Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modeling as a tool to manage ecosystems under multiple stresses: an application to Lake Ontario

  • Published:
Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health

Abstract

Present-day ecosystem management involves understanding of the synergistic effect of multiple stressors on multiple and frequently nebulous management end-points. An example is the simultaneous management of nutrient load reductions and salmon stocking in Lake Ontario. In this study, a simple whole-lake annual time scale model was developed to assess the relationship between these two stressors and various ecosystem responses. The model was used to explore the utility of some possible management end-points for ecosystem health. In historical simulations, production per stocked fish and salmon survival appeared to be good indicators, while nutrient recycling rate and average ecosystem-wide food limitation were found to be fairly unresponsive to the two stressors. The model was further used to predict long term averages of salmon biomass and selected health indicators at various sustained loading and stocking rates. Salmon biomass increased with stocking rate at all stocking rates examined, but the rate of increase declined somewhat at high stocking rates. The response of salmon biomass to nutrient loading appeared to be approximately sigmoidal i.e. there was a nutrient threshold below which fish biomass could not be sustained and another nutrient threshold above which salmon biomass either remained constant or even decreased. The response to either stressor was found to be modified by the value of the other stressor, illustrating the importance of ecosystem-level models for aquatic ecosystem management.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baird, D. & R. E. Ulanowicz, 1993. Comparative study on the trophic structure, cycling and ecosystem properties of four tidal estuaries. Marine Ecology Progress Series 99 (3): 221–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bierman, V. J., Jr., & D. M. Dolan, 1986. Modeling of phytoplankton in Saginaw bay: II. Post-audit phase. J. Environ. Eng., Amer. Soc. Civil Eng. 112(2): 415–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cairns, J. Jr, P. V. McCormick & B. R. Niederlehner, 1993. A proposed framework for developing indicators of ecosystem health. Hydrobiologia 263(1): 1–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cairns, Jr. J. & J. R. Pratt, 1992. Restoring ecosystem health and integrity during a human population increase to ten billion. J. Aquatic Ecosystem Health 1(1):59–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, S. R., Johnson, B. M., Luecke, C., Madenjian, C. R., Post, J. R., Rudstam, L. G., Vanni, M. J., He, X., Allen, Y., Dodds, R., McTigue, K. & D. Schael, 1992. Modeling the Lake Mendota ecosystem: synthesis and evaluation of progress. In: J. F. Kitchell (ed),Food Web Management: A Case Study of Lake Mendota. pp. 451–459. Springer Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapra, S. C. & K. H. Reckhow, 1983.Engineering Approaches for Lake Management. Volume 2: Mechanistic Modeling. Butterworth Publishers, Stoneham, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charlton, M. N. & D. R. S. Lean, 1987. Sedimentation resuspension and oxygen depletion in Lake Erie. J. Great Lakes Res. 13(4): 709–723.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie, W. J., M. Becker, J. W. Cowden & J. R. Vallentyne, 1986. Managing the Great Lakes basin as a home. J. Great Lakes Res. 12: 2–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costanza, R., Norton, B. G. & B. D. Haskell (eds), 1992.Ecosystem Health: New Goals for Environmental Management. Island Press, Washington D.C., USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeAngelis, D. L., 1992.Dyanmics of Nutrient Cycling and Food Webs. Chapman and Hall.

  • Di Toro, D. M. & J. P. Connolly, 1980. Mathematical models of water quality in large lakes II. Lake Erie. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota. EPA-600/3-80-065.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobson, H. F. H., 1994. Lake Ontario water quality trends, 1969–1992: Some observational nutrient-science for protecting a major and vulnerable source of drinking water. National Water Research Institute, Burlington, Canada. NWRI Contribution No. 94-58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Downing, J. A. & C. Plante, 1993. Production of fish populations in lakes. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 50: 110–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flint, R. W. & R. J. J. Stevens, 1989. Lake Ontario: a Great Lake in transition. Great Lakes Program Publ. Monograph #2. SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo NY.

