Springer Series on Environmental Management

Robert S. DeSanto, Series Editor

James F. Kitchell Editor

Food Web Management A Case Study of Lake Mendota

With 177 Illustrations

Springer-Verlag New York Berlin Heidelberg London Paris

Tokyo Hong Kong Barcelona Budapest

James F. Kitchell Center for Limnology

University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706

USA

Frontcover and frontispiece photo © 1992 by David H. Thompson. Used by permission.

Frontispiece: An aerial view of Lake Mendota, the capitol isthmus region of downtown Madison and Lake Monona (background). Picnic Point and Second Point (foreground) form the north shore of University Bay.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Food web management: a case study of Lake Mendota / edited by James

F. Kitchell. p. cm.-(Springer series on environmental management)

Papers presented at Lake Mendota Symposium, held on 20 July 1990 at Madison, Wisconsin.

Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-4612-8760-5 e-ISBN-13: 978-1-4612-4410-3 DOl: 10.1007/978-1-4612-4410-3 1. Biomanipulation-Wisconsin-Mendota, Lake-Congresses. 2. Food

chains (Ecology)-Wisconsin-Mendota, Lake-Congresses. 3. Lake ecology-Wisconsin-Mendota, Lake-Congresses. 4. Water quality­Wisconsin-Mendota, Lake-Congresses. I. Kitchell, James, F. II. Lake Mendota Symposium (1990: Madison, Wis.) III. Series. TD365.5.F66 1992 574.5'26322'09775-dc20 91-36725

Printed on acid-free paper.

© 1992 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1 st edition 1992

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Series Preface

This series is dedicated to serving the growing community of scholars and practitioners concerned with the principles and applications of environ­mental management. Each volume is a thorough treatment of a specific topic of importance for proper management practices. A fundamental objective of these books is to help the reader discern and implement man's stewardship of our environment and the world's renewable re­sources. For we must strive to understand the relationship between man and nature, act to bring harmony to it, and nurture an environment that is both stable and productive.

These objectives have often eluded us because the pursuit of other individual and societal goals has diverted us from a course of living in balance with the environment. At times, therefore, the environmental manager may have to exert restrictive control, which is usually best applied to man, not nature. Attempts to alter or harness nature have often failed or backfired, as exemplified by the results of imprudent use of herbicides, fertilizers, water, and other agents.

Each book in this series will shed light on the fundamental and applied aspects of environmental management. It is hoped that each will help solve a practical and serious environmental problem.

Robert S. DeSanto East Lyme, Connecticut

Preface

This book is a milestone in an ongoing, collaborative research effort. It is intended to convey a novel and polythetic view of a lake ecosystem which would complement the traditional limnological approach represented in the compilation of Brock (1985). Our approach is different in two major ways: (1) we emphasize food web interactions as the primary object of study and management, and (2) integrating the role of humans in an ecosystem context was a major concern for us. Stated as goals, those two major objectives demand an effective combination of the best of basic research, the most informed of resource management actions, and a holistic view.

The central objective of this program was to assess the potential for food web manipulation as a means for improving water quality in Lake Mendota . That assessment is a continuing process. This volume is a progress report. Critics of the program generally refused to accept that our goal was to explore the possibilities and that this required an eco­system approach which, of necessity, demands a substantial commitment of time and money. What they considered a foolish and unnecessarily expensive pursuit we viewed as a responsible and courageous under­taking. Readers will judge for themselves, but I am totally convinced that this project is among the most cost-effective of large research efforts.

The second reason for this book was more pragmatic. The first genera­tion of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers involved in the project was moving on to other pursuits; their interests in and capacity for synthesis of project results would logically wane with time away from Madison. In addition, our original design for the project included intensive

viii Preface

work during the period of 1987-89, followed by a lesser tenor (and smaller budget) for the years that followed. A focus point for a collective reporting and summary of accomplishments to date seemed highly desirable. Ac­cordingly, we discussed the means for providing the desired focus and agreed to organize a widely advertised symposium targeted for an audience composed of research scientists, resource managers, and representatives of the several and varied public groups interested in Lake Mendota.

The Lake Mendota Symposium was held on 20 July 1990. It produced a surprisingly large audience that included substantial representation from each of the various sectors of interest. Contributors were asked to prepare manuscripts prior to the Symposium and to resist the temptations of tomorrow by confining their analyses to data collected no more recently than 1989. Those manuscripts are assembled in this volume. As stated above, they represent a progress report from individuals and groups willing to collaborate in accepting the challenge of working on an important set of complex questions.

Two important conclusions can be emphasized here and will become more apparent in the subsequent pages. During the first two years of the study, Mother Nature provided us with a major fish die-off followed by a dry spring. In combination, those events offered a serendipitous view of what was possible when food web interactions were substantially altered and nutrient loading was low. One of our major conclusions is that food web interactions can have remarkable effects on water quality. The summer of 1988 had the greatest water clarity and least objectionable algal blooms reported in any of the written or oral history of Lake Mendota. The summers that preceded and followed it included equally remarkable evidence of the opposite extreme. Clearly, understanding of food web-nutrient loading interactions is a next and necessary research objective.

