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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems
Published on: July 30, 2019
Size-Dependent grazing and trophic cascades shape Zooplankton-phytoplankton interactions in Eutrophic Lake
Jin Lu1, Yue Wu2, Jinsheng Yang1
1State Key Laboratory of Lake and Watershed Science for Water Security, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 211135, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Nanjing College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 211135, China.
Abstract:
Understanding size-dependent grazing dynamics is critical for elucidating trophic interactions in eutrophic lakes. This study employed a dual-zone (littoral vs. pelagic) framework in Lake Chaohu to quantify zooplankton grazing on size-classified phytoplankton from April 2023 to March 2024 via dilution experiments. Our results reveal inedible cyanobacteria colonies (>200 μm) dominated phytoplankton biomass (86% -96%) during peak-blooms, accumulating in littoral zones. Edible phytoplankton (<200 μm), predominantly in the 40-200 μm (56%) and 3-20 μm (28%) size fractions, sustained zooplankton feeding in pre- and post-bloom periods. Zooplankton consumed 19.4% of phytoplankton biomass during non-bloom periods compared to only 8.3% during blooms. Meso-zooplankton filter feeders (dominant in littoral zones) exerted strong grazing pressure on S-sized phytoplankton (3-20 μm), contributing to clear-water phases (May-Jun). Cyanobacterial proliferation suppressed meso‑zooplankton grazing and shifted the primary grazing pressure to micro-zooplankton filter feeders, which exhibited significant consumption of L-sized cyanobacteria (40-200 μm) during peak-bloom. However, this micro-zooplankton grazing on bloom-forming cyanobacteria was constrained by predation from meso‑zooplankton carnivores in pelagic zones. These results underscore the interplay of phytoplankton size structure, zooplankton functional traits, and trophic cascades in mediating bloom dynamics and energy flow pathways in eutrophic lakes.
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