Effects of the Invasive Fish Species Ameiurus nebulosus on Microbial Communities in Peat Pools

Disturbances in the functioning of peatlands, due to growing human impact, climate change and appearance alien invasive species, are becoming increasingly common. Analysis trophic relationships predator (invasive species)–prey system is extremely important for understanding peat pools—small water bodies formed peatlands by extraction. These issues are, as yet, very little understood. The aim this study was examine impact Ameiurus nebulosus, an fish species dominant these pools, on microbial communities small metazoa (phycoflora, bacteria, heterotrophic flagellates, ciliates, crustaceans) pools. laboratory experiment included two groups treatments simulating natural conditions: without with brown bullhead. temperature manipulated well. presence bullhead combination changes shown cause a structure communities. This reflected decrease abundance planktonic crustaceans increase ciliates. overlapping effects gradual warming may intensify eutrophication peatland ecosystems proportion cyanobacteria, thereby affecting carbon cycle ecosystems.