Production of Freshwater Invertebrate Populations in Lakes

Abstract

This research draws together data on the secondary production of 164 invertebrate populations in 51 lakes to test the hypothesis that the annual production of aquatic invertebrate populations is significantly correlated with the mean annual population biomass, individual body mass, and ambient temperature. Further analyses examine the effects of water chemistry, trophic status, and lake morphometry. Mean annual biomass, individual body mass, and the mean annual water temperature accounted for 79% of the variance in the logarithm of annual secondary production. In contrast to the findings of previous studies, the ratio of mean annual production to mean annual biomass [Formula: see text] varied systematically with population biomass. No significant difference was found between the secondary production of littoral and open water invertebrate populations. Analyses also suggest that zoobenthic and zooplanktonic populations of similar biomass, body mass, and temperature have similar rates of secondary productivity. Analyses demonstrate that the total phosphorus concentration in the water column, and other trophic indicators were positively correlated with secondary production. The pH, lake depth, thermocline depth, drainage area, and the water turnover rate were also found to be correlated with the secondary productivity of natural populations of lentic invertebrates.