南亚热带贫营养水库春季浮游植物群落结构与动态

2005年1~6月,通过每两周一次的高频率采样,对南亚热带贫营养水库——梅溪水库的水文、营养盐和浮游植物进行了调查,并计算水体浮游植物生物量。主要结果如下:梅溪水库浮游植物具有物种少,生物量低,以飞燕角甲藻(Ceratium hirundinella)和多甲藻(Peridinium sp.)为优势藻的特征。12次采样24个样品共检测到浮游植物42种。浮游植物在早春(1~3月)和晚春(4~6月)有显著的差别,其中每次采样浮游植物早春平均13种,晚春平均21种。浮游植物总的细胞丰度为31~273 cells·ml^-1,总生物量为0.176~2.024 mg·L^-1之间。晚春浮游植物平均生物量明显高于早春。低营养盐和弱酸性水体有利于能够垂直迁移获得营养的鞭毛藻类和其它藻类之间竞争,而使其成为整个春季优势类群。在晚春,随着水温显著增加,浮游植物丰度和生物量也明显增加,但是降雨的增加降低了水体的透明度,大大减缓了由水温上升导致生物量增长的趋势。水温是梅溪水库浮游植物变化的主要限制因子,但是降雨有明显的干扰作用。     

罗非鱼对附着藻类和浮游植物的影响

鱼类通过牧食和营养盐排泄可以对水体生态系统产生影响,杂食性鱼类由于可摄食不同生境中的食物,可使生境之间的耦合作用发生变化。罗非鱼是我国南方很多水体的优势种,食物包括敞水生境的浮游植物和基质表层生境的附着藻类等。为了解罗非鱼对浮游植物和附着藻类的影响,实验在室外模拟条件下,分别设置罗非鱼组和无鱼对照组的两组处理,分析了罗非鱼对附着藻类及浮游植物生物量(叶绿素a)等的影响。结果表明:(1)罗非鱼显著地降低了附着藻类生物量,罗非鱼组中的附着藻类叶绿素a的平均值为0.15 mg·cm^-2,显著低于对照组中的1.26mg·cm^-2;(2)罗非鱼显著地增加了浮游植物的生物量,罗非鱼组中的浮游植物叶绿素a平均值为31.99μg·L^-1,显著高于对照组中的14.99μg·L^-1。研究结果显示,杂食性的罗非鱼可以促进系统的附着藻类向浮游植物转化。从控制浮游植物生物量的角度看,湖泊等水体的管理应该对罗非鱼密度加以有效控制。     

横岗水库浮游植物种类组成与时空分布

于2005年5月和11月调查了横岗水库的水质和浮游植物,对浮游植物群落结构进行了分析.两次采样期间,浮游植物群落数量组成与种类结构发生明显变化.5月份浮游植物平均细胞数量高达275.41×10⁶cells·L^-1,平均生物量为31.07mg·L^-1;其中优美平裂藻(Oscillatoria.elegans)和银灰平列藻(Oscillatoria.glauca)为绝对优势种,占总细胞数的90%;平裂藻的大量出现导致浮游植物生物量由球体等效半径在10～20μm的种类占主导,但0～5μm区间的小型藻类仍维持较高的生物量.11月份,浮游植物平均细胞数量降低到12.69×10⁶cells·L^-1,平均生物量为20.78mg·L^-1.蓝藻门有16种,优美平裂藻、银灰平列藻的优势度明显下降;绿藻种类数量增加到48种,在新出现的25个种类中,鼓藻科(Desmidiaceae)、盘星藻属(Pediastrum)和栅藻属(Scenedesmus)有较高的细胞数;优势种类没有变化;大细胞种类的生物量明显增加,特别是等效半径大于20μm的种类.整体上看,浮游植物数量和生物量从河流入水口到大坝处有递减趋势,这种趋势在11月份更为明显,这与采样时期水库水动力过程的梯度相一致.     

