Responses of a lake outlet community to light and nutrient manipulation: effects on periphyton and invertebrate biomass and composition

Abstract

1. Experimental channels were installed at the outlet of a small Canadian Shield lake to study the role of light and nutrients on the regulation of periphyton and invertebrate biomass and taxonomic composition. Light (93% reduction) and nutrients (four‐fold increase of ambient total phosphorus (TP) concentration) were manipulated in a factorial design experiment. 2. Periphyton chlorophyll a (Chl a), measured four times during the 12‐week experiment, increased due to higher irradiance but was unaffected by phosphorus enrichment. Over the experiment, periphyton biomass was, on average, three times higher in open than in shaded channels. 3. Algal taxonomic and growth form composition were affected by light and phosphorus enrichment. The proportion of cyanophytes was significantly higher in unenriched, shaded channels (45%) compared to the three other treatments. Single cells and colonial forms were dominant in shaded channels, whereas filamentous and chain‐forming algae were prevalent in open channels. 4. Total invertebrate biomass remained unchanged over time and among treatments. At the beginning of the experiment, all the channels were dominated by Chironomidae and filter feeders (Simuliidae and Hydropsychidae). After 55 days, filter feeders became clearly dominant (60%) in all treatments except in the enriched, open channels where there was a significant shift in the functional group composition toward grazers (snails and oligochaetes). Among filter feeders, Simuliidae increased in shaded channels.