Heatwave-induced functional shifts in zooplankton communities result in weaker top-down control on phytoplankton.

ABSTRACT: Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly affected by rising annual mean temperatures and heatwaves. While heatwaves are expected to have more immediate effects than mean temperature increases on local communities, comparative experimental studies are largely lacking. We conducted a 1-month mesocosm experiment to test the effect of different warming treatments, constantly raised temperatures (+3°C) and recurring heatwaves (+6°C), on plankton communities. We specifically tested how shifts in zooplankton trait composition and functional groups are reflected in ecosystem function (top-down control on primary producers). We found that heatwaves had a stronger and more immediate effect on zooplankton trait composition (specifically on body length and body mass) and functional groups. Heatwaves led

SUBMITTER: Huynh TH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11300956 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature