Abstract Aquatic humic substances (HS) represent about 60-95% of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) present in coastal environments of northern Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Although they are important regulators of processes involving aquatic communities, the response of the zooplankton community to their presence remains poorly understood, especially in natural tropical environments. Therefore, our objective was to elucidate zooplankton community responses along a natural gradient of HS. Such natural humic gradient was obtained in coastal freshwater environments with distinct DOC concentrations (20-200 mg L-1). Results show a decrease in zooplankton density and biomass along the HS gradient. However, microphages organisms (e.g. non-predatory rotifers and smaller testate amoeba, such as Difflugia) were most present in environments with higher concentration of HS, probably due to a stronger importance of the microbial-loop in these environments. Some species – such as Scapholeberis armata (Cladocera) and Lecane boettgeri (Rotifera) were only accounted for environments with high HS concentration, illustrating their potential as bioindicators for HS presence. Nevertheless, we were able to observe the effects of HS on the structure and composition of primary consumers and how these substances might indirectly affect species dynamics. We point out to new findings in highly humic tropical environments, which are still poorly studied and understood.

RESUMO A introdução de espécies não nativas é uma ameaça aos ecossistemas de água doce. Embora a onivoria e a predação intraguilda sejam comuns nesses sistemas, os efeitos da introdução de peixes onívoros nas comunidades pelágicas e litorâneas é pouco conhecido. Nós testamos as previsões da teoria da teia trófica considerando os efeitos da introdução de um peixe onívoro em um lago previamente desprovido de peixes localizado na Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brasil. A estrutura trófica em dois lagos similares, um com a presença do peixe onívoro introduzido Astyanax bimaculatus, e outro sem peixes, foi comparada através de uma série de dados bióticos amostrados entre 2010 e 2013. A comunidade zooplanctônica foi mais abundante no lago com peixe e sua composição diferiu entre os dois lagos. Apesar da limitação por fósforo no lago com peixe, a riqueza do fitoplâncton e a concentração de clorofila-a foram maiores nesse lago. A comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos apresentou maior riqueza e biomassa no lago sem peixe. Nossos resultados também indicam que A. bimaculatus tem o potencial de acoplar as comunidades litorâneas e pelágicas através da reciclagem de nutrientes. Apesar das limitações relacionadas à ausência de replicação no nível de ecossistemas, nós argumentamos que o nosso estudo mostra que a introdução do peixe onívoro pode ter causado mudanças no funcionamento do lago.

ABSTRACT The introduction of nonnative species is one of the main threats to freshwater ecosystems. Although omnivory and intraguild predation are common in those systems, little is known about the effects of introduced omnivorous fish on pelagic and littoral communities. This study tested predictions of food-web theory regarding the effects of omnivorous fish introduction on previously fishless lakes in the Amazonian uplands of Serra dos Carajás, Pará, Brazil. The trophic structure of two similar lakes, one with and the other without the introduced omnivorous fish Astyanax bimaculatus, was compared using a data series of biotic variables collected from both lakes twice a year from 2010 to 2013. Zooplankton was more abundant in the lake with fish, and the zooplankton composition differed between lakes. Phytoplankton richness and chlorophyll-a were higher in the lake with the introduced fish than in the fishless lake regardless of phosphorus limitation. For the benthic macroinvertebrate communities, species richness and biomass were higher in the fishless lake. Our results also indicate that A. bimaculatus has the potential to link pelagic and littoral habitats through nutrient cycling. The differences observed between the studied lakes are consistent with predictions from food-web theory regarding the effects of multichain omnivorous fish on trophic dynamics. Despite limitations regarding replication at the ecosystem level, it is possible to infer from our findings that the introduction of an omnivorous fish might have changed lake overall functioning.