Longitudinal Differences of Phytoplankton Community during a Period of Small Water Level Fluctuations in a Subtropical Reservoir Bay (Xiangxi Bay,Three Gorges Reservoir,China)

The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) had a great inflow discharge with small water level fluctuations in the flood season of the year 2008, when a large‐scale cyanobacterial bloom broke out in Xiangxi Bay (a tributary bay behaving like a lake) for the first time after the construction of the TGR impoundment. To compare spatiotemporal longitudinal differences of phytoplankton community structure during this period, weekly surveys were performed in Xiangxi Bay. The cyanobacterial bloom lasted from June 6 to July 18, 2008, with Microcystis aeruginosa as the dominant species. During this bloom the species diversity, evenness and community change rate was relatively low. The probable causes for the interruption of the bloom were precipitation and water temperature. In the non‐cyanobacterial bloom period (July 25 to September 26, 2008) many other species dominated the community including Stephanodiscus hantzschii and Cryptomonas ovata, with higher values of species diversity, evenness and community change rate. As for the longitudinal differences, the community structure in the riverine zone was different from that in other zones, indicating the important effect of inflow from the upstream of Xiangxi Bay. The management actions in Xiangxi Bay should prevent blooms in the mainstream, lacustrine and transitional zone. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spatial and temporal patterns of pioneer macrofauna in recently created ponds: taxonomic and functional approaches

The present study was carried out in Faxinal Reservoir, a warm monomictic, meso-eutrophic reservoir in subtropical southern Brazil, with a long-standing, well-stratified condition, low epilimnetic nutrient concentrations, and a relatively clear epilimnion. In this study, we analyzed the dynamics of the phytoplankton functional groups, recognizing their driving forces in Faxinal Reservoir. Samples were taken at monthly intervals from January 2004 to January 2005 in surface waters. According to the reservoir’s mixing regime, three periods were identified during the study: stratification 1 (January–May 2004); mixing period (June–August 2004); and stratification 2 (September 2004–January 2005). The nutrient dynamics were driven by the mixing regime. The H1, F, and C phytoplankton functional groups were the most important in biomass, mainly represented by the N-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena crassa, the colonial green alga with thick mucilaginous sheaths Nephrocytium sp., and the diatom Asterionella formosa, respectively. Tendencies pointed out by redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that the mixing regime was the main determining factor of the seasonal dynamics of the phytoplankton community. The dominant functional groups showed a close relationship with the relative water-column stability (RWCS), and also, as a consequence of the mixing regime, with nutrient availability. The study also revealed the important role of physical processes in the seasonal gradient, in selecting for phytoplankton functional groups and, consequently, in the assessment of ecological status. Q index (assemblage index) of water quality based on functional groups revealed ecological status varying from very poor to tolerable in the stratification 1 period and from tolerable to medium in the mixing and stratification 2 periods. Handling editor: Judit Padisak     

Monthly change of community structure of zoobenthos in Xiangxi Bay after impoundment of the Three Gorges Teservoir, China

Xiangxi Bay, a typical bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in China, was formed in June 2003 after the impoundment of the TGR. We investigated the community structure of zoobenthos in Xiangxi Bay from August 2003 to August 2004. Benthic abundance and biomass were calculated per unit area of sediment. A total of 26 taxa were identified. They included two families of Lamellibranchia (7.7% of the total taxa number), two families of Oligochaeta (50%), Chironomidae (38.5%), and one other animal (3.8%). The average density and biomass were 276 ind./m² and 0.301 g/m², respectively. Oligochaetes and chironomids constituted the major groups, and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Procladius sp., Branchiura sowerbyi, Tubificidae sp1. and Polypedilum scalaenum group sp. were the common taxa in this reservoir system. Among them, L. hoffmeisteri and Procladius sp. were the dominant species, and contributed 37.0% and 28.3% of the total density, respectively. The standing crop of zoobenthos in Xiangxi Bay was relative low, compared with other similar reservoirs. Our studies demonstrate that the standing crop increased gradually with time. The total density and biomass in August 2004 were 8.8 and 14.3 times those of the initial impoundment, separately. Oligochaetes did not become the sole dominant group, indicating that the sediment loading in Xiangxi Bay may be not serious. __________ Translated from Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica, 2006, 30(1): 64–69 [译自: 水生生物学报]     