山东半岛南部产卵场温跃层对鳀鱼鱼卵垂直分布的作用

2000～2004年5～7月"北斗"号生物资源调查船对山东半岛南部产卵场进行多学科综合调查期间,于2003年6月17～18日和6月27～30日分别在35°01.9′N、120°32.9′E海区和35°03.3′N、120°26.4′E海区进行了25 h和64 h的水团追踪观测调查,鳀鱼鱼卵的数量、垂直分布与水温的分布为重点调查内容.调查结果表明:水温垂直分布的变化、海水混合的强弱、水体的辐聚/辐散等物理过程对水体中鳀鱼鱼卵数量和鳀鱼鱼卵在不同水层的分布有很大影响.温跃层分布深度的波动引起水体的垂直交换(混合)、水平对流(辐聚/辐散)和跨跃层的物质交换.温跃层深度变浅时,上混合层水体的厚度变薄,跨跃层的向上混合,将下混合层水体中和温跃层中的鳀鱼鱼卵输运到温跃层和上混合层中,同时表层水体发生辐散现象,使得下混合层、温跃层和上混合层水体中鳀鱼鱼卵数量减少、密度减小,导致整个水柱内鳀鱼鱼卵的数量减少;温跃层深度加深时,上混合层水体的厚度增加,跨跃层的向下混合,将上混合层水体中和温跃层中的鳀鱼鱼卵输运到温跃层和下混合层水体中,同时表层水体发生辐聚现象,使得上混合层、温跃层和下混合层水体中的鳀鱼鱼卵数量增多、密度增大,导致整个水柱内鳀鱼鱼卵的数量增多;温跃层水体中鱼卵数量和密度的变化较上混合层和下混合层水体更为显著.水体中温跃层的存在、温跃层分布深度的波动及其波动的程度对上混合层和温跃层中鳀鱼鱼卵的数量和密度的变化起着主导作用,导致鳀鱼鱼卵数量垂直分布的剧烈变化.     

无根萍、酵母菌和红螺菌的水质净化和抑藻作用

从2005年9月到2005年10月,利用莲花湖中的3个49m²,深度为1.5m的围隔进行生物水质净化和除藻研究。1#围隔为对照,2#围隔水体中加入无根萍,3#围隔水体中喷洒酵母菌和光合细菌。与1#围隔比较,2#围隔水面的无根萍的数目在300L×5×10³L^-1,3#围隔的喷洒复合菌数目酵母菌(300L×4×10⁵L^-1)和红螺菌(300 L×8×10⁸L^-1)。本实验结果表明:在30d内,2#和3#围隔中的TP分别下降40%、25%;TN分别下降43%、16%;叶绿素含量分别下降51%、31%。透明度增加了87cm、55cm;pH值降低了1.09、0.69。本研究表明无根萍与酵母菌和红螺菌对水体理化性质有明显的改善,对藻类生长有明显的抑制作用。     

模拟氮沉降对华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林土壤微生物生物量碳和氮的影响

为理解模拟氮沉降对华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)和氮(MBN)的影响,通过一年野外模拟氮(NH₄NO₃)沉降试验,氮沉降水平分别为对照(CK, 0 g N·m^-2·a^-1)、低氮沉降(L, 5 g N·m^-2·a^-1)、中氮沉降(M, 15 g N·m^-2·a^-1)和高氮沉降(H, 30 g N·m^-2·a^-1),研究了氮沉降对天然常绿阔叶林土壤MBC和MBN的影响.结果表明: 氮沉降显著降低了0～10 cm土层MBC和MBN,且随氮沉降量的增加,下降幅度增大;L和M处理对10～20 cm土层MBC和MBN无显著影响,H处理显著降低了10～20 cm土层土壤MBC和MBN;氮沉降对MBC和MBN的影响随土壤深度的增加而减弱.MBC和MBN具有明显的季节变化,在0～10和10～20 cm土层均表现为秋季最高,夏季最低.0～10和10～20 cm土层土壤微生物生物量C/N分别介于10.58～11.19和9.62～12.20,表明在华西雨屏区天然常绿阔叶林土壤微生物群落中真菌占据优势.     

