Abstract
The functioning of the trophic cascade in fishponds determines the ecosystem stability and breeding success. We investigated the trophic and competitive relationships in the meta-network of carp ponds. We hypothesised that small taxa of the zooplankton consumer level would play a dominant role in the community. The importance of taxa for biomass flux and the strength of interspecific relations were assessed using network graph modelling. Critical to the coherence of the meta-network were positive associations initiated by species that exploit different feeding niches and tolerate high cyanobacterial biomass, such as small cladocerans Bosmina longirostris and Chydorus sphaericus, and the rotifers Polyarthra longiremis. Negative associations, potentially reflecting predation and competitive exclusion, were less important. The observed characteristics of dominant species and their relationships made it possible to identify trophic pathways and their potential consequences for common carp culture. This study presents a new approach to understanding the functioning of the pond food web in aquaculture and may contribute to sustainable fisheries management.
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Acknowledgements
Authors thank Ester Staříková and Marie Egnerová for processing phytoplankton and crustacean zooplankton samples, respectively, and Koushik Roy and Jan Mráz for designing the carp experiment.
Funding
Funded by Czech Ministry of Agriculture (Project No. QK22010177). This work was also partly supported by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Grant No. 29.610.022-110).
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Goździejewska, A.M., Kruk, M., Kajgrová, L. et al. Indices of trophic and competitive relationships in a planktonic meta-network of carp ponds.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-58900-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-58900-5
Keywords
- Fishponds
- Graph modelling
- Interspecific relations
- Phytoplankton
- Resource exploitation
- Zooplankton
Source: Ecology - nature.com
