Predominance of picoplankton and nanoplankton in eutrophic Calder Lake

A study was conducted to examine factors regulating the biomass of algal picoplankton in Calder Lake, a small eutrophic lake in southern New York state. A particular focus was a current paradigm which suggests that larger cells may dominate in nutrient-rich waters, while smaller cells may predominate only in oligotrophic waters. Over two years, phytoplankton biomass consisted predominantly (74% on average) of very small organisms; nanoplankton (<20 to 2 µm: 39%) and picoplankton (<2 µm to 0.2 µm: 35%), despite the presence of surface blooms of colonial cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa, Anabaena limnetica), and dense metalimnetic populations of the dinoflagellate Ceratium hirundinella. This dimictic system is characterized by relatively high levels of total P (max = 85, % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGabmiEayaara% aaaa!3702!\[\bar x\] = 9.7 µg P/L), inorganic P (max = 26, % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGabmiEayaara% aaaa!3702!\[\bar x\] = 4.5 µg P/L), and total inorganic N (max = 285, % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGabmiEayaara% aaaa!3702!\[\bar x\] = 85 µg P/L), but larger forms were rarely the most abundant. Unlike some marine systems, greater abundance of algal picoplankton was not associated with deeper strata (low light), or warmer temperatures. Data suggest that midsummer nutrient limitation, especially P-limitation, favors the development of pico- and nanoplankton in the limnetic zone of eutrophic lakes.     

The spring development of phytoplankton in Lake Erken: species composition,biomass, primary production and nutrient conditions — a review

Relative abundance and within-lake distributions of three fishes, northern redbelly dace (Phoxinus eos), finescale dace (Phoxinus neogaeus), and central mudminnow (Umbra limi), were examined using minnow traps in Tuesday Lake, a small bog lake in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan. For these species, catches in minnow traps placed at the perimeter of the lake were 21 to 52 times higher than catches in midlake traps. Variance: mean ratios of perimeter trap catches indicated that both dace species were highly aggregated while the distribution of mudminnows was less aggregated or random. Over an 11 day period during which all fish caught were removed from the lake, catch per unit effort (CPUE) of both dace species declined in response to fish removal. In contrast, CPUE for mudminnows was low initially, increased to an asymptote and then declined only in the last 5 days of the fish removal. The patterns of CPUE for mudminnows indicated that mudminnow trapability and/or activity was reduced in the presence of high densities of dace. The low abundance of dace in traps with many mudminnows suggested mudminnows avoided traps already containing dace. Throughout the removal period, CPUE provided an accurate index of dace abundance, whereas this was true for mudmnnows only after dace populations had been reduced drastically. Therefore, in any use of minnow traps to estimate populations, both spatial distributions and relative species abundance of small fishes must be taken into account.     

Impact of whitefish on an enclosure ecosystem in a shallow eutrophic lake: selective feeding of fish and predation effects on the zooplankton communities

Bag-type enclosures (75 m³) with bottom sheets and tube-type enclosures (105 m³) open to the bottom sediment were stocked with exotic whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus maraena) to study their predation effects on the plankton community. The fish fed mainly on adult chironomids during the period of their emergence (earlier part of the experimental period). Thereafter, the food preference was shifted to larvae of chironomids and crustacean zooplankters. The predation effects on the plankton community were not evident in the bag-type enclosures where zooplankton densities were consistently low. The fish reduced the crustacean populations composed ofBosmina fatalis, B. longirostris andCyclops vicinus in the tube-type enclosures where the prey density was high (above ca. 50 individuals 1⁻¹). The results suggested that the intensity of predation depended on the prey density. Rotifers increased in the fish enclosure, probably becauseCoregonus reduced the predation pressure byCyclops vicinus on rotifers and allowed the latter to increase. In the fish enclosures, no marked changes in species composition were observed. Zooplankton predated by the fish seemed to be distributed near the walls of the enclosures. Problems of enclosure experiments for examining the effects of fish predation on pelagic zooplankton communities are discussed.     