Diel vertical migration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peridiniopsis niei</Emphasis>, Liu et al., a new species of dinoflagellates in an eutrophic bay of Three-Gorge Reservoir,China

In spring, a typical dinoflagellate (Peridiniopsis niei Liu et al.) constitutes most of the phytoplankton biomass in most of eutrophic bay of Three-Gorge Reservoir (TGR, China). There are few field observations on vertical migration of the members of the genus Peridiniopsis. We studied diel vertical migration of the new species (Peridiniopsis niei) at sampling stations A and B in an eutrophic bay (Xiangxi Bay) of TGR during both day and night in March 2007. The present study suggests that vertical migration by Peridiniopsis niei is similar in nature to the migration patterns observed for other dinoflagellates. Solar irradiance incident was an important factor regulating the ascent and descent of Peridiniopsis niei. The vertical descent of Peridiniopsis niei during nighttime was restricted when the thermocline (Temperature gradient >1°C m⁻¹) was present in the station B.     

Temporal Coherence of Chlorophyll a during a Spring Phytoplankton Bloom in Xiangxi Bay of Three‐Gorges Reservoir,China

Algal bloom phenomenon was defined as “the rapid growth of one or more phytoplankton species which leads to a rapid increase in the biomass of phytoplankton”, yet most estimates of temporal coherence are based on yearly or monthly sampling frequencies and little is known of how synchrony varies among phytoplankton or of the causes of temporal coherence during spring algal bloom. In this study, data of chlorophyll a and related environmental parameters were weekly gathered at 15 sampling sites in Xiangxi Bay of Three‐Gorges Reservoir (TGR, China) to evaluate patterns of temporal coherence for phytoplankton during spring bloom and test if spatial heterogeneity of nutrient and inorganic suspended particles within a single ecosystem influences synchrony of spring phytoplankton dynamics. There is a clear spatial and temporal variation in chlorophyll a across Xiangxi Bay. The degree of temporal coherence for chlorophyll a between pairs of sites located in Xiangxi Bay ranged from –0.367 to 0.952 with mean and median values of 0.349 and 0.321, respectively. Low levels of temporal coherence were often detected among the three stretches of the bay (Down reach, middle reach and upper reach), while high levels of temporal coherence were often found within the same reach of the bay. The relative difference of DIN between pair sites was the strong predictor of temporal coherence for chlorophyll a in down and middle reach of the bay, while the relative difference in Anorganic Suspended Solids was the important factor regulating temporal coherence in middle and upper reach. Contrary to many studies, these results illustrate that, in a small geographic area (a single reservoir bay of approximately 25 km), spatial heterogeneity influence synchrony of phytoplankton dynamics during spring bloom and local processes may override the effects of regional processes or dispersal. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Responses of phytoplankton diversity to physical disturbance under manual operation in a large reservoir, China

In aquatic ecosystems, physical disturbances have been suggested to be one of the main factors influencing phytoplankton structure and diversity. To elucidate whether large-scale artificial operation of a hydroelectric reservoir has potential impacts on phytoplankton diversity, the impact on phytoplankton biodiversity of physical disturbances under artificial operation from May 2007 to April 2008 in tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), China, was analysed. Two disturbance parameters, i.e. the absolute incremental rates of discharge (R _d,i ) and precipitation (R _p,i ), were created in this study for evaluating physical disturbance intensities during low and high water level periods of the TGR. Results showed that river discharge seemed to be the main factor controlling the phytoplankton diversity in low water level periods (≤151 m), and that precipitation was a potential promoter of the physical disturbance. During the 156-m impoundment process, the species diversity clearly decreased due to the high dilution effect on the phytoplankton communities. At high water level periods (>151 m), the low levels of disturbance eventually allowed the phytoplankton community to approach competitive exclusion in late February 2008. Sharply declining diversity values appeared when the Dinophyta blooms occurred in late March and late April 2008 (Peridinium and Ceratium, respectively).     

