Abstract
Some mugilid fish are known to enhance small phytoplankton in freshwater macrophyte-free environments due to zooplankton depletion. This suggests that they may have negative effects on natural macrophyte beds of freshwater and oligohaline lagoons due to phytoplantkon enhancement. To test this hypothesis, we compared the ecosystems of control enclosures that contained no fish with those of enclosures stocked with Liza saliens at two different densities. The occurrence of L. saliens at a density of 321±92.42 kg ha−1 reduced cladoceran density, depleted epiphytic chironomid larvae, enhanced mayfly nymphs and cyclopoid copepods and reduced the organic matter content of sediment, all in comparison with control enclosures. At a density of 673±42.04 kg ha−1, L. saliens reduced total zooplankton density, depleted epiphytic and sediment dwelling chironomid larvae and enhanced mayfly nymphs. The organic matter contents of sediment was not affected. These results showed that L. saliens was very effective in reducing zooplankton density even when macrophyte biomass was high. However, these effects do not affect phytoplankton density, probably because zooplankton was dominated by species with low filter-feeding rates and macrophytes depleted nutrients.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arcifa, M. S., T. G. Northcote & O. Froehlich, 1986. Fishzooplankton interactions and their effects on water quality of a tropical Brazilian reservoir. Hydrobiologia 139: 49–58.
Brönmark, C. & L. A. Hansson, 1998. The biology of lakes and ponds. Oxford University Press, Oxford: 216 pp.
Breukelaar, A. W.,E. H. R. R. Lammens, J. G. P. K. Breteler & I. Tátrai, 1994. Effects of benthivorous bream (Abramis brama) and carp (Cyprinus carpio) on sediment resuspension and concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll a. Freshwat. Biol. 32: 113–121.
Cardona, L., 1994. Estructura de las comunidades de mugilidos (Osteichthyes, Mugilidae) en ambientes estuáricos. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Barcelona: 274 pp.
Cardona, L., 1996. Microalgae selection by mullets Mugil cephalus and Liza ramada) in Israeli semi-intensive fish ponds. Israeli J. Aquacult.-Bamidgeh 48: 165–173.
Cardona, L., 1999a. Age and growth of leaping grey mullet (Liza salien) (Risso, 1810) in Minorca (Balearic Islands). Sci. mar. 63: 93–99.
Cardona, L., 1999b. Seasonal changes in the food quality, diel feeding rhythm and growth rate of juvenile leaping grey mullet Liza saliens. Aquat. Liv. Res. 12: 263–270.
Cardona, L. & F. Castelló, 1994. Relative importance of plankton and benthos as food sources for Mugil cephalus and Liza ramada in Israeli semi-intensive fish ponds. Israeli J. Aquacult.-Bamidgeh 46: 197–202.
Cardona, L., X. Torras, E. Gisber & F. Castelló, 1996. The effect of striped grey mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) on freshwater ecosystems. Israeli J. Aquacult-Bamidgeh 48: 179–185.
Cline, J. M., T. L. East & S.T. Threlkeld, 1994. Fish interactions with the sediment-water interface. Hydrobiologia 275/276: 301–311.
Clescer, L. S., A. E. Greenberg & A. D. Eaton, 1998. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association, Washington.
Comín, F. A., 1984. Características físicas y químicas y fitoplancton de las lagunas costera Encañizada, Tancada y Buda (Delta del Ebro). Oecol. Aquat. 7: 79–192.
Comín, F. A., M. Menéndez & J. R. Lucena, 1990. Proposals for macrophyte restoration in eutrophic coastal lagoons. Hydrobiologia 200/201: 427–436.
Comín, F. A., M. Menéndez & M. Martín, 1992. A model of competition between primary producers in coastal lagoons. Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer Médit 33: 94.
Cooke, G. D., E. B. Welch, S. A. Peterson & R. R. Newroth, 1993. Restoration and management of lakes and reservoirs. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida: 548 pp.
Crivelli, A. J., 1983. The destruction of aquatic vegetation by carp. Hydrobiologia 106: 37–41.
Dallocchio, F., F. Ghion, C. Milan & P. Viaroli, 1998. Variazioni temporali delle caratteristiche chimico-fisiche delle acque delle Valli di Comacchio. Laguna suppl 5/98: 4–15.
