Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Long-term responses to fish-stock reduction in small shallow lakes: interpretation of five-year results of four biomanipulation cases in The Netherlands and Denmark

  • Lake Restoration
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of fish stock reduction have been studies in 3 Dutch lakes (Lake Zwemlust, Lake Bleiswijkse Zoom and Lake Noorddiep) and 1 Danish lake (Lake Væng) during 4–5 years. A general response id described. The fish stock reduction led in general to a low fish stock, low chlorophyii-a, high transparency and high abunuance of macrophytes. Large Daphnia became abundant, but their density decreased, due to food limitation and predation by fish. The total nitrogen concentration became low due to N-uptake by macrophytes and enhanced denitrification. In Lake Bleiswijkse Zoom the water transparency deteriorated and the clear water state was not stable. The fish stock increased and the production of young fish in summer was high. lear water occurred only in spring. Large daphnids were absent in summer and the macrophytes decreased.

In Lake Zwemlust, Lake Væng and Lake Noorddiep the water remained clear during the first five years. In summer of the sixth year (1992) transparency decreased in Lake Zwemlust (with high P-concentration of 1.0 mg P l-1). Also in Lake Væng (with a low nutrient concentration of 0.15 mg P.⋆-1) a short term turbid stage (1.5 month) occurred in summer 1992 after a sudden collapse of the macrophytes. Deterioration of the water quality seems to start in summer and seems related to a collapse in macrophytes. At a low planktivorous fishstock (e.g. Lake Væng)thhe duration of the turbid state is shorter. than in presence of a high planktivorous fish biomass (e.g. Lake Zwemlust, and later years of Lake Bleiswijkse Zoom).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benndorff, J., 1987. Food-web manipulation without nutrient control: a useful strategy in lake restoration? Schweiz. Z. Hydrol. 49: 237–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blindow, I., 1992. Long- and short-term dynamics of submerged macrophytes in two shallow eutrophic lakes. Freshwat. Biol. 28: 15–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimm, M. P. & J. J. G. M. Backx, 1990. The restoration of shallow eutrophic lakes, and the role of northern pike, aquatic vegetation and nutrient concentration. Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 557–566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulati, R. D., 1990. Structural and grazing response of zooplankton community to biomanipulation in Dutch water bodies. Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 99–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Havens, K. E., 1993. Response to experimental fish manipulations in a shallow, hypereutrophic lake: the relative importance of benthic nutrient recycling and trophic cascade. Hydrobiologia 254: 73–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeppesen, E., M. Søndergaard, E. Mortensen, P. Kirstensen, B. Riemann, H. J. Jensen, J. P. Muller, O. Sortkjaer, J. P. Jensen, K. Christoffersen, S. Bosselmann & E. Dall, 1990. Fish manipulation as a lake restoration tool in shallow eutrophic temperate lakes 1: cross-analysis of three Danish case-studies. Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 205–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeppesen, E., J. P. Jensen, P. Kristensen, M. Søndergaard, E. Mortensen, O. Sortkjær & K. Olrik, 1990. Fish manipulation as a lake restoration tool in shallow, eutrophic, temperate lakes 2: threshold levels, long-term stability and conclusions. Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 219–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeppesen, E. P. Kristensen, J. P. Jensen, M. Søndergaard, E. Mortensen & T. Lauridsen, 1991. Recovery resilience following a reduction in external phosphorus loading of shallow eutrophic Danish lakes: duration, regulation factors and methods for overcoming resilience. Mem. Ist. ital. Idrobiol. 48: 127–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauridsen, T. L., E. Jeppesen & M. Søndergaard, 1994. Colonization and succession of submerged macrophytes in shallow Lake Væng during the first five years following fish manipulation. Hydrobiologia 275–276/Dev. Hydrobiol. 94: 233–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meijer, M-L., M. W. de Haan, S. W. Breukelaar & H. Buiteveld, 1990. Is reduction of benthivorous fish an important cause of high transparency following biomanipulation in shallow lakes? Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 303–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss, B., 1990. Engineering and biological approaches to the restoration from eutrophication of shallow lakes in which aquatic plant communities are important components. Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 367–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozimek, T., E. van Donk & R. D. Gulati, 1990. Can macrophytes be useful in biomanipulation of lakes. Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 475–487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrow, M. R., B. Moss & J. Stansfield, 1994. Trophic interactions in a shallow lake following a reduction in nutrient loading: a long-term study. Hydrobiologia 275–276/Dev. Hydrobiol. 94: 43–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, Y., L. Eminson & B. Moss, 1978. A mechanism to account for macrophyte decline in progressively eutrophicated fresh waters. Aquat Bot. 4: 103–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinertsen, H. A. & Y. Olsen, 1984. Effects of fish elimination on the phytoplankton community of an eutrophic lake. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 22: 649–657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarnelle, O., 1992. Nutrient enrichment and grazer effects on phytoplankton in lakes. Ecology 73: 551–560.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheffer, M., 1990. Multiplicity of stable states in freshwater systems. Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 475–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, J., V. Lamarra & M. Lynch, 1975. Biomanipulation: an ecosystem approach to lake restoration. In: P. L. Brezonik & J. F. Fox (eds), Water Quality management through biological control. Univ. of Florida, Gainesvill, Florida, Usa: 85–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sondergaard, M., E. Jeppesen, E. Mortensen, E. Dall, P. Kristensen & O. Sørtkjaer, 1990. Phytoplankton biomass reduction after planktivorous fish reduction in a shallow, eutrophic lake: a combined effect of reduced internal P-loading and increased zooplankton grazing. Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 229–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Donk, E., M. P. Grimm, R. D. Gulati & J. P. G. Klein Breteler, 1990. Whole-lake food-web manipulation as a means to study community interactions in a small ecosystem. Hydrobiologia 200–201/Dev. Hydrobiol. 61: 275–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Donk, E., R. D. Gulati, A. Iedema & J. T. Meulemans, 1993. Macrophyte-related shifts in the nitrogen and phosphorus contents of the different trophic levels in a biomanipulated shallow lake. Hydrobiologia 251/Dev. Hydrobiol. 82: 19–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Donk, E., E. de Deckere, J. P. G. Kleine Breteler & J. T. Meulemans (in press). Herbivory by waterfowl and fish on macrophytes in a biomanipulated lake: effects on long-term recovery. Verh. int. ver. Limnol. 25.

