Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2009ME193B

Impacts of White Perch Introductions on Trophic Dynamics: Paleolimnological Record of Zooplankton Grazing and Nutrient Cycling

Institute: Maine
Year Established: 2009 Start Date: 2009-03-01 End Date: 2010-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $4,497 Total Non-Federal Funds: Not available

Principal Investigators: John Peckenham

Project Summary: Impacts from fish introduction on size selective predation and alteration of nutrient cycling will be examined using paleolimnological techniques. This analysis will provide insight into the long-term developments, past conditions, and biological response to fish introduction at the whole lake scale. These results will be compared to a whole-lake biomanipulation project on East Pond; a shallow, mesotrophic lake located in the Belgrade Chain of Lakes in central Maine. The goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of the complex mechanisms by which fish introductions affect plankton dynamics and to assess the applicability of biomanipulation as a management approach for improving water quality.