Original paper
Site-specific methane production and subsequent midge mediation within Esthwaite Water, UK
Deines, Peter; Grey, Jonathan
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 167 Number 1-4 (2006), p. 317 - 334
46 references
published: Oct 5, 2006
DOI: 10.1127/0003-9136/2006/0167-0317
ArtNo. ESP141016770020, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Previous analyses of larval chironomid δ13 C have suggested that methanotrophic contribution to biomass is site-specific within lakes. We determined larval biomass, larval and methane gas stable carbon isotopes, and potential methane production from the sediments underlying different water column depths in Esthwaite Water. UK. Methane production increased whereas larval δ13 C values typically became lighter with increasing lake depth. Reduced methane production at 15m depth and correspondingly less 13 C-depleted larvae in the second year of study suggests that the rate of methane production influenced larval assimilation of methane-derived biomass. Larval distribution and other site-specific parameters, combined with two-source mixing models, were used to estimate potential methane-mediation via the abundant chironomid biomass to higher predators.
Keywords
benthos • Chironomus • food webs • methanotrophy • stable isotopes