We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Baski Altindaki̇ Siğ Göller: Gölleri̇n Küresel Deği̇şi̇me Verdi̇ği̇ Tepki̇yi̇ Yönlendi̇rmede Zooplanktonun Rolü, Bi̇r Mezokozm Yaklaşimi
AI summary Read the abstract
This thesis used mesocosm experiments to investigate how microplastic (MP) ingestion, terrestrial dissolved organic matter (tDOM) inputs, and warming interact to affect zooplankton communities in shallow lakes. While MP ingestion by zooplankton was low and species-specific, tDOM quality had complex bottom-up effects on zooplankton biomass and community composition, and warming combined with terrestrially derived dissolved organic carbon showed synergistic negative effects on zooplankton size and biomass.
Zooplankton communities are key components of lakes because they occupy a central position in the energy flow of freshwater ecosystems. Predictions driven by climate-driven and human-induced factors suggest significant alterations to the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems, with potentially profound impacts on zooplankton, among other components. Lakes are increasingly threatened by stressors: microplastic (MP) pollution associated with anthropogenic effects, inputs of dissolved organic matter from terrestrial sources (tDOM), and rising temperatures associated with climate change. Although some potential effects of these stressors on freshwater ecosystems are well known, their specific effects on zooplankton, particularly regarding trophic interactions within the food web, are poorly understood. To address this gap, this thesis investigates the effects of MP ingestion and presence on zooplankton, including the subsequent bottom-up and top-down consequences, the influence of different tDOM sources on zooplankton with varying qualities, and the combined effects of tDOM and warming on zooplankton. Using a mesocosm approach, the research revealed that while MP ingestion by zooplankton was low and species-specific, it still had the potential to functional feeding groups. tDOM additions had complex effects, with different sources impacting zooplankton biomass and community composition through bottom-up effects mediated by changes in seston quality. Finally, terrestrially derived dissolved organic carbon (tDOC) negatively impacted zooplankton biomass and size and its combination with warming had a synergistic effect on zooplankton. This thesis highlights the significant ways global change stressors can impact zooplankton, emphasising the importance of understanding these effects for predicting future changes in lake ecosystems.
More Papers Like This
Impacts of Environmental Change and Microplastic Pollution on Zooplankton
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined how environmental changes including warming, ocean acidification, and microplastic pollution are affecting zooplankton communities, covering effects on physiology, behavior, reproduction, and population dynamics. Combined stressors were found to have greater impacts than any single factor.
Freshwater Lacustrine Zooplankton and Microplastic: An Issue to Be Still Explored
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined the interactions between freshwater lacustrine zooplankton and microplastics, highlighting how microplastic ingestion affects planktonic organisms that form the base of lake food webs. The authors call for more research on lake-specific microplastic dynamics.
Filter feeders are key to small microplastic residence times in stratified lakes: A virtual experiment
AI summary Read the abstract
Using laboratory experiments and computer simulations, this study found that filter-feeding zooplankton dramatically shorten the time that small microplastics remain in lake water columns — reducing residence times from over 15 years to roughly 1 year — by ingesting and transporting particles to the lake bottom. This means filter feeders play a critical role in controlling microplastic cycling in lakes, with important implications for food-web exposure and sediment accumulation.
Life in the Balance: Zooplankton’s Battle in a Changing Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This review highlights zooplankton as critical but often overlooked components of marine and freshwater ecosystems, examining how they are threatened by stressors including climate change, pollution, and microplastic ingestion.
The impact of microplastics on lake communities: A mesocosm study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a mesocosm experiment to assess how microplastic contamination affects lake communities, including zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fish. They found that microplastic exposure caused varying effects across organism groups, with some community-level changes observed over the study period. The study highlights that microplastic pollution can alter freshwater ecosystem dynamics beyond what has been documented in single-species laboratory studies.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.