Dynamic model of Lake Chozas (León, NW Spain)—Decrease in eco-exergy from clear to turbid phase due to introduction of exotic crayfish

Michela Marchi, Sven Erik Jørgensen, Eloy Bécares, Ilaria Corsi, Nadia Marchettini and Simone Bastianoni

Ecological Modelling, 2011, vol. 222, issue 16, 3002-3010

Abstract: We developed a dynamic model of the phosphorus cycle in Lake Chozas, a small shallow water body in León (NW Spain). The calibrated model simulated seasonal dynamics of phosphorus concentrations in major components of the lake's ecological network before and after 1997, the year when an invasive allochthonous crustacean, the Louisiana red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), was introduced into the lake. The shift from clean to turbid phase, due to grazing by crayfish on submerged vegetation, caused a gradual decrease in eco-exergy, reflecting an increase in entropy, related to breakdown of ecosystem internal equilibria. This case study verifies the hypothesis of Marchi et al. (2010) that, after an initial relatively stable state, the allochthonous species may cause an increase in entropy indicating perturbation of the ecosystem.

Keywords: Eco-exergy; Entropy; Dynamic model; Phosphorus cycle; Procambarus clarkii; Lake Chozas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:222:y:2011:i:16:p:3002-3010

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.04.016

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