Abstract
The zooplankton of polluted, hypereutrophic Onondaga Lake (located in metropolitan Syracuse, NY) were reinvestigated during 1978 to identify changes in the community since 1969. The reduction in large daphnids since 1969 has been attributed to size-selective predation by the obligate planktivore, Alosa pseudoharengus, which has become re-established in the lake. A 10- to 20-fold increase in zooplankton biomass has occurred since 1969, which may have been in response to changes in phytoplankton composition and/or reductions in metal pollution resulting from lake reclamation efforts. Increases in grazing on phytoplankton, phytoplankton turnover rates and nutrient recycling are implied by the elevated levels of zooplankton biomass. These zooplankton-phytoplankton interactions may be critical to future reclamation efforts directed at reducing external nutrient loading and primary productivity.
Published Version
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