Influence of simulated climate change and eutrophication on three-spined stickleback populations: a large scale mesocosm experiment

Moran, Rebecca; Harvey, Ian; Moss, Brian; Feuchtmayr, Heidrun; Hatton, Keith; Heyes, Tom; Atkinson, David. 2010 Influence of simulated climate change and eutrophication on three-spined stickleback populations: a large scale mesocosm experiment. Freshwater Biology, 55 (2). 315-325. 10.1111/j.1365-2427.2009.02276.x

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Official URL: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/1225333...

Abstract/Summary

1. Shallow lakes and their ectothermic inhabitants are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climatic warming. These impacts are likely to depend on nutrient loading, especially if the combination of warming and eutrophication leads to severe hypoxia. 2. To investigate effects of realistic warming and nutrient loading on a fish species with high tolerance of warming and hypoxia, we observed population changes and timing of reproduction of three-spined sticklebacks in 24 outdoor shallow freshwater ecosystems with combinations of temperature (ambient and ambient +4 °C) and three nutrient treatments over 16 months. 3. Warming reduced stickleback population biomass by 60% (population size by 76%) and nutrient-addition reduced biomass by about 80% (population size 95%). Nutrients and warming together resulted in extinction of the stickleback populations. These losses were mainly attributed to the increased likelihood of severe hypoxia in heated and nutrient-addition mesocosms. 4. Warming of nutrient-rich waters can thus have dire consequences for freshwater ectotherm populations. The loss even of a hardy fish suggests a precarious future for many less tolerant species in such eutrophic systems under current climate change predictions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1111/j.1365-2427.2009.02276.x
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 1 - Variability and Change in Water Systems
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Parr
ISSN:	0046-5070
Additional Keywords:	climate change, eutrophication, fish, lakes, populations
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	05 Feb 2010 11:29 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/8792

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1111/j.1365-2427.2009.02276.x

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 1 - Variability and Change in Water Systems

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Parr

ISSN:

0046-5070

Additional Keywords:

climate change, eutrophication, fish, lakes, populations