Our second major conclusion derives from a broader range of lessons. Managing an aquatic food web to allow for interactions with the effects of the top predator-anglers-presents some interesting new challenges. The functional and numerical response of humans that fish must be in­corporated in an integrated, realistic, and effective view of water quality management.

In my opinion, Chapters 26 and 27 of this book are of unique and immense importance. They represent our attempts to be accountable to other citizens through the agency mandated to represent their interests. Taxpayers foot the bill for research and rightfully expect to see something practical come of it. In this case, the benefits are those that derive from the ivory tower and become the working tools of resource managers. Some of those tools are analytical, others are conceptual. As Jim Addis puts it in Chapter 2, this is the Wisconsin Idea at work.

I am grateful for the opportunity to help in assembling the components of this effort.

Preface IX

Reference

Brock TD (1985) A eutrophic lake: Lake Mendota, Wisconsin. Springer-Verlag, New York

Acknowledgments

First and foremost I thank the scientists whose work is represented in the pages of this volume. Their creativity, enthusiasm, and cooperation were the essential requisites of this result. As is apparent in the authorship of individual chapters, the leadership and perseverance of Steve Carpenter and Dick Lathrop made exceptional contributions to this effort. Similarly, Brett Johnson, Chris Luecke, and Lars Rudstam deserve special recogni­tion for their role as coordinators of regular meetings and communication among members of the project staff. That kept the program on track; we all profited from their unselfish and effective contribution.

Jim Addis' assertive approach catalyzed this program. His dedication to building strong ties between the University of Wisconsin (UW) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) created both the financial resources and the administrative support that fostered this result and those that follow.

Arthur Hasler regularly offered the benefits of his extensive familiarity with the behavior of Lake Mendota and the holistic view that comes with experience. We genuinely appreciate his encouragement and wise coun­sel. Linda Holthaus served faultlessly in every administrative aspect of organizing the Lake Mendota Symposium and all that followed in compil­ing the contributions to this volume. Her remarkable organizational skills brought order from the editor's chaotic desk. John Magnuson, Dave Egger, and Mike Staggs saw to it that money and paper moved with a minimum of resistance through the complex bureaucracies of two large state institutions. We sincerely appreciate that. Phil Emmling, acting on behalf of the Yahara Fishing Club, worked as a liaison between the

xii Acknowledgments

research scientists, managers, and anglers. His interest in the program and his candid advice were most valuable.

The major source of financial support to this program derived from the Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Act under Project F-95-P and the WDNR. The Graduate School, UW-Madison, provided essential financial support to help defray the costs of the Lake Mendota Symposium. The Bassett Foundation catalyzed an important and continuing investment in research through their establishment of a professorship for the Madison lakes. Steve Carpenter was added to our faculty as a result. Ancillary funding to some project investigators is acknowledged where appropriate in individual chapters. We also thank Christine Bartels of Springer­Verlag's editorial staff for encouraging the opportunity to compile and synthesize the many aspects of this effort.

James F. Kitchell Madison, WI

Series Preface Preface Acknowledgments Contributors

Contents

1. Introduction: The Rationale and Goals for Food Web Management in Lake Mendota James F. Kitchell

V

VII

Xl

xvii

1

2. Policy and Practice in UW - WDNR Collaborative Programs 7 James T. Addis

3. Lake Mendota and the Yahara River Chain 17 Richard C. Lathrop

4. Paleolimnological Evidence of Food Web Dynamics in 31 Lake Mendota James F. Kitchell and Patricia R. Sanford

5. Historical Interpretation of Pigment Stratigraphy in Lake Mendota Sediments James P. Hurley, David E. Armstrong, and Andrea L. Du Vall

6. Nutrient Loadings, Lake Nutrients, and Water Clarity Richard C. Lathrop

49

69

xiv Contents

7. Phytoplankton and Their Relationship to Nutrients 97 Richard C. Lathrop and Stephen R. Carpenter

8. Zooplankton and Their Relationship to Phytoplankton 127 Richard C. Lathrop and Stephen R. Carpenter

9. Long-Term Vegetation Trends: A History 151 Stanley A. Nichols, Richard C. Lathrop, and Stephen R. Carpenter

10. Benthic Macroinvertebrates 173 Richard C. Lathrop

II. Historical Changes in the Fish Community 193 John J. Magnuson and Richard C. Lathrop

12. Food Web Structure of Lake Mendota 233 Lars G. Rudstam, Yvonne Allen, Brett M. Johnson, Chris Luecke, John R. Post, and Michael J. Vanni

