caa a22 4500 467885273 CHVBK 20180406152732.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170328e20060901xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10021-005-0049-y doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10021-005-0049-y Alteration of Ecosystem Function by Zebra Mussels in Oneida Lake: Impacts on Submerged Macrophytes [Elektronische Daten] [B. Zhu, D. Fitzgerald, C. Mayer, L. Rudstam, E. Mills] Dreissenid mussels (the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and the quagga mussel D. bugensis) are ecosystem engineers that modify the physical environment by increasing light penetration. Such a change is likely to affect the distribution and diversity of submerged macrophytes. Filter-feeding by these mussels has been associated with increased water clarity in many North American and European lakes. In this study, we report the increase in water clarity of Oneida Lake, New York, USA, for 1975-2002 and argue that the increase was caused by zebra mussel invasion rather than declines in nutrients. Over the study period, although mean total phosphorus decreased significantly, the main increase in water clarity occurred after the zebra mussel invasion in 1991. The average depth receiving 1% surface light increased from 6.7 m to 7.8 m after the invasion of zebra mussels, representing a 23% areal expansion. The maximum depth of macrophyte colonization, as measured by diver and hydroacoustic surveys, increased from 3.0 m before the invasion of zebra mussels to 5.1 m after their establishment. In addition, macrophyte species richness increased, the frequency of occurrence increased for most species, and the composition of the macrophyte community changed from low-light-tolerant species to those tolerating a wide range of light conditions. Comparisons with observations reported in the literature indicate that increased light penetration alone could explain these changes in macrophyte distribution and diversity. Such changes will increase the importance of benthic primary production over pelagic production in the food web, thereby representing an overall alteration of ecosystem function, a process we refer to as "benthification”. Springer Science+Business Media, Inc., 2006 submerged macrophytes nationallicence dreissenid mussels nationallicence light nationallicence water clarity nationallicence Secchi depth nationallicence species diversity nationallicence Oneida Lake nationallicence Zhu B. Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 130 College Place, 13244, New York, Syracuse, USA aut Fitzgerald D. Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University Biological Field Station, 13030, New York, Bridgeport, USA aut Mayer C. Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 130 College Place, 13244, New York, Syracuse, USA aut Rudstam L. Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University Biological Field Station, 13030, New York, Bridgeport, USA aut Mills E. Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University Biological Field Station, 13030, New York, Bridgeport, USA aut Ecosystems Springer-Verlag; www.springer-ny.com 9/6(2006-09-01), 1017-1028 1432-9840 9:6<1017 2006 9 10021 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-005-0049-y text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-005-0049-y text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Zhu B. Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 130 College Place, 13244, New York, Syracuse, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Fitzgerald D. Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University Biological Field Station, 13030, New York, Bridgeport, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Mayer C. Department of Biology, Syracuse University, 130 College Place, 13244, New York, Syracuse, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Rudstam L. Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University Biological Field Station, 13030, New York, Bridgeport, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Mills E. Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University Biological Field Station, 13030, New York, Bridgeport, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Ecosystems Springer-Verlag; www.springer-ny.com 9/6(2006-09-01), 1017-1028 1432-9840 9:6<1017 2006 9 10021 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer