Phytoplankton and zooplankton development in a lowland, temperate river |
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Authors: | Basu BK; Pick FR |
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Institution: | Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada |
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Abstract: | The longitudinal and seasonal patterns of plankton developmentwere examined over 2 years in a lowland, temperate river: theRideau River (Ontario, Canada). Following an initial decreasein phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass as water flowed fromthe headwaters into the Rideau River proper, there was an increasein chlorophyll a (chl a) and zooplankton biomass with downstreamtravel. At approximately river km 60, both phytoplankton andzooplankton reached their maximum biomass of 27 µg l1(chl a) and 470 µg l1 (dry mass), respectively.Downstream of river km 60, the biomass of both planktonic communitiesdeclined significantly despite increasing nutrient concentrationsand favorable light conditions. These downstream declines maybe due to the feeding activity of the exotic zebra mussel (Dreissenapolymorpha) which was at high density in downstream reaches(>1000 individuals m2). There was no evidence forlongitudinal phasing of phytoplankton and zooplankton, as increasesand decreases in chl a and zooplankton biomass appeared to coincide.Overall, chl a was best predicted by total phosphorus (R2=0.43),whereas zooplankton biomass was best predicted by chl a (R2=0.20).There was no evidence for significant grazing effects of zooplanktonon phytoplankton biomass. |
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