Daily and vertical dynamics of rotifers under the impact of diatom blooms in the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

The Three Gorges Dam was built in 2005 with a storage capacity of 39.3 billion m³, ranking 22nd in the world. However, since the impoundment of the reservoir, serious blooms of phytoplankton have occurred. Rotifers, having a key role in the freshwater aquatic food web, are important grazers of phytoplankton and an essential food resource to higher trophic consumers. To explore the impacts of phytoplankton blooms on the rotifer community, daily and vertical surveys of rotifers were conducted in a bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir (Xiangxi Bay). Altogether 46 rotifer species were registered, and Synchaeta tremula, Polyarthra vulgaris, and Brachionus calyciflorus were the most abundant species accounting for 36, 26, and 16% of the mean rotifer densities, respectively. Although these dominant species always prevailed in the rotifer community, their proportions changed significantly from non-bloom phase to bloom phase, e.g., the significance of S. tremula deceased from 46.8 to 33.2%, while P. vulgaris and B. calyciflorus increased from 23.9 and 13.9% to 26.2 and 16.2%, respectively. In the vertical water column, all the rotifer following phytoplankton displayed an aggregated distribution, concentrating at the upper layers (0.5–5 m), especially during the bloom phase. From the non-bloom phase to the bloom phase, rotifer densities, the dominant rotifers, Shannon–Wiener and Margalef’s diversity increased significantly, while the evenness displayed the opposite trend. Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) revealed that the samples in the non-bloom phase were well separated from those in the bloom phase. This means that the outbreak of the diatom bloom in the Xiangxi Bay had significant impacts on the rotifer community. Further investigations are needed to address the impacts of the changes of rotifer community on higher trophic levels.     

Long‐term phytoplankton community changes in a deep subalpine lake: responses to nutrient availability and climatic fluctuations

1. In natural lakes, modifications in the species composition and abundance of phytoplankton communities may ultimately be responses to changes in nutrient availability and climatic fluctuations. Phytoplankton and associated environmental factors were collected at monthly intervals from the beginning of the 1990s to 2007 in the large subalpine Lake Garda (z_max = 350 m, V = 49 × 10⁹ m³). In this study period, the lake showed a slight and continuous increase of total phosphorus (TP) in the water column, up to concentrations of 18–20 μg P L^?1. This increase represented the last stage of a long‐term process of enrichment documented since the 1970s, when concentrations of TP were below or around 10 μg P L^?1. 2. At the community level, annual phytoplankton cycles underwent a unidirectional and slow shift mainly due to changes in the species more affected by the nutrient enrichment of the lake. After a first and long period of dominance by conjugatophytes (Mougeotia) and diatoms (Fragilaria), phytoplankton biomass in recent years was sustained by cyanobacteria (Planktothrix). Other important modifications in the development of phytoplankton were superimposed on this pattern due to the effects of annual climate fluctuations principally mediated by the deep mixing events at spring overturn and, secondarily, by temperature and thermal stability of the water column during the growing season. 3. Interannual variations in the stability and temperature of the water column appeared to influence the development of a few subdominant flagellates (dinophytes and cryptophytes). Nevertheless, the major impact of climate on phytoplankton was indirect, and mediated through the effects of winter climatic conditions on deep mixing dynamics. Winter climatic fluctuations proved to be a key element in a linked chain of causal factors including cooling of hypolimnetic waters, deep vertical mixing and epilimnetic nutrient replenishment. The process of fertilisation was measurable both for TP and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, although only the first had a large effect, reinforcing the seasonal growth of a few dominant groups. The degree of nutrient replenishment further increased the spring development of large diatoms and the increase of Planktothrix in summer and autumn. 4. Currently, changes in nutrient concentrations have the greatest effect on the phytoplankton community, while direct effects due to the interannual variations in the thermal regime are of secondary importance compared with the indirect effects mediated through deep water mixing and spring fertilisation. Overall, the results demonstrate that the consequences of climatic fluctuations and climate warming on phytoplankton communities need to be studied at different levels of complexity and integration, from the direct effects of temperature and thermal regime, to the indirect effects mediated by the physiographic characteristics of water bodies.     

