For example, the loss of CWD and macrophytes may be associated with a reduction in surface areas for the growth of periphyton that contributes substantially to whole-lake primary production and constitutes an important food resource for littoral consumers (Vadeboncoeur, Vander Zanden & Lodge 2002). Moreover, the littoral is not only spatially but also energetically coupled to the riparian zone via terrestrial inputs of dissolved and particulate organic matter. As a consequence, terrestrial subsidies can contribute up to 70% to the biomass of littoral consumers (Cole et al. 2006; Solomon et al. 2008). However, the terrestrial–aquatic coupling depends on the integrity of the riparian vegetation Selleckchem Tipifarnib and may be strongly disrupted by removal of the riparian vegetation, as is often found along developed shorelines (France, Culbert & Peters 1996). Overall, human shoreline development may have the potential to drastically alter the structure and trophic basis of littoral food webs but empirical evidence as to what extent shoreline development can have such functional consequences is largely lacking. In this study, we used the stable isotope composition of consumers and potential food resources, mixing model analysis and estimates of macroinvertebrate biomass to quantify the effects of shoreline development on the structure and trophic basis of littoral food webs of three North German lowland lakes. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that lower habitat diversity at developed shorelines is associated with lower species richness and thus food web complexity. Furthermore, we hypothesised that shoreline development alters the trophic basis of macroinvertebrate food webs by reducing the diversity of food resources. The study was conducted at three North German lowland lakes that differ in trophic status and have widely differing proportions of developed shorelines (Table 1). Within each lake, we established a 100m long sampling site at an undeveloped shoreline, a retaining wall and a recreational beach, respectively. Sampling sites within each lake were located at a distance of c. 500 m from each other to ensure that effects of natural environmental variables (e.g. wind exposure) are comparable. Shoreline development at the studied lakes was associated with the absence of riparian vegetation at the retaining walls of Lake Grienericksee and Lake Unteruckersee. The remaining developed shorelines exhibited riparian vegetation less dense as compared with undeveloped shorelines. In October 2005, macroinvertebrates were sampled from each habitat present at each shoreline type (water depth <1·2 m). At undeveloped shorelines, macroinvertebrates were sampled from CWD, reed, sand, stones and submerged tree roots, except for the undeveloped shoreline at Lake Langer See, which lacks a stone habitat. At retaining walls, macroinvertebrate were sampled from concrete walls, sand and stones.