AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

The aim of this study was investigate if increasing total organic carbon (TOC) affects the growth rate and biomass of perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) and biomass of roach ( Rutilus rutilus ). The ongoing climate change affects the climate by increasing annual mean temperature and precipitation. The runoff to surface waters will increase, which also has the consequence that the export of terrestrial organic matter (TOM) and nutrients to surface waters will increase. Increasing of TOM into the surface waters make it darker, i.e. brownification of the water. This brownification of surface water affects the amount of available light for benthic algae causing the benthic primary production to decrease. As the benthic primary production decreases also whole lake ecosystem productivity decreases. The impact on fish biomass and production of fish were studied in five small lakes in Sweden. Lake morphology, water chemistry and fish community characteristics were sampled. A subset of perch from the catch was selected to determine age and growth. Data from age determination was then used to calculate the size dependent growth and production of perch in each lake. Total fish biomass and biomass of perch and roach was negatively affected by TOC and yearly biomass production of perch was lower in lakes with higher TOC. Thus, climate change may at least in small forest lakes lead to lower production and biomass of fish in the future.