Drake, P., A. M. Arias & L. Gállego, 1984. Biologia de los mugílidos (Osteichthyes, Mugilidae) en los esteros de las salinas de San Fernando (Cádiz). III. Hábitos alimentarios y su relación con la morfometría del aparato digestivo. lnv. Pesq. 48: 337–367.
Gisbert, E., L. Cardona & F. Castelló Orvay, 1995. Alimentación de los alevines de mugílidos en el delta del Ebro. Misc. Zool. 18: 145–152.
Hrbácek, J., 1994. Food web relations. In Eiseltová, M. (ed.), Restoration of Lake Ecosystems. IWRB: 44–58.
Lazzaro, X., R. W. Drenner, R. A. Stein & D. Smith, 1992. Planktivores and plankton dynamics: effects of fish biomass and planktivore type. Can. J. Fish aquat. Sci. 49: 1466–1473.
Leventer, H., 1981. Biological control of reservoirs by fish. Bamidgeh 33: 3–23.
Lietaud, A., X.-C. Ximenes & T. Moutin, 1991. Lagoon eutrophication assessment for rehabilitation purposes: nitrogen and phosphorus loadings in different compartments. In Finlayson, C. M., G. E. Hollis & T. J. Davis (eds), Managing Mediterranean Wetlands and Their Birds. IWRB: 147–153.
Lougheed, V., B. Crosbie & P. Chow-Fraser, 1998. Predictions on the effect of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exclusion on water quality, zooplankton and submerged macrophytes in a Great Lakes wetland. Can. J. Fish aquat. Sci. 55: 1189–1197.
Martínez Taberner, A., G. Ramon & V. Forteza, 1990. Chemical hydrology and macrophyte vegetation in the canals of a Mediterranean coastal marsh. Arch. Hydrobiol. 120: 67–87.
Martínez Taberner, A., G. Ramon & V. Forteza, 1991. Seasonal physico-chemical changes in coastal lagoons of the Albufera of Majorca (Balearic Islands). Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 24: 1564–1566.
Menéndez, M. & F. A. Comín, 1986. Variación estacional del zooplancton en las lagunas costeras del delta del Ebro (NNE España). Oecol. Aquat. 8: 47–60.
Menéndez, M. & F. A. Comín, 1989. Seasonal pattems of biomass variation of Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande and Potamogeton pectinatus L. in a coastal lagoon. Sci. mar. 53: 633–638.
Milstein, A. & R. Svirsky, 1996. Effects of fish species combinations on water chemistry and plankton composition in earthen fish ponds. Aquacult. Res. 27: 79–90.
Northcote, T. G., 1988. Fish in the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems: a 'top-down' view. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 45: 361–379.
Piccoli, F., 1998. Passato e presente della vegetazione delle Valli di Comacchio. Laguna, suppl 5/98: 24–27.
Pretus, J. L. I., 1989. Limonlogía de la Albufera de Menorca (Menorca, España). Limnética 5: 69–81.
Pretus, J. L. I., 1991. Estudio tanomómico, biogeográfico y ecológico de los crustáceos epigeos e hipogeos de las Baleares. Ph.D. thesis. University of Barcelona: 513 pp.
Quin, J. & S. T. Threlkeld, 1990. Experimental comparison of the effects of benthivorous fish and planktivorous fish on plankton community structure. Arch. Hydrobiol. 119: 121–141.
Reynolds, C. S., 1994. The ecological basis for the successful biomanipulation of aquatic communities. Arch. Hydrobiol. 130: 1–33.
Threlkeld, S. T., 1994. Benthic–pelagic interactions in shallow water columns: an experimentalistic's perspective. Hydrobiologia 275/276: 293–300.
Torras, X., L. Cardona & E. Gisbert, 2000. Cascading effects of the flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus in freshwater eutrophic microcosmos. Hydrobiologia429: 49–57.
VanWijk, R. J., 1988. Ecological studies on Potamogeton pectinatus L. I. General characteristics, biomass production and life cycles under field conditions. Aquat. Bot. 31: 211–258.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cardona, L., Royo, P. & Torras, X. Effects of leaping grey mullet Liza saliens (Osteichthyes, Mugilidae) in the macrophyte beds of oligohaline Mediterranean coastal lagoons. Hydrobiologia 462, 233–240 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013106905602
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013106905602