Spatial Distribution of Macroinvertebrate Community along a Longitudinal Gradient in a Eutrophic Reservoir‐Bay during Different Impoundment Stages,China

The longitudinal patterns of the macroinvertebrate community in the Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) were investigated during the second (2nd) and third (3rd) impoundment stages (October 2006–July 2010), to test the effects of increased water level fluctuations (WLF) on the macroinvertebrates. By comparing to the former reports of the first (1st) impoundment stage (inter‐annual WLF 4 m), we found that oligochaetes dominated in three different stages in the Xiangxi Bay. However, the total abundance of macroinvertebrates showed a dramatical decline from the 1st to 2nd stage (inter‐annual WLF 11 m), but changed slightly from the 2nd to 3rd stage (inter‐annual WLF 30 m). This indicated that higher WLF in the 2nd stage had already greatly reduced the macroinvertebrates abundance, thereby the disturbance in the 3rd stage could only slightly affect the already reduced abundance. Three longitudinal zones (the mainstream zone, the lacustrine zone and the transitional zone) were found based on the macroinvertebrate density, biomass, and taxa richness, combined with the geographical location of each site. Significant differences in density and biomass of macroinvertebrate were found among different zones (P < 0.05), yet no significant difference was found in taxa richness (P > 0.05). Two‐way indicator species analysis showed that the community type in most sites varied in different seasons from the 2nd stage, exhibiting a dynamic zonation pattern, which differed with the stable pattern of the 1st stage. This seasonal feature was coupled to the seasonal changes of the WLF. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Evaluation of the different levels of variability in the underwater light field of a shallow estuary

The underwater light climate of a shallow estuary located at the southern coast of the Baltic Sea has been investigated, with special emphasis on the spectral irradiance composition and on short-term irradiance fluctuations caused by vertical mixing and wave focussing. The inherent optical properties of the water body were dominated by phytoplankton pigment absorption in the long-wavelength range and by coloured, dissolved organic matter (cDOM) absorption in the wavelength range <500 nm, including ultraviolet-A (UV-A) and ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B). Pronounced particulate scattering combined with the absorption values to give very high attenuation coefficients, especially for the shorter wavelengths of UV-B radiation. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was found to be reduced to 1% of the surface value within 0.8 m in the inner, hypertrophic end of the estuary and within 1.9 m in the outer, eutrophic parts of this system, with corresponding 1% penetration depths for UV-B of 0.13 and 0.31 m. During late winter and early spring, the period when reduced atmospheric ozone concentrations and enhanced UV-B have been reported over northern Europe, the irradiance levels in the water column were greatly reduced, due to strong attenuation by ice cover and overlying snow. cDOM concentration of the water was also found to remain at a high level during these periods, and indeed throughout the year, thus reducing the exposure of organisms to UV-R and PAR still further. A complex irradiance regime was found in this system, with irregular and high amplitude fluctuations caused by wind-induced vertical mixing and wave focussing being superimposed upon the solar-angle-dependent seasonal and daily cycles. The methods used to quantify the short-term fluctuations are described, and their relevance to phytoplankton physiology is discussed. The wave-focussing effect is unique to the aquatic environment, and measurements showed that average subsurface irradiances could be increased by up to 5 times for periods lasting for <1 s. The highest irradiances recorded during wave-focussing events reached over 9,000 μmol photons m^–2 s^–1. Received in revised form: 7 April 2000 Electronic Publication     

Diel variation of phytoplankton functional groups in a subtropical reservoir in southern Brazil during an autumnal stratification period

A knowledge of diel variation and the vertical distribution of phytoplankton communities may contribute to a better understanding of the driving factors of key species. Applying functional-group classification provides important information on the causes of species selection in the pelagic community. The diel variation of phytoplankton functional groups was analysed during an autumnal stratification period with the aim of understanding their changes in the vertical position related to light, mixing regime and grazing pressure. Phytoplankton and zooplankton communities were sampled every 4 h during a 24-h period in a vertical profile in a subtropical meso-eutrophic reservoir. Strong stratification during a 24-h cycle and a mixed clear epilimnion with partial atelomixis marked the autumn season in the Faxinal reservoir, southern Brazil. The highest phytoplankton densities and biomass were found during the second part of the day, a general pattern reported in the literature, and may be explained by zooplankton dynamics. During the 24-h cycle, phytoplankton functional groups lacking a self-regulating capacity and those able to regulate their vertical position were vertically segregated in the lake. The diel behaviour of both groups was driven by the mixing regime (including atelomixis), light and zooplankton grazing pressure.     