一座南亚热带小型水库水体营养状态与浮游植物的季节变化

小型水库是华南沿海地区重要的城市供水水源。为了解小型水库的富营养化状况与浮游植物群落结构和季节动态之间的关系,于2006年4月、8月、12月采样测定了木头冲水库的环境因子(温度、pH、透明度、氮、磷营养盐浓度)和浮游植物群落结构。结果表明水体中总氮浓度的变化范围在0.34～0.7mg·L^-1之间,总磷浓度的变化范围在0.011～0.019mg·L^-1之间,透明度的变化范围在0.6～1.5m之间,叶绿素a浓度的变化范围在9.18～21.1mg·m^-3之间,依据上述4个指标计算得出的TSI_M指数在30～50之间变化,说明木头冲水库属中营养水体。浮游植物以适宜在中营养水体中生长的种类为主,3次采样共检出浮游植物52种(属),主要由在绿藻门和硅藻门的种类组成。浮游植物生物量的变化范围在4.17～5.38mg·L^-1之间,春夏两季的生物量高于冬季。硅藻门的颗粒直链藻(Aulacoseira granulata)和绿藻门的单针藻(Monoraphidium sp.)是水体中春季的优势种类,夏季浮游植物的优势种为绿藻门的鼓藻(Cosmarium spp.)和硅藻门的颗粒直链藻,随着氮浓度的下降,拟柱胞藻(Cylindrospermopsis rackiborskii)成为水库冬季的优势种类。营养盐是木头冲水库浮游植物变化的主要影响因子。     

模拟氮沉降对华西雨屏区苦竹林土壤有机碳和养分的影响

从2007年11月至2009年10月, 对华西雨屏区苦竹(Pleioblastus amarus)人工林进行了模拟氮(N)沉降试验, N沉降水平分别为对照(CK, 0 g N·m^-2·a^-1)、低N (5 g N·m^-2·a^-1)、中N (15 g N·m^-2·a^-1)和高N (30 g N·m^-2·a^-1)。在N沉降进行1年后, 每月采集各样方0-20 cm的土壤样品, 连续采集12个月, 测定其土壤总有机C、微生物生物量C、浸提性溶解有机C、活性C、全N、微生物生物量N、NH₄⁺-N、NO₃^--N、有效P和速效K。结果表明: N沉降显著增加了土壤总有机C、微生物生物量C、全N、微生物生物量N、NH₄⁺-N和有效P含量, 对其余几个指标无显著影响。土壤微生物生物量C和微生物生物量N的季节变化明显, 并与气温极显著正相关。土壤有效P、速效K与微生物生物量C、微生物生物量N呈极显著负相关关系。N沉降提高了土壤中C、N、P元素的活性, 并通过微生物的转化固定作用使得C、N、P元素在土壤中的含量增加。苦竹林生态系统处于N限制状态, 土壤有机C和养分对N沉降呈正响应, N沉降的增加可能会提高土壤肥力并促进植被的生长, 进而促进生态系统对C的固定。     

安康水库表层浮游藻类群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

为了解安康水库表层水质与浮游藻类群落现状以及浮游藻类群落结构与环境因子之间的关系,于2012年1—12月对水库表层水进行每月一次的采样,分别对浮游藻类分布状况和理化因子进行分析.利用Shannon指数(H)和Pielou均匀度指数(J)分析浮游藻类群落特征,根据理化指标和综合营养状态指数(TSI)评价水体营养状态.共检测到浮游藻类7门110属,丰度为0.11×10⁴～2.08×10⁴ cells·L^-1.藻类组成、污染指示种分布情况、多样性分析和TSI显示安康水库表层属于中污染水质,处于中营养状态.此外,高密度投饵水产养殖及生活污水直接排放入库对水质产生负面影响,支流岚河的水质状况也较差.典范对应分析(CCA)结果显示,测定的8个环境因子中,不同季节影响浮游藻类群落组成及分布的环境因子不同,且氮是影响浮游藻类组成的主要营养盐因子.理化指标分析显示,安康水库表层水大体满足Ⅱ类水标准,水质良好.但部分采样点的总氮出现差于Ⅱ类水标准的现象,表明安康水库水质有变差的趋势.     