  • Fontaine, T. & D. Stewart, 1992. Exploring the effects of multiple management objectives and exotic species on Great Lakes foodwebs and contaminant dynamics. Environmental Management 16(2): 225–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, I. M., 1987. Differences between nearshore and offshore phytoplankton communities in Lake Ontario. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44: 2155–2163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartig, J. H., J. F. Kitchell, D. Scavia & S. B. Brandt, 1987. Rehabilitation of Lake Ontario: the role of the nutrient reduction and foodweb dynamics. International Joint Commission (IJC). Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewett, S. W., 1989. Ecological applications of bioenergetics models. American Fisheries Society Symposium, 6: 113–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hydroscience, 1976. Assessment of the effects of nutrient loadings on Lake Ontario using a mathematical model of the phytoplankton. Report to the Great Lakes Water Quality Board, IJC, Windsor, Ontario, 116 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jain, R. & J. V. DePinto, 1991. Lake Ontario nutrient cycle/Foodweb modeling. Proceedings of a workshop hosted by Great Lakes Program, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannsson, O. E. & R. O'Gorman, 1991. Roles of predation, food and temperature in structuring the epilimnetic zooplankton populations in Lake Ontario, 1981–1986. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 120: 193–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannsson, O. E., E. L. Mills & R. O'Gorman, 1991. Changes in the nearshore and offshore zooplankton communities in Lake Ontario: 1981–88. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 48: 1546–1557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannsson, O. E., 1987. Comparison of Lake Ontario zooplankton communities between 1967 and 1985: before and after implementation of salmonid stocking and phosphorus control. J. Great Lakes Res. 13(3): 328–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M. L., J. F. Koonce & R. O'Gorman, 1993. Sustainability of hatchery-dependent salmonie fisheries in Lake Ontario: The conflict between predator demand and prey supply. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 122(5): 1002–1018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, J. J., L. A. Graham & R. E. Ulanowicz, 1989. A detailed guide to network analysis. In: F. Wulff, J. G. Field & K. H. Mann (eds),Network Analysis in Marine Ecology. Methods and Applications. pp. 15–61. Springer-Verlag.

  • Kitchell, J. F., D. J. Stewart & D. Weininger, 1977. Applications of a bioenergetics model to yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum vitreum). J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 34: 1922–1935.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lean, D. R. S., H.-J. Fricker, M. N. Charlton, R. L. Cuhel, & F. R. Pick, 1987. The Lake Ontario life support system. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44: 2230–2240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loehr, R. C., C. S. Martin, & W. Rast, 1980. Phosphorus management strategies for lakes. Ann Arbor Science Publishers Inc., Ann Arbor, MI 48106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, P A. & A. A. Berryman (eds), 1992. Ratio-dependent predator-prey theory. Ecology 73: 1529–1566.

    Google Scholar 

  • McQueen, D. J. & J. R. Post, 1988. Cascading trophic interactions: uncoupling at the zooplankton-phytoplankton link. Hydrobiologia 159: 277–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • McQueen, D. J., J. R. Post & E. L. Mills, 1986. Trophic Relationships in freshwater pelagic ecosystems. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 43: 1571–1581.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minns, C. K. 1992. Use of models for integrated assessment of ecosystem health. J. Aquatic Ecosystem Health 1(2): 109–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minns, C. K., V. W. Cairns, R. G. Randall & J. E. Moore. 1994. An index of biotic integrity (IBI) for fish assemblages in the littoral zone of Great Lakes' areas of concern. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 51 (8): 1804–1822.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitsch, W. J., 1993. Ecological engineering: a cooperative role with the planetary life-support system. Environ. Sci. Technol. 27(3): 438–444.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Gorman, R. & C. P. Schneider, 1986. Dynamics of alewives in Lake Ontario following a mass mortality. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 115(1): 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orsatti, S. D. and G. C. LeTendre, 1994. Lake Ontario stocking and marking program 1993. GLFC (Great Lakes Fishery Commission), Lake Ontario Committee meeting, Niagara Falls, Ontario, March 29–30,1994.