At the extreme of physical gradients: phytoplankton in highly flushed,large rivers

Phytoplankton and associated environmental factors were collected fortnightly during a 1-year cycle in the upper and lower reaches of the River Adige (northeastern Italy). The river has a typical Alpine flow, with the period of high flow and flooding occurring in the spring and summer months. Phytoplankton biomass was constrained by physical variables, mainly water discharge and associated variables directly linked to water fluxes. These factors acted negatively and synchronously by diluting phytoplankton cells and worsening the light regime. Nutrient concentrations did not appear to limit phytoplankton growth. Compared to many other central European rivers, the very low maximum algal biomasses supported by River Adige (Chl a < 7 μg l⁻¹) are due to the Alpine flow regime, which is characterised by higher flow during the warmer months, when conditions for algal development are more favourable. Hydrology and flow regime, along with the channelisation of the river, caused development of a simplified phytoplankton community, which was almost exclusively composed of diatoms. Moreover, these factors contributed significantly to the lack of ordered and cyclic temporal patterns in phytoplankton dynamics. In fact, the gradient of species composition showed a strong association with hydrological factors. If the scenarios predicting increase of atmospheric temperatures and decrease of atmospheric precipitations and water availability in the regions south of the Alps are realistic, algal biomasses may rise and be associated with an increase of groups other than diatoms.     

Spatial and temporal variation of phytoplankton in two subtropical Brazilian reservoirs

The purpose of this study was to verify the longitudinal distribution of phytoplankton biomass in two subtropical Brazilian reservoirs in the State of Paraná and investigate intervening factors on changes in phytoplankton biomass according to functional groups. In the Capivari and Segredo reservoirs, samples were obtained every 3 months during 2002, along a longitudinal axis (fluvial, transition, and lacustrine zones) at different depths. One hundred and eighteen taxa were identified, with Chlorophyceae as the most specious group. During the study period, both reservoirs had mostly low biomass values (less than 1 mm³ l⁻¹). The short retention time of these reservoirs constituted the principal limiting factor to phytoplankton development. Biomass values above 1 mm³ l⁻¹ were observed in the Capivari fluvial zone in March and in the Segredo lacustrine zone in December, with dominance by Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz (L_M) and Anabaena circinalis Rab. (H₁), respectively. Vertical and horizontal gradients of analyzed abiotic variables and phytoplankton biomass were observed. Considering the phytoplankton biomass values, both reservoirs were oligotrophic for the duration of the study. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) evidenced temporal and spatial gradients of phytoplankton biomass; nevertheless, it did not follow the classic model proposed for deep reservoirs, since higher biomass was registered in the lacustrine zone during some months and in fluvial zones during other months. Distinct functional groups of phytoplankton characterized both studied reservoirs. Capivari Reservoir was best characterized by L_M and Y groups, indicative of its greater water column stability and higher phosphorus concentration, whereas Segredo Reservoir was principally characterized by the MP functional group, indicative of its greater mixing zone extension and higher nitrate concentration. The obtained results also evidenced the influence of morphometric conditions and watershed purposes as important structuring factors of phytoplankton biomass in these reservoirs. Handling editor: L. Naselli-Flores     

Cryptic speciation in the cosmopolitan <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epiphanes senta</Emphasis> complex (Monogononta,Rotifera) with the description of new species

The phytoplankton species composition and seasonal succession were examined in Lake Kastoria during the period November 1998–October 1999. A total of 67 species and 19 functional groups were identified. Only 4 out of the 67 species, all Cyanobacteria, were dominant (Limnothrix redekei, Microcystis aeruginosa, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Aphanizomenon gracile). Diatoms were rare, not only in terms of species number, but also in terms of biomass (contributing <5% to the total phytoplankton biomass) in relation to the rather low silicon concentrations throughout the year. The functional groups S1, S_N, M and H1 were found dominant in the lake. The species A. gracile (functional group H1) behaved like the species Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (functional group S_N) which is tolerant to mixing and poor light conditions. The phytoplankton seasonal succession showed similar patterns in all six sampling stations, both at the surface and the bottom water layer, with minor differences during Microcystis aeruginosa dominance. Two steady-state phases were identified within a year lasting for 4 months under relatively stable physical conditions. In these steady-states, the Limnothrix redekei persistent dominance under low light availability and low inorganic nitrogen has been explained by its specific ability such as buoyancy regulation to exploit resources in the water column. Moreover, high population densities over the winter and before the development of daphnids may contribute to the steady-state dominance of Limnothrix. Different niches separated vertically in the water column is one of the explanations for the Limnothrix–Microcystis steady-state when a replacement between the two species was observed in different water layers and areas of the lake. Long lasting steady-states of Cyanobacteria observed in Lake Kastoria and in other Mediterranean and tropical freshwaters may indicate influence of warm climate properties on phytoplankton dynamics. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available to authorized users in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0360-4 Handling editor: K. Martens     