Hydrogeochemistry of Lake Gallocanta (Aragón,NE Spain)

Lake Gallocanta has undergone drastic changes during the last thirteen years. Water level changed from a high level (Z_max = 2 m) to total dryness in 1985. From 1986 to 1988 slow refilling occurred. The water volume fluctuations have been studied in relation to climatic variations recorded for that period. Variations in the major dissolved ions were related to water volume fluctuations from data at two different stages, one corresponding to the drying phase and another to the refilling phase. Mineralogical composition of the salts precipitated at different stages was examined by X-ray diffraction. Interstitial water and mineralogical composition of recent sediments were also studied along a transect through the lake.The water column decrease from 1977 to 1985 is related to decreasing annual rainfall (500-250 mm respectively). The refilling in 1986–1988 is due to high annual rainfall (537 mm). In addition to these fluctuations, seasonal changes of the water level between 20 and 50 cm occurred every year.Gallocanta is a Na-Mg-Cl-(SO₄) type lake. During the drying period a typical salt enrichment occurs with linear relationships between TDS, Cl, Na and K. Alkalinity is linearly correlated with Ca at relatively low salinities. As salinity increases a linear relationship between Ca and SO₄ is observed. Minerals formed from the brine are halite, bischofite, epsomite, hexahydrite, mirabilite, gypsum, aragonite, calcite and dolomite. The molar ratio Mg/Ca of the interstitial water changes from 1.5 along the shorelines, where calcite and aragonite precipitate, to 40 in the center of the lake. Sediment cores from the central part of the lake show aragonite in the top layers, magnesian calcite and low proportions of quartz and illite, while at 20 cm depth a high proportion of gypsum is present. In contrast, cores from the shore of the lake are mainly composed of low magnesium calcite in the top layers and low magnesium calcite together high magnesium calcite and dolomite between 30 and 70 cm depth. Gypsum deposits only occur in significant proportions at 80–100 cm depth.The refilling process showed relationships between volume and salt concentration following the Langbein model. The salt mass in solution decreased about 50% from the drying to the refilling phase. However, Mg content decreased about 70 % for the same period, suggesting a contribution of this element to the dolomite formation.     

The effects of planktivorous fishes on the plankton community in a eutrophic lake

Stocking silver carp, a phytoplankton feeder, and bighead carp, an omnivorous plankton feeder, into an eutrophic lake at high densities caused a dramatic change in the lake ecosystem.Microcystis, which had been dominant in summer and a main food of the fishes decreased markedly, and green algae smaller than 10 μm then became dominant. Consequently, chlorophyll-a per unit area decreased slightly, while the rate of production was higher than that in the previous years. As the total density of the fishes increased (from 0.09 to 0.11 fish m⁻²), the growth of silver carp was retarded, while that of bighead carp increased.Microcystis, was unable to become dominant due to increased grazing pressure by the fishes, and small green algae became dominant. The lake conditions thus became more favourable for zooplankters which selectively consumed small green algae, and accordingly, the production of zooplankton rose. Bighead carp consumed more animal food, which they assimilate at a higher rate than plant food, and grew better in spite of the fact that the fish density increased. The feeding rate of silver carp was greatly reduced because the green algae were too small to ingest, and the fish therefore grew poorly. Results of a computer simulation of a model consisting of five compartments, representing the blue-green algae, green algae, zooplankton, silver and bighead carp, support the food-web change observed in the lake.     

Seasonal coupling between phyto- and bacterioplankton in a sand pit lake (Créteil lake,France)

Phyto- and bacterioplankton biomass and activity were simultaneously measured during the course of one year in the shallow Créteil Lake (France).Phytoplankton was dominated, during the whole year, by small-sized organisms (10 to 25 µm). Bacteria were in a majority small coccoids (<0.3 µm). Phyto -and bacterioplankton abundances averaged respectively 3.3 × 10⁶ cells l^–1 and 6 × 10⁹ cells l^–1.The phasing of the activity and biomass periods suggest a close coupling between phyto- and bacterioplankton. There were two distinct periods of high activity and biomass. Maximal values were observed in summer but an early increase occurred also in winter. Low or undetectable phytoplankton excretion rates, when heterotrophic activity was maximum, indicated a bacterial uptake of up to 100% of the released algal products during the incubation period. Heterotrophic uptake measurements with both glucose and amino acids revealed a seasonal change of the substrates in the lake, glucose uptake being associated more with the maximum activity of the algae, while the amino acids uptake was relatively higher during their decline.The maximal photosynthetic rate averaged 21.5 mgC m^–3 h^–1 and mean Vmax values were 0.056 and 0.050 mgC m^–3 h^–1 respectively for glucose and amino acids uptake.     

