Bivalve grazing can shape phytoplankton communities
The ability of bivalve filter feeders to limit phytoplankton biomass in shallow waters is well-documented, but the role of bivalves in shaping phytoplankton communities is not. The coupled effect of bivalve grazing at the sediment-water interface and sinking of phytoplankton cells to that bottom fil...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2016-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmars.2016.00014/full |
| _version_ | 1819259221286322176 |
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| author | Lisa V Lucas James E Cloern Janet K Thompson Mark T Stacey Jeffrey R Koseff |
| author_facet | Lisa V Lucas James E Cloern Janet K Thompson Mark T Stacey Jeffrey R Koseff |
| author_sort | Lisa V Lucas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ability of bivalve filter feeders to limit phytoplankton biomass in shallow waters is well-documented, but the role of bivalves in shaping phytoplankton communities is not. The coupled effect of bivalve grazing at the sediment-water interface and sinking of phytoplankton cells to that bottom filtration zone could influence the relative biomass of sinking (diatoms) and non-sinking phytoplankton. Simulations with a pseudo-2D numerical model showed that benthic filter feeding can interact with sinking to alter diatom:non-diatom ratios. Cases with the smallest proportion of diatom biomass were those with the fastest sinking speeds and strongest bivalve grazing rates. Hydrodynamics modulated the coupled sinking-grazing influence on phytoplankton communities. For example, in simulations with persistent stratification, the non-sinking forms accumulated in the surface layer away from bottom grazers while the sinking forms dropped out of the surface layer toward bottom grazers. Tidal-scale stratification also influenced vertical gradients of the two groups in opposite ways. The model was applied to Suisun Bay, a low-salinity habitat of the San Francisco Bay system that was transformed by the introduction of the exotic clam Potamocorbula amurensis. Simulation results for this Bay were similar to (but more muted than) those for generic habitats, indicating that P. amurensis grazing could have caused a disproportionate loss of diatoms after its introduction. Our model simulations suggest bivalve grazing affects both phytoplankton biomass and community composition in shallow waters. We view these results as hypotheses to be tested with experiments and more complex modeling approaches. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:06:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fadd8a299e2842e08c3b10695d2abe03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:06:34Z |
| publishDate | 2016-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-fadd8a299e2842e08c3b10695d2abe032022-12-21T17:34:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452016-02-01310.3389/fmars.2016.00014170911Bivalve grazing can shape phytoplankton communitiesLisa V Lucas0James E Cloern1Janet K Thompson2Mark T Stacey3Jeffrey R Koseff4United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological SurveyUniversity of California, BerkeleyStanford UniversityThe ability of bivalve filter feeders to limit phytoplankton biomass in shallow waters is well-documented, but the role of bivalves in shaping phytoplankton communities is not. The coupled effect of bivalve grazing at the sediment-water interface and sinking of phytoplankton cells to that bottom filtration zone could influence the relative biomass of sinking (diatoms) and non-sinking phytoplankton. Simulations with a pseudo-2D numerical model showed that benthic filter feeding can interact with sinking to alter diatom:non-diatom ratios. Cases with the smallest proportion of diatom biomass were those with the fastest sinking speeds and strongest bivalve grazing rates. Hydrodynamics modulated the coupled sinking-grazing influence on phytoplankton communities. For example, in simulations with persistent stratification, the non-sinking forms accumulated in the surface layer away from bottom grazers while the sinking forms dropped out of the surface layer toward bottom grazers. Tidal-scale stratification also influenced vertical gradients of the two groups in opposite ways. The model was applied to Suisun Bay, a low-salinity habitat of the San Francisco Bay system that was transformed by the introduction of the exotic clam Potamocorbula amurensis. Simulation results for this Bay were similar to (but more muted than) those for generic habitats, indicating that P. amurensis grazing could have caused a disproportionate loss of diatoms after its introduction. Our model simulations suggest bivalve grazing affects both phytoplankton biomass and community composition in shallow waters. We view these results as hypotheses to be tested with experiments and more complex modeling approaches.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmars.2016.00014/fullDiatomsPhytoplanktonCommunityBivalvesgrazingsinking |
| spellingShingle | Lisa V Lucas James E Cloern Janet K Thompson Mark T Stacey Jeffrey R Koseff Bivalve grazing can shape phytoplankton communities Frontiers in Marine Science Diatoms Phytoplankton Community Bivalves grazing sinking |
| title | Bivalve grazing can shape phytoplankton communities |
| title_full | Bivalve grazing can shape phytoplankton communities |
| title_fullStr | Bivalve grazing can shape phytoplankton communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bivalve grazing can shape phytoplankton communities |
| title_short | Bivalve grazing can shape phytoplankton communities |
| title_sort | bivalve grazing can shape phytoplankton communities |
| topic | Diatoms Phytoplankton Community Bivalves grazing sinking |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmars.2016.00014/full |
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