太湖梅梁湾水体中悬浮质及光谱的分布特征

在研究太湖梅梁湾水体中的悬浮质及水体中光谱分布时发现:总悬浮质中无机悬浮质含量与总悬浮质之间呈现明显的正比线形关系(R²=0.9724),而有机悬浮质与总悬浮质之间的正比线形关系较弱(R²=0.2921);在20cm处以下,总悬浮质中的藻类含量随着水深度的增加呈现下降的趋势,表面略低;有机悬浮质与叶绿素a的含量之间的线形关系较弱(R²=0.1344);光谱的分布特征是:在水体的表面,绿光最强,蓝光较强,而红光最弱;在150cm以下,红光最强,绿光较强,蓝光最弱。     

Seasonal variation of mixing depth and its influence on phytoplankton dynamics in the Zeya reservoir, China

In reservoirs or lakes, mixing depth affects growth and loss rates of phytoplankton populations. Based on 1-year data from the Zeya reservoir, China, we scaled the mixing depth throughout a whole year by utilizing cluster analysis, and then investigated its influence on phytoplankton dynamics and other physical and chemical parameters. Over the whole year, all physical and chemical parameters except TN and temperature had significant correlations with mixing depth, indicating that mixing depth is one of the important driving factors influencing water environment. According to mixing depth, a year can be divided into three different periods, including the thermally stratified period, isothermally mixed period, and transition period between them. When considering the former two different periods separately, mixing depth had no correlation with the phytoplankton biovolume. However, over the whole year a significant correlation was observed, which indicated that the influence of mixing depth on phytoplankton growth in the Zeya reservoir still followed Diehl’s theory. Furthermore, according to the steady-state assumption, a unimodal curve (mixing depth—phytoplankton biovolume) with a significant peak appearing at a mixing depth of 2 m was observed, closely agreeing with Diehl’ prediction.     

The relationship between phytoplankton biovolume and chlorophyll in a deep oligotrophic lake: decoupling in their spatial and temporal maxima

The seasonal distributions of phytoplankton biovolume and chlorophylla content were monitored for 14 months in a deep oligotrophic,high mountain lake (Redó, Pyrenees). An allometric relationshipof chlorophyll with biovolume was found throughout the periodstudied, with a correlation coefficient of 0.66. However, therelationship changed with season and the taxonomic compositionof the phytoplankton. Both parameters showed a similar seasonalpattern, but differences in space and time were observed. Thechlorophyll maximum was recorded deeper and later than thatof phytoplankton biovolume. While the biovolume maximum wasrelated to an improvement in conditions for growth (nutrientinput during column mixing periods), and reflected an increasein biomass, the chlorophyll maximum was related to changes incell pigment content, and to spatial or successional trendsin species dominance. Flagellated chrysophytes predominatedat the chlorophyll maxima. Chlorophyll content per unit of phytoplanktonbiovolume fluctuated greatly throughout the year, dependingon light intensity, temperature and phytoplankton composition.Of the main groups of phytoplankton in the lake, the dinoflagellates,which dominated the summer epilimnion phytoplankton community,recorded the lowest pigment content per biovolume (which isconsistent with their size). Higher chlorophyll contents perbiovolume were found in the deep hypolimnion and during thewinter cover period associated with small cells such as somespecies of chlorococcales chlorophytes. When flagellated chrysophyteswere predominant, a broad range of chlorophyll values per biovolumewas found and there was no significant correlation between thetwo biomass indices. These findings reaffirm the need to treatphytoplankton biomass estimates with caution, in particularwhen conducting primary production studies. While our resultsshow that changes in chlorophyll content per cell occur as aphotoacclimation response along a vertical profile, they alsopoint out a component of the successional trends which appearin a phytoplankton growth phase in a lake.     

