The effect of seasonal variation in selective feeding by zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) on phytoplankton community composition

Abstract

1. To investigate the impact of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) on phytoplankton community composition, temporal variability in selective feeding by the mussels was determined from April to November 2005 in a natural lake using Delayed Fluorescence (DF) excitation spectroscopy.2. Selective grazing by zebra mussels varied in relation to seasonal phytoplankton dynamics; mussels showed a consistent preference for cryptophytes and avoidance of chlorophytes and cyanobacteria. Diatoms, chrysophytes and dinoflagellates responded differentially to zebra mussel grazing depending on their size. Analysis of excreted products of the zebra mussels revealed that in addition to chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, phytoplankton > 50 mu m and very small phytoplankton (

Keywords

Delayed Fluorescence; Lake Erken; phytoplankton dynamics; selective feeding; Zebra mussel

Published in

Freshwater Biology
2007, volume: 52, number: 5, pages: 823-842

SLU Authors

• Naddafi, Rahmat

  • Uppsala University

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2007.01732.x

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/140549