity and both inter- and intra-annual variation. Both inferential and experimental approaches should be used to overcome methodological limitations in determining nutrient limitation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erin A. Hull, Marco Barajas, Kenneth A. Burkart, Samantha R. Fung, Brian P. Jackson, Pamela M. Barrett, Rebecca B. Neumann, Julian D. Olden, James E. Gawel
Summary: The research found elevated arsenic concentrations in Puget Sound region lakes, with significant bioaccumulation in plankton. Factors such as seasonal mixing and near-bottom anoxia influence arsenic uptake. Monitoring and risk assessment of arsenic contamination should focus on shallow zones in lakes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Barbara Angelio Quirino, Martin Sondergaard, Torben Linding Lauridsen, Liselotte Sander Johansson, Rosemara Fugi, Sidinei Magela Thomaz, Fernando Miranda Lansac-Toha, Erik Jeppesen
Summary: Fish community structure in shallow lakes is influenced by macrophyte cover, which provides important habitats and food sources. This study examined the relationships between fish and macrophytes at both lake and point scales in 88 Danish shallow lakes. The results showed negative relationships between macrophyte cover and fish abundance and biomass, with stronger effects at the point scale. Chlorophyll a, a measure of primary productivity, was positively related to fish abundance, except for certain fish species. The findings highlight the complex interactions between fish and macrophytes, which are influenced by lake characteristics.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yintao Jia, Yihang Jiang, Yuhan Liu, Xiaoyun Sui, Xiu Feng, Ren Zhu, Yifeng Chen
Summary: Global environmental change has altered biotic interactions in ecosystems. Trophic structure is a major characteristic of ecosystems, and understanding the factors determining trophic structure is important for predicting the response of ecological dynamics and ecosystem services to future environmental change. Different kinds of drivers, including ecosystem size, productivity, and disturbance, have been proposed to explain trophic structure variation in various ecosystems. The relative importance of ecosystem size, productivity, and disturbance in influencing the trophic structure of fish assemblages in 30 subtropical shallow lakes was evaluated, showing that these factors did not affect food chain length, but did impact the mean trophic level and the proportion of species at specific trophic levels.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jose Luis Jimenez-Seinos, Javier Alcocer, Dolors Planas
Summary: High mountain lakes (HMLs) are unique ecosystems for monitoring global climate change. Food web analysis can indicate the response of these ecosystems to ecological threats. This study assessed the food webs of two neighboring tropical HMLs, El Sol and La Luna. The results showed that El Sol had a more complex food web and was impacted by introduced rainbow trout, while La Luna had a simpler food web and no fish. Comparisons with temperate HMLs revealed differences in species richness and trophic dynamics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhigang Mao, Xiaohong Gu, Yong Cao, Juhua Luo, Qingfei Zeng, Huihui Chen, Erik Jeppesen
Summary: The study suggests that functional diversity (FD) indices may be more meaningful than species richness in quantifying the contributions of biological communities to ecosystem processes. Changes in FD of fish communities in two lakes were primarily influenced by fish stocking, water quality, climate, and hydrological changes. Furthermore, FD indices were shown to be more sensitive to multiple disturbances, indicating their potential use in detecting ecosystem alterations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Krystyna Kalinowska, Dariusz Ulikowski, Piotr Traczuk, Jacek Rechulicz
Summary: The aim of the study was to determine changes in the abundance of Ameiurus nebulosus and native fish in four lakes after 4-7 years. The study found that A. nebulosus decreased in oligo-mesotrophic lake, while increased in lakes of higher trophic conditions. A. nebulosus accounted for a significant proportion of the fish community in mesotrophic and meso-eutrophic lakes, and its contribution decreased with increasing trophic status.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jacquelyn Bacigalupi, David F. Staples, Melissa T. Treml, Derek L. Bahr
Summary: This study aimed to develop Fish Indices of Biological Integrity (FIBIs) and ecologically meaningful thresholds for a broader suite of Minnesota lakes. By sampling fish communities in 419 lakes and evaluating a suite of potential metrics, four FIBIs were successfully developed with Biological Condition Gradient (BCG) models and thresholds established for impairment and exceptional conditions. These FIBIs and thresholds are now being utilized for clean water planning, restoration, and protection efforts in Minnesota lakes.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Samson Tilahun, Demeke Kifle
Summary: The study investigated the impact of El Nino-induced drought on the limnology of Koka Reservoir, finding that internal recycling of phosphorus sustains cyanobacterial growth, with high water temperature and frequent mixing promoting the phosphorus recycling mechanism. Additionally, the emergence of diazotrophic cyanobacteria and potential large phosphorus reserve in the sediment could pose challenges for future restoration efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
John Boyle, Madeleine Moyle, Martin Sondergaard, Erik Jeppesen
Summary: A study found that the Sediment-Inferred lake-water Total Phosphorous (SI-TP) mass balance model can successfully reconstruct long-term mean lake-water total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in lakes with dominant external phosphorus supply. However, its applicability in lakes with high internal phosphorus loading, where sediment diagenesis degrades the sediment phosphorus record, has not been demonstrated. The study tested the SI-TP model in Lake Sobygaard in Denmark, which has high internal P loading, and observed sediment degradation. The resulting SI-TP record was similar to the monitored TP values, indicating the model's potential for wider application in lakes with high internal P loading.
