Humic lakes with inefficient and efficient transfer of matter in planktonic food webs

Humic compounds and related factors are the main constraints for the development of zooplankton in humic lakes, leading to low transfer efficiency in food webs. The results of this study indicated that some zooplankton species could have an advantage under these conditions. We found that the mass development of omnivorous Asplanchna priodonta in temperate humic lakes could be caused by the domination of high nutritional algae such as Gonyostomum semen and Botryococcus braunii. These algae are too large for most zooplankton to ingest, but A. priodonta can feed on a wide range of particles and benefit from this high-nutritional food. Small cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia, Bosmina) might be favored when picoplankton and small algae-dominate humic lakes. Therefore, some zooplankton species could have an advantage and control the development of phytoplankton, leading to the effective transfer of matter and energy in the planktonic food web in humic lakes.

Automated summary

Humic compounds and related factors limit the development of zooplankton in humic lakes, resulting in low transfer efficiency in food webs. This study found that certain zooplankton species, such as Asplanchna priodonta, could thrive in these conditions. The dominance of high nutritional algae like Gonyostomum semen and Botryococcus braunii in temperate humic lakes contributes to the mass development of A. priodonta, which can feed on a wide range of particles. In humic lakes dominated by picoplankton and small algae, small cladocerans (Ceriodaphnia, Bosmina) may dominate. This suggests that some zooplankton species have an advantage in controlling the development of phytoplankton, leading to efficient matter and energy transfer in humic lake food webs.