Showing papers by "Stephen R. Carpenter published in 1992"
412 citations
TL;DR: Results of a phosphorus cycling model support the argument of DeAngelis et al. that turnover rate of a limiting nutrient is directly related to ecosystem resilience and support the hypothesis of Pimm and Lawton that longer food chains are less resilient.
Abstract: Parameters of a phosphorus cycling model were estimated for two configurations of a lake ecosystem. The piscivore-dominated configuration had one more trophic level than the planktivore-dominated configuration. We derived four main conclusions from analysis of the model. (1) Results support the argument of DeAngelis et al. that turnover rate of a limiting nutrient is directly related to ecosystem resilience. (2) Results support the hypothesis of Pimm and Lawton that longer food chains are less resilient. (3) Inputs of phosphorus to the pelagic system derived from inshore feeding by fishes were a large flux, which is comparable to inputs from physical-chemical fluxes. (4) Algal (seston) standing crops, unlike all other compartments, were less sensitive to phosphorus inputs in the piscivore-dominated system. Consistent with the trophic cascade hypothesis, the piscivore-dominated system had higher herbivore standing crops and lower algal standing crops than the planktivore-dominated system. Changes in trophi...
149 citations
TL;DR: Stability, resilience and resistance of lake P cycles may depend heavily on fluxes to and from upper trophic levels, which can be large components of P budgets, and mobile consumers can be important vectors in P transport.
Abstract: Limnologists are now reconsidering the role of the biota in the phosphorus (P) cycles of lakes. Changes in lake communities can have significant consequences for ecosystem P cycles. At seasonal timescales, the relative importance of nitrogen (N) and Pas limiting factors for primary production depends in part on zooplankton species composition. Phosphorus storage and recycling by fish and zooplankton can be large components of P budgets, and mobile consumers can be important vectors in P transport. Stability, resilience and resistance of lake P cycles may depend heavily on fluxes to and from upper trophic levels.
131 citations
105 citations
78 citations
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: The phytoplankton that commonly occur in Lake Mendota are the central focus of the food web research detailed in this volume, and the effects of herbivory are more variable and complicated.
Abstract: The phytoplankton that commonly occur in Lake Mendota are the central focus of the food web research detailed in this volume (Figure 7.1). The role of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, in regulating algal biomass and stimulating blooms is well established (Vollenweider 1968; Schindler 1977, 1988). Herbivory by zooplankton has also been long recognized as an important influence on phytoplankton abundance and species composition (Hrbacek 1962; Brooks and Dodson 1965; Shapiro et al. 1975; Shapiro and Wright 1984; Carpenter and Kitchell 1988). While phosphorus reductions cause declines in blue-green algal densities (Schindler 1988), the effects of herbivory are more variable and complicated (Sterner 1989; Carpenter, Ch. 23). For example, increased herbivory has been both stimulated (Lynch 1980; Anderson and Cronberg 1984) and suppressed (Shapiro and Wright 1984; Carpenter et al. 1987; Vanni et al. 1990) blue-green algae.
38 citations
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: In order to assess overall ecosystem condition, it is necessary to choose indicators of environmental stress that incorporate two basic, and potentially contradictory, properties as mentioned in this paper, i.e., environmental stress should be sensitive to the variety of anthropogenic stresses that could occur, and such indicators must be reasonably predictable in unperturbed ecosystems.
Abstract: In order to assess overall ecosystem condition, it is necessary to choose indicators of environmental stress that incorporate two basic, and potentially contradictory, properties. Ecological indicators should be sensitive to the variety of anthropogenic stresses that could occur. At the same time, such indicators must be reasonably predictable in unperturbed ecosystems: some natural benchmark is necessary against which to assess a deviation due to stress. If sensitive parameters of ecosystem condition also exhibit greater levels of unpredictable variability, the choice of ecological indicators will involve a compromise between two conflicting factors.
31 citations
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: The limnetic zooplankton that commonly occur in Lake Mendota are important both as grazers of phytoplankts and as food for fish and large invertable predators as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The limnetic zooplankton that commonly occur in Lake Mendota are important both as grazers of phytoplankton and as food for fish and large invertable predators. Because of their central role in the food web, they are a key ecosystem component from the standpoint of the food web research summarized in this book. Daphnia are of particular interest because they are subject to intensively selective predation by fishes and because they exert substantial grazing pressure on algal populations (Hrbacek 1962; Brooks and Dodson 1965; Shapiro et al. 1975; Carpenter et al. 1987; Sterner 1989; Vanni et al., Ch. 13; Luecke et al., Ch. 14). This chapter describes the zooplankton of the Lake Mendota and, building on results from the preceding chapter on phytoplankton, evaluates patterns of herbivory in Lake Mendota.