Do phytoplankton communities correctly track trophic changes? An assessment using directly measured and palaeolimnological data

1. Measurements of total phosphorus (TP) concentrations since 1975 and a 50‐year time series of phytoplankton biovolume and species composition from Lake Mondsee (Austria) were combined with palaeolimnological information on diatom composition and reconstructed TP‐levels to describe the response of phytoplankton communities to changing nutrient conditions. 2. Four phases were identified in the long‐term record. Phase I was the pre‐eutrophication period characterised by TP‐levels of about 6 μg L^?1 and diatom dominance. Phase II began in 1966 with an increase in TP concentration followed by the invasion of Planktothrix rubescens in 1968, characterising mesotrophic conditions. Phase III, from 1976 to 1979, had the highest annual mean TP concentrations (up to 36 μg L^?1) and phytoplankton biovolumes (3.57 mm³ L^?1), although reductions in external nutrient loading started in 1974. Phases II and III saw an expansion of species characteristic of higher nutrient levels as reflected in the diatom stratigraphy. Oligotrophication (phase IV) began in 1980 when annual average TP concentration, Secchi depth and algal biovolume began to decline, accompanied by increasing concentrations of soluble reactive silica. 3. The period from 1981 to 1986 was characterised by asynchronous trends. Annual mean and maximum total phytoplankton biovolume initially continued to increase after TP concentration began to decline. Reductions in phytoplankton biovolume were delayed by about 5 years. Several phytoplankton species differed in the timing of their responses to changing nutrient conditions. For example, while P. rubescens declined concomitantly with the decline in TP concentration, other species indicative of higher phosphorus concentrations, such as Tabellaria flocculosa var. asterionelloides, tended to increase further. 4. These data therefore do not support the hypotheses that a reduction in TP concentration is accompanied by (i) an immediate decline in total phytoplankton biovolume and (ii) persistence of the species composition characterising the phytoplankton community before nutrient reduction.     

Classification and ordination of profundal macroinvertebrate communities in nutrient poor, oligo-mesohumic lakes in relation to environmental data

SUMMARY. 1. Profundal macroinvertebrates and water chemistry of sixty-eight nutrient poor, poorly buffered lakes were sampled in 1983 or 1986. Assemblages of profundal zoobenthos were classified using two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), ordinated by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), and related to physico-chemical factors using CCA. discriminant analysis, and regression.
2. 90% of zoobenthos (TWINSPAN) groups were classified correctly using discriminant analysis. Depth (Function 1), soluble reactive Si(OH)₄ and HCO₃, -(2), and phytoplankton biovolume and pH (3) were the strongest correlates with the three discriminant functions.
3. Regression analysis showed that depth, KmnO₄, consumption, and phytoplankton biovolume were the best estimators of zoobenthos biomass in the profundal.
4. Multivariate analyses showed species assemblages amongst the profundal zoobenthos to be good indicators of lake type, particularly depth, pH, and phytoplankton biovolume.     

Analysis of long-term variation in phytoplankton biovolume in the northern basin of Lake Biwa

The long-term variation in phytoplankton biovolume in the northern basin of Lake Biwa was analyzed using periodic phytoplankton census data from January 1979 to December 2009. Population densities obtained from census data were transformed into biovolumes, and phytoplankton species were categorized into three size fractions: net phytoplankton (≥4,000 μm³ cell^?1, ≥ca. 20 μm in diameter), large nanophytoplankton (100–4,000 μm³ cell^?1, ca. 6–20 μm in diameter), and small nanophytoplankton (<100 μm³ cell^?1, <ca. 6 μm in diameter). Although the annual total biovolume gradually decreased over time, the total biovolumes in winter and spring were found to increase. Furthermore, a decrease in the biovolume of net phytoplankton and an increase in that of small nanophytoplankton were observed. Because of succession in the phytoplankton community, the average cell volume of the phytoplankton community decreased from 269 μm³ cell^?1 in the 1980s to 56 μm³ cell^?1 in the 2000s. Lake warming accompanied with the intensification of thermal stratification and the augmentation of wind speed were observed at Lake Biwa over the study period. Serial analysis correcting for autocorrelation revealed that oligotrophication in the epilimnion, induced by lake warming and limitation of light available for phytoplankton growth by wind-induced water mixing, was a potential factor in the succession of the phytoplankton community.     

