TY - JOUR A1 - Jäger, Christoph G. A1 - Borchardt, D. T1 - Longitudinal patterns and response lengths of algae in riverine ecosystems: A model analysis emphasising benthic-pelagic interactions JF - Journal of Theoretical Biology N2 - In riverine ecosystems primary production is principally possible in two habitats: in the benthic layer by sessile algae and in the surface water by planktonic algae being transported downstream. The relevance of these two habitats generally changes along the rivers' continuum. However, analyses of the interaction of algae in these two habitats and their controlling factors in riverine ecosystems are, so far, very rare. We use a simplified advection-diffusion model system combined with ecological process kinetics to analyse the interaction of benthic and planktonic algae and nutrients along idealised streams and rivers at regional to large scales. Because many of the underlying processes affecting algal dynamics are influenced by depth, we focus particularly on the impact of river depth on this interaction. At constant environmental conditions all state variables approach stable spatial equilibria along the river, independent of the boundary conditions at the upstream end. Because our model is very robust against changes of turbulent diffusion and stream velocity, these spatial equilibria can be analysed by a simplified ordinary differential equation (ode) version of our model. This model variant reveals that at shallower river depths, phytoplankton can exist only when it is subsidised by detaching benthic algae, and in turn, at deeper river depths, benthic algae can exist only in low biomasses which are subsidised by sinking planktonic algae. We generalise the spatial dynamics of the model system using different conditions at the upstream end of the model, which mimic various natural or anthropogenic factors (pristine source, dam, inflow of a waste water treatment plant, and dilution from e.g. a tributary) and analyse how these scenarios influence different aspects of the longitudinal spatial dynamics of the full spatial model: the relation of spatial equilibrium to spatial maximum, the distance to the spatial maximum, and the response length. Generally, our results imply that shallow systems recover within significantly shorter distances from spatially distinct disturbances when compared to deep systems, independent of the type of disturbance. KW - Nutrients KW - Light KW - Longitudinal gradient KW - Resilience Y1 - 2018 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.01.009 VL - 442 SP - 66 EP - 78 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yang, Soohyun A1 - Büttner, Olaf A1 - Kumar, Rohini A1 - Jäger, Christoph G. A1 - Jawitz, James W. A1 - Rao, P.S.C. A1 - Borchardt, Dietrich T1 - Spatial patterns of water quality impairments from point source nutrient loads in Germany's largest national River Basin (Weser River) JF - Science of The Total Environment N2 - We employed the well-established Horton-Strahler, hierarchical, stream-order (ω) scheme to investigate scaling of nutrient loads (P and N) from ~845 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) distributed along the river network in urbanized Weser River, the largest national basin in Germany (~46K km2; ~8.4 million population). We estimated hydrologic and water quality impacts at the reach- and basin-scales, at two steady river discharge conditions (median flow, QR50; low-flow, QR90). Of the five WWTPs class-sizes (1 ≤ k ≤ 5), ~68% discharge to small low-order streams (ω < 3). We found large variations in capacity to dilute WWTP nutrient loads because of variability in (1) treated wastewater discharge (QU) within and among different class-sizes, and (2) river discharge (QR) within low-order streams (ω < 3) resulting from differences in drainage areas. For QR50, reach-scale water quality impairment assessed by nutrient concentration was likely at 136 (~16%) locations for P and 15 locations (~2%) for N. About 90% of these locations were lower-order streams (ω < 3). At QR50 and only with dilution, basin-scale cumulative nutrient loads from multiple upstream WWTPs increase impaired locations to 266 (~32% of total) for P. Considering in-stream uptake decreased P-impaired streams to 225 (~27%), suggesting the dominant role of dilution in the Weser River basin. Role of in-stream uptake diminished along the flow paths, while dilution in larger streams (4 ≤ ω ≤ 7) minimizes the impact of WWTP loads. Under QR90 conditions [(QR50/QR90) ~ 2.5], water quality impaired locations will likely double for the basin-scale analyses. Long-term water quality data suggested that diffuse sources are the primary contributors for water quality impairments in large streams. Our data-modeling