  • Plante, C. & J. A. Downing, 1993. Relationship of salmonine production to lake trophic status and temperature. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 50: 1324–1328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rand, P. S., D. J. Stewart, P. W. Seelbach, M. L. Jones & L. R. Wedge, 1993. Modeling steelhead population energetics in Lakes Michigan and Ontario. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 122 (5): 977–1001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rand, P S., D. J. Stewart, B. F Lantry, L. G. Rudstam, O. E. Johannsson, A. P. Goyke, S. B. Grandt, R. O'Gorman & G. W. Eck. Effect of whole-lake plantivory by the pelagic prey fish community in Lakes Michigan and Ontario. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. In press.

  • Rapport, D. J., 1989. What constitutes ecosystem health? Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 33, 1: 120–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. S., 1984.The Ecology of Freshwater Phytoplankton. Cambridge University Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scavia, D., G. L. Fahnenstiel, M. S. Evans, D. J. Jude & J. T. Lehman, 1986. Influence of salmonine predation and weather on long-term water quality in Lake Michigan. Can. J. Fish. Aquatic Sci. 43: 435–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, K., 1994. Sustainability, biomass yields, and health of coastal ecosytsems: an ecological perspective. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 112 (3): 277–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steedman, R. J., 1994. Ecosystem health as a management goal. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 13(4): 605–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, R. J. J., 1988. A Review of Lake Ontario Water Quality with Emphasis on the 1981–1982 Intensive Years. A Report to the Surveillance Subcommittee of the Great Lakes Water Quality Board. International Joint Commission, Great Lakes Regional Office, Windsor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, R. J. J. & M. A. Neilson, 1987. Response of Lake Ontario to reductions in phosphorus load, 1967–82. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44: 2059–2068.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, D. J., J. F. Kitchell & L. B. Crowder, 1981. Forage fishes and their salmonid predators in Lake Michigan. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 110: 751–763.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suter, G. W. II, 1993. A critique of ecosystem health concepts and indexes. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 12(9): 1533–1539.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomann, R. V., R. P. Winfield & J. J. Segna, 1979. Verification analysis of Lake Ontario and Rochester Embayment three dimensional eutrophication models. US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota. EPA-600/3-79-094.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomann, R. V. & J. A. Mueller, 1987. Principles of surface water quality modeling and control. Harper & Row, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilzer, M. M. & P. Bossard, 1992. Large lakes and their sustainable development. Aquatic Sciences. 54(2): 91–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulanowicz, R. E., 1989. A generic simulation model for treating incomplete sets of data. In: F Wulff, J. G. Field, & K. H. Mann (eds),Network Analysis in Marine Ecology. Methods and Applications. pp. 84–89. Springer-Verlag.

  • Vallentyne, J. R. & M. Munawar, 1993. From aquatic science to ecosystem health: a philosophical perspective. J. Aquatic Ecosystem Health 2(4): 231–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vollenweider, R. A., W. Rast & J. Kerekes, 1980. The phosphorus loading concept and Great Lakes eutrophication. In: R. C. Loehr, C. S. Martin & W. Rast (eds),Phosphorus Management Strategies for Lakes. Ann Arbor Science Publishers Inc., Ann Arbor, MI 48106.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Great Lakes Program, 207 Jarvis Hall, SUNY Buffalo, 14260-4400, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Rajeev Jain & Joseph V. DePinto

Authors
  1. Rajeev Jain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph V. DePinto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jain, R., DePinto, J.V. Modeling as a tool to manage ecosystems under multiple stresses: an application to Lake Ontario. J Aquat Ecosyst Stress Recov 5, 23–40 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691727

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691727

Keywords

Search

Navigation