Positive feedback between chironomids and algae creates net mutualism between benthic primary consumers and producers

• Published in: Ecology
• Main Authors: Herren, Cristina M., Webert, Kyle C., Drake, Michael D., Jake Vander Zanden, M., Einarsson, Árni, Ives, Anthony R., Gratton, Claudio
• Other Authors: National Science Foundation
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2017
• Subjects: Mývatn
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1654; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fecy.1654; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ecy.1654; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/ecy.1654; https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/am-pdf/10.1002/ecy.1654; https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ecy.1654

Abstract The chironomids of Lake Mývatn show extreme population fluctuations that affect most aspects of the lake ecosystem. During periods of high chironomid densities, chironomid larvae comprise over 90% of aquatic secondary production. Here, we show that chironomid larvae substantially stimulate...