JOURNAL OF PALEOLIMNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Florian Grziwotz, Chun -Wei Chang, Vasilis Dakos, Egbert H. van Nes, Markus Schwarzlaender, Oliver Kamps, Martin Hessler, Isao T. Tokuda, Arndt Telschow, Chih-hao Hsieh
Summary: Critical transitions occur in various real-world systems and forecasting their occurrence is of great interest. This study introduces a powerful early warning signal called dynamical eigenvalue (DEV) that estimates the dominant eigenvalue of a system using bifurcation theory. The efficacy of the DEV approach is demonstrated in model systems with known bifurcation types and tested on various critical transitions in real-world systems.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Erica Luana Ferreira Alvaro, Rosemberg F. Menezes, Juliana dos Santos Severiano, Joseline Molozzi
Summary: This study evaluated the influence of spatial gradients of rainfall on phytoplankton and benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Brazilian semiarid region. The results showed that the effects of rainfall on phytoplankton communities were more significant than on macroinvertebrate communities.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Erik Jeppesen, Thomas A. Davidson, Mariana Meerhoff, Luc De Meester, Ivan Gonzalez-Bergonzoni, Nicolas Vidal, Hartmut Arndt, Klaus Juergens, Ruben Sommaruga, Korhan Ozkan, Torben L. Lauridsen, Sh Tserenpil
Summary: With the retreat of glaciers, new ponds and lakes are formed, which become more productive as vegetation develops. Our study in West Greenland found that older lakes had higher nutrient concentrations and organic matter content, as well as higher biomass and richness of certain aquatic organisms. The food web in the older lakes was more complex, with a longer food chain and higher taxonomic diversity, suggesting a succession process following glacial retreat.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ronny Rotbarth, Egbert H. Van Nes, Marten Scheffer, Jane Uhd Jepsen, Ole Petter Laksforsmo Vindstad, Chi Xu, Milena Holmgren
Summary: Climate change is causing a northward shift of the boreal biome, but evidence of this shift is rare. Using satellite data, researchers found that tree cover change in the North American boreal biome has a strong north-south asymmetry, with no expansion at the northern boundary but a marked increase in the core range. However, tree cover declined at the southern boundary due to wildfires and logging, indicating a possible contraction of the biome that could lead to long-term carbon declines.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arely Ramirez-Garcia, Erik Jeppesen, Rodrigo Moncayo-Estrada, Norman Mercado-Silva, Omar Dominguez-Dominguez
Summary: Analyses of trophic structure and feeding habits provide insight into biotic and abiotic interactions in lake ecosystems. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the diet and trophic structure of fish in Lake Zacapu in central Mexico. The results show that fish primarily consume aquatic macroinvertebrates and exhibit a low trophic position. The study also found that diet overlap is greater between native species. The findings contribute to our understanding of trophic interactions and highlight the ecological importance of this subtropical lake.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andreas S. Berthelsen, Katrine Raundrup, Peter Gronkjaer, Erik Jeppesen, Torben L. Lauridsen
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of habitat and lake morphometry on the trophic position of Arctic char in food webs. The dietary preferences of landlocked Arctic char populations in two west Greenland lakes were studied using stomach content and stable isotope analyses. The results showed that smaller char in Badeso lake consumed less littoral macroinvertebrates compared to those in Langeso lake. The larger char in both lakes primarily fed on piscivorous diet.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas Boll, Seyda Erdogan, Ummuhan Aslan Bicki, Nur Filiz, Arda Ozen, Eti Ester Levi, Sandra Brucet, Erik Jeppesen, Meryem Beklioglu
