Abstract
Hypolimnetic trophic interactions were examined among lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), cisco (Coregonus artedi), zooplankton, and macroinvertebrates in six northwestern Ontario lakes varying sevenfold in conductivity. Faster growth and larger body size of lake trout in high-conductivity lakes were associated with larger meal sizes, earlier entry of cisco into their diet, and consumption of relatively few, large-bodied prey. Cisco preyed on zooplankton and macroinvertebrates. Cisco were abundant, large bodied, and fast growing in high-conductivity lakes. In one low-conductivity lake (Greenwich Lake), lake trout were 12 times as abundant as cisco whereas in all other lakes, lake trout to cisco ratios were ~ 1:1 or less regardless of conductivity. In Greenwich Lake, lake trout consumed large quantities of age-0 cisco and Mysis relicta, which was associated with "top-down" trophic structuring. Food web analyses strongly suggest that in Greenwich Lake the high abundance of piscivores resulted directly in a low abundance of planktivores and indirectly in a large-bodied zooplankton community and planktivores with rapid growth rates.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call