Effects of zebra mussels on phytoplankton and ciliates: a field mesocosm experiment

Many observational studies in North American lakes have documenteddecreases in phytoplankton abundance after the invasion of thezebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). However, few field experimentshave examined in detail the effect of zebra mussels on phytoplanktonabundance and species composition over an extended period. Replicatedin situ mesocosms were used to evaluate the impact of naturaldensities of zebra mussels on phytoplankton and ciliate biovolume,and algal species composition over a 5-week period in a habitatthat lacked extant mussel populations. Mussel biomass used inthe experiment was determined using a regression model basedon a data analysis that predicts zebra mussel biomass from totalphosphorus concentration. Within 1 week, zebra mussels decreasedphytoplankton biovolume by 53% and ciliate biovolume by 71%.The effect of zebra mussels on ciliate biovolume was sustainedthroughout the study. However, the effect of zebra mussels onphytoplankton abundance gradually waned over the remaining 4weeks of the experiment, such that the declining effect of zebramussels could not be explained by a shift towards less edibleand/or faster growing algal species. The mussels’ decliningcondition could help to explain the effect observed over thecourse of the experiment.     

Grazer control and nutrient limitation of phytoplankton biomass in two Australian reservoirs

1. Grazer and nutrient controls of phytoplankton biomass were tested on two reservoirs of different productivity to assess the potential for zooplankton grazing to affect chlorophyll/phosphorus regression models under Australian conditions. Experiments with zooplankton and nutrients manipulated in enclosures, laboratory feeding trials, and the analysis of in-lake plankton time series were performed. 2. Enclosures with water from the more productive Lake Hume (chlorophyll a = 3–17.5 μg l^–1), revealed significant zooplankton effects on chlorophyll a in 3/6, phosphorus limitation in 4/6 and nitrogen limitation in 1/6 of experiments conducted throughout the year. Enclosures with water from the less productive Lake Dartmouth (chlorophyll a = 0.8–3.5 μg l^–1), revealed significant zooplankton effects in 5/6, phosphorus limitation in 5/6 and nitrogen limitation in 2/6 of experiments. 3. While Lake Hume enclosure manipulations of the biomass of cladocerans (Daphnia and Diaphanosoma) and large copepods (Boeckella) had negative effects, small copepods (Mesocyclops and Calamoecia) could have positive effects on chlorophyll a. 4. In Lake Hume, total phytoplankton biovolume was negatively correlated with cladoceran biomass, positively with copepod biomass and was uncorrelated with total crustacean biomass. In Lake Dartmouth, total phytoplankton biovolume was negatively correlated with cladoceran biomass, copepod biomass and total crustacean biomass. 5. In both reservoirs, temporal variation in the biomass of Daphnia carinata alone could explain more than 50% of the observed variance in total phytoplankton biovolume. 6. During a period of low phytoplankton biovolume in Lake Hume in spring–summer 1993–94, a conservative estimate of cladoceran community grazing reached a maximum of 0.80 day^–1, suggesting that Cladocera made an important contribution to the development of the observed clear-water phase. 7. Enclosure experiments predicted significant grazing when the Cladocera/Phytoplankton biomass ratio was greater than 0.1; this threshold was consistently exceeded during clear water phase in Lake Hume. 8. Crustacean length had a significant effect on individual grazing rates in bottle experiments, with large Daphnia having highest rates. In both reservoirs, mean crustacean length was negatively correlated with phytoplankton biovolume. The observed upper limit of its variation was nearly twice as high compared to other world lakes.     