Population and community responses of phytoplankton to fluctuating light

Light is a major resource in aquatic ecosystems and has a complex pattern of spatio-temporal variability, yet the effects of dynamic light regimes on communities of phytoplankton are largely unexplored. I examined whether and how fluctuating light supply affects the structure and dynamics of phytoplankton communities. The effect of light fluctuations was tested at two average irradiances: low, 25 μmol quanta m⁻² s⁻¹ and high, 100 μmol quanta m⁻² s⁻¹ in 2- and 18-species communities of freshwater phytoplankton. Species diversity, and abundances of individual species and higher taxa, depended significantly on both the absolute level and the degree of variability in light supply, while total density, total biomass, and species richness responded only to light level. In the two-species assemblage, fluctuations increased diversity at both low and high average irradiances and in the multispecies community fluctuations increased diversity at high irradiance but decreased diversity at low average irradiance. Species richness was higher under low average irradiance and was not affected by the presence or absence of fluctuations. Diatom abundance was increased by fluctuations, especially at low average irradiance, where they became the dominant group, while cyanobacteria and green algae dominated low constant light and all high light treatments. Within each taxonomic group, however, there was no uniform pattern in species responses to light fluctuations: both the magnitude and direction of response were species-specific. The temporal regime of light supply had a significant effect on the growth rates of individual species grown in monocultures. Species responses to the regime of light supply in monocultures qualitatively agreed with their abundances in the community experiments. The results indicate that the temporal regime of light supply may influence structure of phytoplankton communities by differentially affecting growth rates and mediating species competition. Received: 24 September 1997 / Accepted: 8 July 1998     

Interactions between nutrient availability and climatic fluctuations as determinants of the long-term phytoplankton community changes in Lake Garda,Northern Italy

Major focus in interpreting phytoplankton changes in specific typologies of waterbodies or in single lakes is directed towards nutrients and climatic dynamics. During the last 35 years, Lake Garda (Northern Italy; A = 368 km², z _max = 350 m, V = 49 km³) underwent a significant increase of phosphorus in the water column, from ca. 10 μg P l⁻¹ to 18–22 μg P l⁻¹. At the multi-decadal scale, the increase of the trophic status had a positive impact on the growth of Cyanobacteria (mainly Oscillatoriales) and, partly, diatoms, as demonstrated by the long-term ecological research carried out since the beginning of the 1990s in the deepest zone of the lake. Conversely, the increase of Peridiniales (mostly Ceratium hirundinella) in the recent years appeared also associated with the interannual variations of lake temperature. At the seasonal and annual scale, the development of the large diatoms and Oscillatoriales during the periods of their maximum growth (early spring, and summer and autumn, respectively) was strongly controlled by the extent of spring vertical water mixing and nutrient fertilization of surface waters, which, in turn, were negatively dependent on the air and water temperatures in winter and early spring. Therefore, contrary to the positive impact of milder winters on phytoplankton growth in many lakes of high latitudes, warmer winter temperatures in deep oligomictic lakes of lower latitudes can determine periodic shifts towards more oligotrophic conditions and a minor development of diatoms and specific harmful cyanobacterial groups (Oscillatoriales). The complex relationships between the explanatory and response variables were tested by applying Path Analysis (Structural Equation Modeling). This multiequational technique has great potential for studying causal relationships in temporally ordered variables. The results highlight the necessity to study the consequences of climatic fluctuations on the phytoplankton communities at different temporal scales and complexity, also including the indirect effects of climatic dynamics mediated by the morphometric, morphological and hydrological characteristics of lakes, and the possible synergic or opposite effects with other forcing variables, including nutrients.     