  • Vanni, M. J. & D. L. Findlay, 1990. Trophic cascades and phytoplankton community structure. Ecology 71: 921–937.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. RIZA, P.O. Box 17, 8200 AA, Lelystad, The Netherlands

    M L. Meijer, M. Scheffer, E. Lammens & E. van Nes

  2. National Environmental Research Institute, P.O. Box 314, DK 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark

    E. Jeppesen & J. P. Jensen

  3. Agricultural University, P.O. Box 8080, 6700 DD, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    E. van Donk

  4. Dept of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 147, L89 3BX, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    B. Moss

  5. Waterboard of West Overijssel, P.O. Box 60, 8000 AB, Zwolle, The Netherlands

    J. A. van Berkum

  6. Waterboard of Schieland, P.O. Box 4059, 3006 AB, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    G. J. de Jong

  7. Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Korsvoll, P.O. Box 69, 0808, Oslo 8, Norway

    B. A. Faafeng

Authors
  1. M L. Meijer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Jeppesen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. van Donk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Moss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Scheffer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. E. Lammens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. E. van Nes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. J. A. van Berkum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. G. J. de Jong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. B. A. Faafeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. J. P. Jensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Meijer, M.L., Jeppesen, E., van Donk, E. et al. Long-term responses to fish-stock reduction in small shallow lakes: interpretation of five-year results of four biomanipulation cases in The Netherlands and Denmark. Hydrobiologia 275, 457–466 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026734

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026734

Keywords

Search

Navigation