synthesis approach is transferable to other urbanized river basins and extends understanding of point source impacts on water quality across spatial scales. KW - Point source nutrient loads KW - Dilution KW - In-stream nutrient uptake KW - Eutrophication KW - Hydrological alteration Y1 - 2019 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134145 VL - 697 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wentzky, Valerie C. A1 - Tittel, Jörg A1 - Jäger, Christoph G. A1 - Bruggeman, Jorn A1 - Rinke, Karsten T1 - Seasonal succession of functional traits in phytoplankton communities and their interaction with trophic state JF - Journal of Ecology N2 - 1. Understanding and explaining the structure of communities in response to environmental gradients is a central goal in ecology. Trait‐based approaches are promising but yet rarely applied to understand community dynamics in response to changing environmental conditions. 2. Here, we investigate seasonal succession patterns of functional traits in phytoplankton communities and how nutrient reductions (oligotrophication) alter these patterns. We used phytoplankton data from 40 years of observation from the Rappbode Reservoir (Germany), which underwent a strong shift in trophic conditions, and translated taxonomic composition into functional traits by assigning trait values compiled from the literature. 3. All studied traits (morphological, behavioural and physiological traits) responded to changing environmental conditions and showed consistent, reoccurring seasonal developments. The seasonal succession of phytoplankton communities was shaped by a trade‐off between small‐celled, fast‐growing species that are able to rapidly incorporate existing resources (r ‐strategists) and large‐celled species with more complex and efficient mechanisms to exploit scarce mineral nutrients or acquire previously unexploited nutrient pools (k ‐strategists). In summer, when nutrients were scarce, the k ‐strategy was prevailing (important traits: phosphate affinity, nitrogen fixation, motility and mixotrophy). During the rest of the year, nutrients and turbulence were high and r ‐strategists dominated (important traits: maximum growth rate and light affinity). 4. A comparison between eutrophic and oligotrophic years revealed that the main features of functional trait succession were largely preserved, but intra‐annual fluctuations from spring to summer were stronger during eutrophic years. Nutrient reductions mainly affected functional traits and biomass in spring, while in summer the functional community composition changed little. 5. Synthesis. This study provides for the first time a quantitatively supported functional template for trait‐based succession patterns in lakes under different nutrient conditions. By translating taxonomic composition into trait information, we demonstrate that the quantification of functional characteristics enables ecological interpretation of observed community dynamics and provides not only a testable template but also a powerful tool towards a more mechanistic understanding. The quantification of functional traits further improves the predictability of community shifts in response to changing environmental conditions and thus opens new perspectives for predictive limnology using lake ecosystem models. KW - freshwater ecology KW - functional groups KW - oligotrophication KW - plankton ecology group model KW - Rappbode Reservior KW - seasonal dynamics KW - trait-based approaches Y1 - 2020 UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13395 VL - 108 IS - 4 SP - 1649 EP - 1663 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weitere, Markus A1 - Altenburger, Rolf A1 - Anlanger, Christine A1 - Baborowski, Martina A1 - Bärlund, Ilona A1 - Beckers, Liza-Marie A1 - Borchardt, Dietrich A1 - Brack, Werner A1 - Brase, Lisa A1 - Busch, Wibke A1 - Chatzinotas, Antonis A1 - Deutschmann, Björn A1 - Eligehausen, Jens A1 - Frank, Karin A1 - Graeber, Daniel A1 - Griebler, Christian A1 - Hagemann, Jeske A1 - Herzsprung, Peter A1 - Hollert, Henner A1 - Inostroza, Pedro A. A1 - Jäger, Christoph G. A1 - Kallies, René A1 - Kamjunke, Norbert A1 - Karrasch, Bernhard A1 - Kaschuba, Sigrid A1 - Kaus, Andrew A1 - Klauer, Bernd A1 - Knöller, Kay A1 - Koschorreck, Matthias A1 - Krauss, Martin A1 - Kunz, Julia V. A1 - Kurz, Marie J. A1 - Liess, Matthias A1 - Mages, Margarete A1 - Müller, Christin A1 - Muschket, Matthias A1 - Musolff, Andreas A1 - Norf, Helge A1 - Pöhlein, Florian A1 - Reiber, Lena A1 - Risse-Buhl, Ute A1 - Schramm, Karl-Werner A1 - Schmitt-Jansen, Mechthild A1 - Schmitz, Markus A1 - Strachauer, Ulrike A1 - von Tümpling, Wolf A1 - Weber, Nina A1 - Wild, Romy A1 - Wolf, Christine A1 - Brauns, Mario T1 - Disentangling multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors in a lotic ecosystem using a longitudinal approach JF - Science of the Total Environment N2 - Meeting ecological and water quality standards in lotic ecosystems is often failed due to multiple stressors. However, disentangling stressor effects and identifying relevant stressor-effect-relationships in complex environmental settings remain major challenges. By combining state-of-the-art methods from ecotoxicology and aquatic ecosystem analysis, we aimed here to disentangle the effects of multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors along a longitudinal land use gradient in a third-order river in Germany. We distinguished and evaluated four dominant stressor categories along this gradient: (1) Hydromorphological alterations: Flow diversity and substrate diversity correlated with the EU-Water Framework Directive based indicators for the quality element macroinvertebrates, which deteriorated at the transition from near-natural reference sites to urban sites. (2) Elevated nutrient levels and eutrophication: Low to moderate nutrient concentrations together with complete canopy cover at the reference sites correlated with low densities of benthic algae (biofilms). We found no more systematic relation of algal density with nutrient concentrations at the downstream sites, suggesting that limiting concentrations are exceeded already at moderate nutrient concentrations and reduced shading by riparian vegetation. (3) Elevated organic matter levels: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and stormwater drainage systems were the primary sources of bioavailable dissolved organic carbon. Consequently, planktonic bacterial production and especially extracellular enzyme activity increased downstream of those effluents showing local peaks. (4) Micropollutants and toxicity-related stress: WWTPs were the predominant source of toxic stress, resulting in a rapid increase of the toxicity for invertebrates and algae with only one order of magnitude below the acute toxic levels. This toxicity correlates negatively with the contribution of invertebrate species being sensitive towards pesticides (SPEARpesticides index), probably contributing to the loss of biodiversity recorded in response to WWTP effluents. Our longitudinal approach highlights the potential of coordinated community efforts in supplementing established monitoring methods to tackle the complex phenomenon of multiple stress. KW - Multiple stress KW - Running waters KW - Indicators KW - Ecological functions KW - Effect based analyses Y1 - 2021 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144324 VL - 769 SP - 144324 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wentzky, Valerie A1 - Tittel, Jörg A1 - Borchardt, Dietrich A1 - Jäger, Christoph G. A1 - Donner, Jan A1 - Rinke, Karsten T1 - Funktionale Klassifikation von Phytoplankton-Gemeinschaften als innovative Erweiterung taxonomischer Bewertungsverfahren JF - KW Korrespondenz Wasserwirtschaft N2 - Die Charakterisierung und Quantifizierung von Phytoplankton-Gemeinschaften sind ein wesentlicher Aspekt der Gütebeurteilung von Standgewässern. In dieser Arbeit wird eine neue Herangehensweise hergeleitet und demonstriert, welche die klassische, taxonomisch-orientierte Methodik durch einen funktionalen Ansatz ergänzt, der auf den physiologischen und ökologischen Eigenschaften der Taxa (Traits) beruht. Kern des Ansatzes bildet der sogenannte Trait-Schlüssel, mit dem eine taxonomische Information in eine funktionale Information übersetzt werden kann. Die Aussagekraft und Potenziale des Verfahrens werden anhand von Langzeitdaten (50 Jahre) der Phytoplankton-Gemeinschaft der Rappbode-Talsperre exemplarisch demonstriert. Die Trait-basierte Analyse reduziert die Komplexität der Daten und ermöglicht eine quantitative Analyse der beobachteten Veränderungen auf der Basis von statistischen Methoden, die auf den klassischen taxonomischen Ansatz nicht anwendbar sind. Sowohl hinsichtlich der saisonalen Sukzession als auch der langfristigen Trends lassen die funktionalen Eigenschaften Rückschlüsse auf die maßgeblichen Umweltfaktoren zu. Für die wasserwirtschaftliche Praxis erweitert sich damit der Informationsgehalt und die Interpretierbarkeit der vorhandenen Daten. Diese Aufwertung der Ergebnisse kann ohne Mehraufwand erhalten werden. Von besonderem Interesse sind hierbei Kausalanalysen signifikanter Langzeittrends oder von sprunghaften Veränderungen in der Phytoplankton-Entwicklung, die hiermit in einen kausalen und systemanalytischen Zusammenhang gestellt werden können. KW - Taxonomie KW - Phytoplankton KW - Talsperre KW - Bewertung KW - Algen KW - Cyanobakterien Y1 - 2021 VL - 14 IS - 5 SP - 295 EP - 300 ER -