Summary: This study explored the key variables controlling size diversity, geometric mean length and number of size classes in fish communities in Turkish lakes, and investigated their relationships with taxonomic diversity and richness. The results showed that size diversity and the number of sizes were strongly related to taxonomic diversity and richness. Fish size diversity decreased with annual precipitation, while the number of size classes increased with lake area but decreased with salinity. Geometric mean length of fish decreased with nitrogen and increased with altitude. The inter-relatedness between the number of size classes and lake area suggests an increase in fish niches with increasing ecosystem size, while fish are smaller and have fewer size classes in lakes with higher salinity. The study concludes that size measures provide valuable information on lake fish diversity, complementing traditional taxonomic measures.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mustafa Korkmaz, Fatih Mangit, Ilayda Dumlupinar, Mehmet Arda Colak, Mustafa Berkay Akpinar, Meltem Koru, Juan Pablo Pacheco, Arely Ramirez-Garcia, Gueltekin Yilmaz, Cihelio Alves Amorim, Ibrahim Kaan Ozgencil, Deniz Innal, Sedat Vahdet Yerli, Korhan Ozkan, Zuhal Akyurek, Meryem Beklioglu, Erik Jeppesen
Summary: Climate change is causing significant impact on freshwater ecosystems, especially in semi-arid and arid regions like the Central Anatolian Ecoregion (CAE) in Turkiye. A study on endemic fish species in CAE predicted that half of the species will lose suitable habitats by 2081-2100 under high emissions scenario, while some species may benefit from climate warming. Human activities, such as water abstraction and pollution, are already threatening the endemic fish populations in CAE, and climate change is expected to worsen these threats. Regular monitoring and protection from anthropogenic stressors are essential for conserving these endemic freshwater fishes under climate change.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonathan P. Lewis, David B. Ryves, Martin Sondergaard, Torben Linding Lauridsen, Lisolette Sander Johansson, Sh. Tserenpil, Peter Rasmussen, Erik Jeppesen
Summary: Many northwest European lake systems are being affected by eutrophication and poor management strategies. This study examines the environmental changes in Kilen, a brackish lake in Denmark, using paleolimnological data and environmental monitoring data from the past 100 years. The findings show that the lake has been nutrient-rich, with eutrophication peaking in the late 1990s. The study emphasizes the importance of reducing nutrient loads to ensure long-term recovery of the lake.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rosemberg Fernandes Menezes, Jens-Christian Svenning, Hui Fu, Luc De Meester, Torben Linding Lauridsen, Martin Sondergaard, Jose Maria Conde-Porcuna, Erik Jeppesen
Summary: The beta diversity of lakes is influenced by natural factors, dispersal constraints, and human disturbances. Fish beta diversity tends to increase towards lower latitudes and is higher in less disturbed lakes at a local scale. However, environmental disturbances can impact these patterns due to community homogenization or heterogenization. Factors such as geographic distance and climate variability are the main drivers of fish community change across latitude, but the rate of change varies between lake types. Local factors like turbidity, lake size, and presence of exotic species also have varying effects on beta diversity across regions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shruti Setty, Margot J. Cramwinckel, Egbert H. van Nes, Ingrid A. van de Leemput, Henk A. Dijkstra, Lucas J. Lourens, Marten Scheffer, Appy Sluijs
Summary: In this study, we analyze climate and carbon cycle indicators from marine sediments to investigate three major punctuated events during the late Paleocene-early Eocene warming. The results suggest that these events were triggered by climate-driven carbon cycle tipping points, and there is an intensifying coupling between the carbon cycle and climate during the long-term warming trend.
Letter
Ecology
J. Jelle Lever, Egbert H. H. Van Nes, Marten Scheffer, Jordi Bascompte
Summary: Theory suggests that long, negative feedback loops may destabilize food webs as complexity increases. However, the specific ways in which these feedbacks affect ecosystems' response to environmental change have received less attention. In this study, we describe five ways in which these feedbacks might lead to abrupt transitions and species losses. By combining models, we show that the likelihood of such transitions increases with the number of interacting species and the stability of network patterns. These findings raise questions about the stability of ecosystems under global environmental change.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Erik Jeppesen, Meryem Beklioglu, Egor Zadereev