13. Herbivory, Nutrients, and Phytoplankton Dynamics in 243 Lake Mendota, 1987-89 Michael J. Vanni, Jo Temte, Yvonne Allen, Richard Dodds, Patricia J. Howard, Peter R. Leavitt, and Chris Luecke

14. Interannual Patterns of Planktivory 1987-89: An Analysis 275 of Vertebrate and Invertebrate Planktivores Chris Luecke, Lars G. Rudstam, and Yvonne Allen

15. Pelagic Planktivory by Larval Fishes in Lake Mendota 303 John R. Post, Lars G. Rudstam, Denise M. Schael, and Chris Luecke

16. Piscivores and Their Prey 319 Brett M. Johnson, Stephen J. Gilbert, R. Scot Stewart, Lars G. Rudstam, Yvonne Allen, Don M. Fago, and David Dreikosen

17. The Fishery 353 Brett M. Johnson and Michael D. Staggs

18. Modeling in the Lake Mendota Program: An Overview 377 Stephen R. Carpenter

Contents xv

19. Fisheries Management and the Interactive Dynamics of 381 Walleye and Perch Populations John R. Post and Lars G. Rudstam

20. Impacts of Variation in Planktivorous Fish on Abundance 407 of Daphnids: A Simulation Model of the Lake Mendota Food Web Chris Luecke, Cynthia C. Lunte, Russell A. Wright, Dale Robertson, and Ann S. McLain

21. A Simulation Model of the Interactions Among Nutrients, 427 Phytoplankton, and Zooplankton in Lake Mendota Michael J. Vanni, Stephen R. Carpenter, and Chris Luecke

22. Modeling the Lake Mendota Ecosystem: Synthesis and 451 Evaluation of Progress Stephen R. Carpenter, Brett M. Johnson, Chris Luecke, Charles P. Madenjian, John R. Post, Lars G. Rudstam, Michael J. Vanni, Xi He, Yvonne Allen, Richard Dodds, Kathleen McTigue, and Denise M. Schael

23. Destabilization of Planktonic Ecosystems and Blooms of 461 Blue-Green Algae Stephen R. Carpenter

24. An Analogy for Plankton Interactions 483 Peter R. Leavitt

25. Individual-Based Modeling: Application to Walleye Stocking 493 Charles P. Madenjian, Brett M. Johnson, and Stephen R. Carpenter

26. Development, Evaluation, and Transfer of New Technology 507 Lars G. Rudstam and Brett M. Johnson

27. Benefits on a Larger Scale 525 Michael D. Staggs

28. Summary: Accomplishments and New Directions of Food 539 Web Management in Lake Mendota James F. Kitchell and Stephen R. Carpenter

Index 545

Contributors

James T. Addis, Division of Resource Management, Wisconsin Depart­ment of Natural Resources, Madison, WI 53707, USA

Yvonne Allen, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

David E. Armstrong, Water Chemistry Program, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Stephen R. Carpenter, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Richard Dodds, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

David Dreikosen, Fish Research, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fitchburg, WI 53711, USA

Andrea L. DuVall , Water Chemistry Program, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Don M. Fago, Bureau of Research, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fitchburg, WI 53711, USA

Stephen 1. Gilbert, Fisheries Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fitchburg, WI 53713, USA

xviii Contributors

Xi He, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madi­son, WI 53706, USA

Patricia 1. Howard, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

James P. Hurley, Bureau of Research, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fitchburg, WI 53711, USA

Brett M. Johnson, Fisheries Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fitchburg, WI 53713, USA

James F. Kitchell, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Richard C. Lathrop, Bureau of Research, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fitchburg, WI 53711, USA

Peter R. Leavitt, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA (Current address: Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9)

Chris Luecke, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA (Current address: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5210, USA)

Cynthia C. Lunte, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA (Current address: Route 1, Loving Creek Ranch, Bellevue, ID, 83313, USA)

Charles P. Madenjian, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA (Current address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sandusky Biological Station, Sandusky, OH 44870, USA)

John J. Magnuson, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Ann S. McLain, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Kathleen McTigue, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Contributors xix

Stanley A. Nichols, Geological and Natural History Survey, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

John R. Post, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA (Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N IN4)

Dale Robertson, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA (Current address: U.S. Geological Sur­vey, Water Resources Division, 6417 Normandy Lane, Madison, WI 53719, USA)

Lars G. Rudstam, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Patricia R. Sanford, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Denise M. Schael, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA (Current address: Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7617, USA)

Michael D. Staggs, Bureau of Fisheries Management, Wisconsin Depart­ment of Natural Resources, Madison, WI 53707, USA

R. Scot Stewart, Fisheries Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Fitchburg, WI 53713, USA

Jo Temte, Bureau of Water Resource Management, Wisconsin Depart­ment of Natural Resources, Madison, WI 53707, USA

Michael J. Vanni, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA (Current address: Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA)

Russell A. Wright, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin­Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA