- Title
- Trophic interactions in an austral temperate ephemeral pond inferred using stable isotope analysis
- Creator
- Dalu, Tatenda, Weyl, Olaf L F, Froneman, P William, Wasserman, Ryan J
- Date
- 2016
- Type
- text
- Type
- article
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/68022
- Identifier
- vital:29185
- Identifier
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2533-5
- Description
- Publisher version
- Description
- Ephemeral ponds are vulnerable aquatic habitats which are difficult to protect given their dynamic nature and sensitivity to degradation during dry periods. Little information is available on these habitats in austral regions, with almost no information on food-web structure and complexity. The study aimed to assess trophic interactions among dominant organisms in an ephemeral pond food web, and investigate the importance of autochthonous and allochthonous carbon, using 13C and 15N isotopes. Results of the investigation suggest that the food web comprised four trophic levels, with the top predators being Notonectids (Notonecta sp.) and diving beetles (Cybister tripunctatus (Olivier)). Intermediary trophic levels comprised zooplankton (daphniids and copepodids), macroinvertebrates (e.g. micronectids and molluscs) and tadpoles. Generalist feeders dominated the higher trophic levels (>3) with specialists comprising the lower trophic levels (≤3). The consumers preferred autochthonous fine particulate organic matter, epiphyton and submerged macrophyte organic matter sources over allochthonous sources. Autochthonous organic matter was transferred to the food web via zooplankton and select macroinvertebrates including Micronecta sp. and Physa sp. The food-web structure within the pond appeared to reflect the secondary stage of trophic structural complexity in the evolution of ephemeral ponds over the course of their hydro-period.
- Format
- 14 pages, pdf
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Language
- English
- Relation
- Hydrobiologia, Dalu, T., Weyl, O.L.F., Froneman, P.W. and Wasserman, R.J. (2016) Trophic interactions in an austral temperate ephemeral pond inferred using stable isotope analysis. Hydrobiologia, 768 (1) 81-94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2533-5, Hydrobiologia volume 768 number 1 81 94 2016 1573-5117
- Rights
- Springer Nature
- Rights
- Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the National Library of South Africa Copyright Act (http://www.nlsa.ac.za/downloads/Copyright Act.pdf)
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Collections
Weyl, Olaf L F (Prof)
Wasserman, Ryan J (Assoc Prof)
Froneman, Pierre William (Prof)
SDG 14. Life Below Water
RU South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB)
RU Department of Zoology and Entomology
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