Invasive amphipods as a factor of transformation of Lake Ladoga ecosystems

• Published in: Russian journal of biological invasions Vol. 3; no. 3; pp. 202 - 212
• Main Authors: Kurashov, E. A., Barbashova, M. A., Barkov, D. V., Rusanov, A. G., Lavrova, M. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht SP MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica 01-07-2012
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Developmental Biology; Ecology; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Life Sciences; Plant Sciences; transformation of ecosystem; Lake Ladoga; role in ecosystem; biological invasions
• ISSN: 2075-1117; 2075-1125
• DOI: 10.1134/S2075111712030058

The role of invasive amphipods (Baikalian species
Gmelinoides fasciatus
(Stebbing, 1899) and Ponto-Caspian
Pontogammarus robustoides
G.O. Sars, 1894 and
Chelicorophium curvispinum
(G.O. Sars, 1895)) in transformation of the Lake Ladoga ecosystem is assessed. It is shown that presently
G. fasciatus
plays the main role. Invasion of
G. fasciatus
into Lake Ladoga has led to an increase in productivity of the littoral benthic communities and more efficient utilization of the energy coming into the littoral zone. It is confirmed that
P. robustoides
and
C. curvispinum
are established in the lake. The zone of their dwelling may extend, and the role in the littoral habitats may increase. The analysis of the ecological state of the lake with new indices of the concept for assessing the risks of aquatic species invasions reveals a high degree of transformation of the Lake Ladoga ecosystem.