Inhibiting effect of Corbicula fluminea on the bioturbation of Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri

Abstract

In recent years, eutrophication in partial areas of Lake Taihu still had a tendency to become worse which may attributed to the release of internal nutrient loading promoted by the bioturbation of zoobenthos. Corbicula fluminea and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri were the dominant species in Lake Taihu. In order to explore whether C. fluminea had inhibiting effect on the bioturbation of L. hoffmeisteri, a mesocosm experiment including four treatments (control, C. fluminea, L. hoffmeisteri, C. fluminea & L. hoffmeisteri) was carried out from September 22 to October 12, 2014. The results showed that the bioturbation of L. hoffmeisteri could increase the concentration of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in water column remarkably, meanwhile stimulated the growth of phytoplankton. C. fluminea could decrease the concentration of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total suspended matter remarkably by filter-feeding and biodeposition. Besides, C. fluminea had inhibiting effect on the growth of phytoplankton which in turn promoted the growth of benthic algae. Our results confirmed that C. fluminea had inhibiting effect on the biotubation of L. hoffmeisteri.