The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) and largetooth sash (Pristis perotteti) in Lake Bayano,a tropical man-made impoundment in Panama

Synopsis The Río Bayano in eastern Panama is one of many tropical rivers in which bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) and largetooth sawfish (Pristis perotteti) have been known to occur. Since both species can osmoregulate in fresh water throughout life, theoretically, both could survive in landlocked situations for many years.P. perotteti reproduces in fresh water, butC. leucas ordinarily does not, so only the former would appear to have the potential for establishing a breeding stock in such a landlocked freshwater body.The damming of the Rio Bayano and the creation of a large impoundment in 1976 provides a test of the ability of members of both species trapped there to survive and to establish breeding stocks. In 1980 and 1981 three mature femaleC. leucas were found dead in Lake Bayano and three sub-adult femaleP. perotteti were taken by trammel net. These events confirm the ability of both to survive in fresh water for long periods, but the establishment of breeding stocks appears doubtful and the question may not be answered for many years.     

Transport and particle size distribution of suspended and benthic organic matter in three headwater streams

The breakdown and decomposition of two species of deciduous leaf litter, Fagus sylvatica L. and Salix viminalis L. and two species of aquatic macrophyte Isoetes lacustris L. and Potamogeton perfoliatus L. were examined in an oligotrophic lake. In all cases plant litter in coarse mesh litter bags lost significantly more material than the fine mesh after 1 years submergence in the lake. This however was considered to be the result of physical environmental factors and microbial activity rather than animal processing. The litter was ranked in order of fastest to slowest rates of decay as follows — Isoetes, Potamogeton, Salix and Fagus. Decomposition processes proceeded at a relatively slow rate as a result of low temperatures and low phosphate and mineral ion concentration. The results suggested that there was an accumulation of organic material in the lake.     

Acidified lakes: sediment treatment with sodium carbonate — a remedy?

Until now, additions of lime have been used to restore the buffering capacity of acidified lakes, but an alternative method which is more effective in the treatment of lakes with organogenic sediments has recently been applied in a full-scale experiment. The method, called CONTRACID, is based on the cation exchange properties of lake sediment. A sodium carbonate (soda ash) solution is injected into the sediment (by a harrow), so that the sediment becomes sodium stocked. A reverse exchange occurs during subsequent acidification. Liming has a limited effect on humic lakes, since Ca-humates have a reduced reverse exchange ability and also the lime, which remains undissolved, is rendered inactive. Ionic exchange processes and nutrient transport were studied in water/sediment cores andin situ enclosures after additions of soda ash-, lye- and lime solutions with subsequent re-acidification. Sodium carbonate additions in laboratory systems resulted in a sorption to the sediment of 42–62% of the added sodium ions (5 eq m⁻²) and a release of 14–78 mg Pm⁻² sediment. Similar results were obtained in the enclosures where phosphorus release stimulated algal growth. Sediment pH, elevated by the sodium base addition, was lowered by re-acidification. Limed systems released no phosphorus and only about 25% of the added lime remained active for future neutralization. With the injection of the sodium carbonate solution into the sediment, only about 12% of the added sodium was recovered in lake water by spring circulation. Lake water alkalinity was then 0.12 meq l⁻¹ and pH 6.7. Total phosphorus had been raised by 0.007 mg P l⁻¹ causing an increase in phytoplankton biomass. Observations indicate that manipulations of acidic lake sediment according to the CONTRACID method create a long-lasting neutralizing capacity and a biological stimulation (through phosphorus release), which makes the method an attractive alternative to frequent liming.     

Changes in the phytoplankton of Lake Trummen induced by restoration

Lake Trummen, previously an oligotrophic lake, was heavily polluted during 1930–1957. The lake was restored by suction dredging of the top sediment layer. After restoration nutrien concentrations and phytoplankton biomass were drastically reduced. Eutrophic species disappeared and more oligotrophic species returned to the lake. The investigation covers 12 years-monthly-bimonthly countings of algae together with electronmicroscopical studies of taxonomically difficult taxa. The investigation was made at the species level (300 species identified and 80 quantitatively recorded).