Effects of experimental warming and nutrient enrichment on wetland communities at the Arctic’s edge

Hydrobiologia
By: , and 

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Abstract

Global warming-related changes to freshwater ecosystems in Arctic and Subarctic regions have been magnified by nutrient input from increasing waterfowl populations. To gain insight into how these changes might affect ecosystem function, we conducted a mesocosm experiment in the Subarctic by enriching N and P (1 ×, 10 ×, and 20 × treatments) and increasing mean water temperatures ≤ 3°C. We measured responses of two species of larval amphibians, periphyton, and phytoplankton. Wood frog (Rana sylvatica) larvae developed quicker (odds ratio [OR] for 1°C increase = 0.903, 95% CI 0.892–0.912) and were more likely to metamorphose (OR 1.076, 95% CI 0.022–14.73) in warmer waters. Boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata) also developed quicker with warmer temperatures (OR 0.880, 95% CI 0.860–0.900), despite a non-significant trend toward reduced survival (OR 0.853, 95% CI 0.696–1.039). Periphyton and phytoplankton concentrations increased with nutrient additions, as did size of wood frog metamorphs. Periphyton and phytoplankton did not vary with temperature, but periphyton was limited by tadpole abundance. Our results highlight the potential for non-linear responses to ecosystem change, with species-specific consumer and ecosystem responses that depend on the magnitude of changes.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Effects of experimental warming and nutrient enrichment on wetland communities at the Arctic’s edge
Series title Hydrobiologia
DOI 10.1007/s10750-020-04392-x
Volume 847
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
Description 14 p.
First page 3677
Last page 3690
Country Canada
State Manitoba
City Churchill
Other Geospatial Hudson Bay Lowlands region
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