Pelagic zonation of water quality and phytoplankton in the Great Lakes

Analysis of aquatic ecosystem data collected from large water bodies must consider spatial variations. A suite of pelagic survey stations exists for the Laurentian Great Lakes, but little is known about their redundancy. We present a strategy to delineate the lakes into zones based on water quality and phytoplankton biovolume. Water samples were collected from 72 sites in two seasons (spring and summer) from 2007 to 2010 in all five lakes. Integrated samples were analyzed for phytoplankton biovolume and nine water quality parameters. We conducted cluster analysis, principal components analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling methods for water quality and phytoplankton taxon-specific biovolume for the Great Lakes basin and for each lake separately. There were significant lake-to-lake differences, and based on lake-specific analyses, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Erie were each divided into three zones; Lake Huron and Lake Ontario were each grouped into two zones. The zones identified by water quality and phytoplankton provide an understanding of spatial distributions for evaluating monitoring data.     

Taxonomic structure of phytoplankton assemblages in Crater Lake, Oregon, U.S.A.

SUMMARY. 1. A taxonomic analysis of 171 phytoplankton samples obtained from Crater Luke, Oregon, between 1985 and 1987 revealed 132 taxa in the upper 250 m of the water column. The greatest temporal variation in taxonomic structure occurred between 40 and 80 m below the water surface, a depth range which corresponded to the zone of maximum primary production.
2. Phytoplankton cell biovolume in the upper 20 m of the water column was relatively high during the summer months, a period when Nitzschia gracilis was dominant in the epilimnion. However, 72% or more of the cell biovolume between 0 and 200 m was distributed below 20 m and, during the winter and spring months, 61% was found below 80 m.
3. Cluster analysis identified a sparse, temporally ubiquitous flora which was modified to various degrees when environmental conditions became favourable for the growth of a few dominant taxa. These surges ot dominance by individual taxa accounted for 2 to 5-fold increases in cell biovolume and generated a pronounced taxonomic discontinuity between the floras in the epilimnion and hypolimnion.
4. While the taxonomic structure of the phytoplankton in the epilimnion corresponded closely with the structure found in a 1978–80 study, the flora below the metalimnion was more diverse and less predictable in species composition than the pattern reported in the earlier study.     

Long-term variability of the phytoplankton community in an isolated floodplain lake of the Ivinhema River State Park,Brazil

The phytoplankton community of river–floodplain ecosystems shows significant temporal fluctuations in response to hydrosedimentological regime. The aim of our study was analyze the effect of the hydrosedimentological regime of the Paraná and Ivinhema Rivers on the interannual variation in the composition, biovolume and functional groups of phytoplankton in an isolated floodplain lake (Ventura Lagoon) of the Ivinhema River State Park, located in the Upper Paraná River floodplain (Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil). Samples of phytoplankton were taken at the sub-surface of the pelagic zone of the lake from February 2000 to December 2005. A total of 132 taxa were recorded, and the species that represented greater contributions to the phytoplankton biovolume were grouped into five functional groups (FG) (H1, H2, M, MP and Y). The distribution of the FGs were linked to the high and low water periods in Ventura lagoon. Functional groups MP and Y were the highest contributors to the phytoplankton biovolume during the high water periods, whereas FGs H1, H2 and M contributed more during the low water periods. The FGs were also useful for the interannual characterization of Ventura Lagoon by taking the changes caused by climatological factors into account. There was a strong dominance of Cyanobacteria (H2 and M) in 2000 and 2001 (La Niña periods) coincident with low precipitation and low hydrometric levels of the Paraná and Ivinhema Rivers and, consequently, lower water depths of Ventura Lagoon. In 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 (El Niño periods), when higher precipitation, higher hydrometric levels, higher discharge of the Paraná and Ivinhema Rivers and an increased depth of Ventura Lagoon were observed, Cyanobacteria (H1, H2 and M) were dominant, followed by Bacillariophyceae (MP) and Cryptophyceae (Y). These results reported here corroborate the utility of using FGs as indicators of interannual and seasonal variability in floodplain lakes.