Abstract

Invasive species often transform environmental conditions, exclude native species and alter ecosystem functioning, including key ecosystem processes underpinning nutrient and energy cycles. However, such impacts have been most documented during periods of invasive species dominance; their influences on functioning at lower relative abundances and after long-term establishment are less well-known.We investigated the effects of Elodea canadensis, a macrophyte native to North America with a long invasion history in many regions of the world, on the biomass accrual and metabolism of littoral zone biofilms growing on organic and inorganic substrates.We deployed nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS) in 18 replicate transects distributed across six lakes, comprising three invaded by E. canadensis and three uninvaded reference lakes. NDS were amended with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or N + P together, or were deployed as unamended controls. E. canadensis relative abundance varied widely in the invaded transects, ranging from 13% to 93% of all macrophyte cover.On control substrates, algal biomass, quantified as Chlorophyll-a, and gross primary production (GPP) were 42% and 78% greater in the invaded compared to uninvaded lakes, respectively. Respiration rates, attributable to responses of both autotrophs and heterotrophs, were 45% greater on control substrates in invaded lakes. By contrast, N-limitation of both biofilm GPP and respiration was 25% and 35% greater in uninvaded compared with invaded lakes.There was no evidence for differences in nutrients, light availability or grazing pressure between invaded and uninvaded transects. Rather, the observed differences in metabolism suggest that the presence of E. canadensis increases availability of N at local scales, reducing N-limitation of biofilms and resulting in elevated rates of biofilm productivity.Our results demonstrate that invasive elodeids might have significant impacts on biofilms and processes associated with the cycling of nutrients, even when long-established and present at lower relative abundances.

Keywords

biomass accrual; GPP; invasive dominance; N-limitation; nutrient response ratio

Published in

Freshwater Biology
2023, Volume: 68, number: 12, pages: 2068-2083
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Mckie, Brendan

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Tattersdill, Kristina

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ecke, Frauke

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Helsinki

• Frainer, André

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)
  • University of Tromso, the Arctic University of Norway (UiT)

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.14175

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/126491