29 citations
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: For example, in this article, the authors studied the effects of vegetation changes in Lake Mendota over the past century and provided clues to the potential consequences of future changes in the macrophyte community.
Abstract: Littoral zone vegetation is integral to the fish productivity of lakes and their capacity to support waterfowl. The refuge for small fishes provided by macrophyte beds alters predator-prey interactions in ways that directly affect productivity of sport fish (Crowder and Cooper 1982; Savino and Stein 1982; Wiley et al. 1984). Different plant species support varying number of macroinvertebrates that are prey for fish and waterfowl (Lathrop, Ch. 10). Over the past century the vegetation of Lake Mendota has undergone substantial changes with significant implications for water quality and fish populations. Valuable clues to the potential consequences of future changes in the macrophyte community can be derived from an understanding of these historical changes.
7 citations
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that size-selective predation on large zooplankton species can also have a substantial influence on phytoplankon communities.
Abstract: Freshwater plankton communities are regulated by a variety of factors, among which nutrients and predators are two of the most important. Increases in limiting nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can stimulate production and biomass of phytoplankton (Schindler 1978), which in turn can stimulate production and biomass of herbivorous zooplankton. Predators such as fish can influence plankton communities through selective predation on large zooplankton species (Zaret 1980; Northcote 1988). Because large zooplankton species have relatively high grazing rates (per individual) on phytoplankton and graze on a wider range of food particles (Burns 1969), size-selective predation on large zooplankton can also have a substantial influence on phytoplankton (Carpenter and Kitchell 1988; Vanni et al. 1990a).
6 citations
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: In this article, an integrated ecosystem approach from phosphorus to fishes is presented, where the modeling problem is broken into three parts in order to maximize the rate of progress and make best use of the people involved.
Abstract: The models presented in the three preceding chapters were planned as elements of an integrated ecosystem approach from phosphorus to fishes. The modeling problem was broken into three parts in order to maximize our rate of progress and make best use of the people involved. The modules—piscivory, planktivory, and herbivory-algae-nutrients—have fundamentally different time scales yet strong vertical interactions (Figure 22.1). Within a given nutrient and weather regime, differences in return time cause the upper modules to act as constraints on lower ones (O’Neill et al. 1986). Piscivore dynamics have return times of years (Post and Rudstam, Ch. 19). Stock and harvest policies as well as resource levels must be considered in modeling piscivory. Planktivory by fishes has return times of years, while that by the zooplankter Leptodora has return times of weeks (Luecke el at., Ch. 20). Herbivory, algal growth, and nutrient fluxes have rapid dynamics and short return times of a few days (Vanni et al., Ch. 21).
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: In this paper, the first and last chapters of a book are used to gauge the reader's interest in a book by examining the first few pages of the book and the reviewer pointed out that many readers will gauge their interest in the book by initially examining its first or last pages.
Abstract: An experienced reviewer pointed out that many readers will gauge their interest in a book by initially examining its first and last chapters. This chapter is intended to assure that those readers get the main elements of our message. It identifies and restates the general as well as some of the specific conclusions derived from this work. It also offers some updating of the limnological events that have transpired since the manuscript were written and offers a forecast of what we expect will occur over the next few years.
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe their attempts to understand and predict ecosystem dynamics in Lake Mendota, from phosphorus to fish, from bionergetics models with conventional fisheries population models (GIFSIM) to forecast effects of stocking, harvest policy, and angling pressure on piscivory.
Abstract: Integration of modeling and field research has been a keystone of the Lake Mendota Program. The numerous contributions of fish bionergetics modeling in previous chapters are one example. Johnson and Staggs (Ch. 17) have combined bionergetics models with conventional fisheries population models (Generalized Inland Fishery Simulator, GIFSIM) to forecast effects of stocking, harvest policy, and angling pressure on piscivory. Bionergetics modeling and GIFSIM are already widely accepted tools in fisheries research and management. The models described in the next seven chapters are more speculative and exploratory. They represent our attempts to understand and predict ecosystem dynamics in Lake Mendota, from phosphorus to fish.
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: To effect the biomanipulation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has undertaken an intensive walleye stocking program for Lake Mendota since 1987, and stocking is expected to continue through 1993, at which time theLake Mendota stocking program will be terminated.
Abstract: To effect the biomanipulation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) has undertaken an intensive walleye stocking program for Lake Mendota since 1987. Over 1.5 million walleye fingerlings have been stocked into the lake from 1987 through 1989. Walleye stocking, albeit at a reduced level, is expected to continue through 1993, at which time the Lake Mendota stocking program will be terminated. Success of the biomanipulation is directly related to success of walleye stocking.