A1 Journal article (refereed)
Impacts of piscicide-induced fish removal on resource use and trophic diversity of lake invertebrates (2022)

Eloranta, A. P., Kjærstad, G., Power, M., Lakka, H.-K., Arnekleiv, J. V., & Finstad, A. G. (2022). Impacts of piscicide-induced fish removal on resource use and trophic diversity of lake invertebrates. Science of the Total Environment, 835, Article 155364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155364

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Eloranta, Antti P.; Kjærstad, Gaute; Power, Michael; Lakka, Hanna-Kaisa; Arnekleiv, Jo Vegar; Finstad, Anders G.

Journal or series: Science of the Total Environment

ISSN: 0048-9697

eISSN: 1879-1026

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 22/04/2022

Volume: 835

Article number: 155364

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155364

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/81005

Abstract

Chemical eradication of non-native species has become a widely used method to mitigate the potential negative impacts of altered competitive or predatory dynamics on biodiversity and natural ecosystem processes. However, the responses of non-target species can vary from rapid full recovery to delayed or absent recolonization, and little is known about the potential shifts in resource use and trophic diversity of native species following chemical treatments. We used a before-after-control-impact approach to study the effects of rotenone piscicide treatment on abundance and trophic niche of benthic invertebrates in three untreated and three treated lakes in central Norway, the latter group hosting non-native roach (Rutilus rutilus) and pike (Esox lucius) prior to rotenone treatment. Based on community composition data, the relative abundance of invertebrate grazers and collectors decreased while that of predators increased following fish removal in the treated lakes. The stable isotope data indicated minor shifts in resource use of, and trophic diversity among, benthic invertebrate communities. While the predatory dragonfly larvae (Odonata) and grazer snails (Lymnaeidae) showed increased δ13C values indicating increased reliance on littoral benthic algae, the collector mayfly larvae (Leptophlebia) showed decreased δ13C values following fish removal in treated lakes. Grazer snails also showed a shift to a lower trophic position, while the predatory dragonflies and collector mayflies showed no changes in δ15N values following fish removal. The community-level isotopic niches of benthic invertebrates showed no consistent changes, although the sample-size corrected and Bayesian estimates of standard ellipse areas (SEAC and SEAB) slightly increased in two of the three treated lakes due to an increased range in δ15N. In conclusion, our study findings indicate some changes in species assemblages but minor shifts in the resource use and trophic diversity of benthic invertebrate communities following fish removal in rotenone treated lakes.

Keywords: lakes; introduced species; roach; pike; removal; biotic communities; invertebrates; food webs; biodiversity; isotope analysis

Free keywords: Chemical eradication; Community dynamics; Food web; Rotenone; Species interactions; Stable isotope analysis

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2