Effects of resuspension and eutrophication level on summer phytoplankton dynamics in two hypertrophic areas of Lake Taihu,China

The composition of summer phytoplankton communities in two highly eutrophic areas of Lake Taihu, a large, shallow water body in China (area 2,338 km²; mean depth 2.0 m), was studied in relation to selected environmental variables. Both areas have multiple uses, including drinking water supply, fisheries, and recreation. The first area, Meiliang Bay, is much closer to central lake and subjected to wind-driven sediment resuspension, while the second, at Wuli Lake, is less affected by wave action but is considered more nutrient-rich due to its proximity to human inhabitation. By comparing two lake areas, we attempt to advance the understanding and management of different regions of shallow lakes, mainly differing in resuspension levels and eutrophication levels. A comparison of these two lake areas indicated a higher standing crop of phytoplankton in Wuli Lake than in Meiliang Bay. Canonic Correspondence Analysis indicated that nutrient status and sediment resuspension were the principal factors influencing phytoplankton composition in both areas. The dominant algal group in Meiliang Bay comprised immobile R-type strategists (Reynolds in Growth and reproductive strategies of freshwater phytoplankton, 1988), including filamentous diatoms and green algae (Aulacoseira granulate and Planctonema lauterbornii), and recruitment-beneficial RS-type strategists, mainly the colonial cyanobacteria (Microcystis spp.). The community of Wuli Lake was dominated by S-strategists, principally motile flagellates (Cryptomonas spp.) and C-strategists including small nonmotile centric diatoms and chlorococcal green algae.     

Phytoplankton seasonal and vertical variations in a tropical shallow reservoir with abundant macrophytes (Ninféias Pond,Brazil)

This study aimed at analyzing the environmental factors which determine the structure and dynamic of phytoplankton in a shallow reservoir with abundant macrophyte flora, Ninféias Pond (Brazil). It is hypothesized that, although its shallowness, periodic stratifications play an important role on its phytoplankton community. Water samples were collected monthly, from January to December 1997, in four depths (sub-surface, 1 m, 2 m, and bottom) of pelagic zone (Z _max = 3.6 m). Community seasonal and vertical variations followed a hot-rainy season with water column stratification (phase 1; Q index: medium), alternating with a cool-dry season with water column mixing (phase 2: Q index: excellent). Nanoplanktonic flagellates dominated, mainly mixotrophic species. During phase 1, Chlamydomonas sp. (G) was the main species, dominating at the anoxic and nutrient-rich hypolimnion. At the same time, richness and diversity were relatively lower. During phase 2, lower water temperatures and higher dissolved oxygen concentrations favoured the prymnesiophyte Chrysochromulina cf. breviturrita (X2). Sequence of functional groups over phases 1 and 2 was: phase 1 = G → transition = Y/P/E/D/F/W2/X3 → phase 2 = X2/Lo/X1; most of these groups have been associated to oligo-mesotrophic systems. Seasonal stratifications played a decisive role in determining the structure and dynamic of phytoplankton in the Ninféias Pond. However, in such a complex and heterogeneous system, other compartments of the food web (macrophytes, zooplankton, fishes) may also act as relevant driving forces, in synergy with the physical and chemical environment.     

Rhythmic clock gene expression in heart, kidney and some brain nuclei involved in blood pressure control in hypertensive TGR(mREN-2)27 rats

Hypertensive TGR(mREN-2)27 rats exerting inverted blood pressure (BP) profile were used to study clock gene expression in structures responsible for BP control. TGR and control Sprague Dawley male rats were synchronized to the light:dark cycle 12:12 with food and water ad libitum. Daily rhythm in per2, bmal1, clock and dbp expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), heart and kidney was determined in both groups. Sampling occurred in regular 4 h intervals when rats of both strains were 11-weeks-old. Blood pressure and relative heart weight were significantly elevated in TGR rats in comparison with control. Expression of bmal1 and clock was up regulated in SCN of TGR rats but daily rhythm in per2 and dbp expression was similar in both groups. Mesor of per2 expression in RVLM was significantly higher in TGR than in control rats. In NTS of TGR rats expression of per2 was phase delayed by 3.5 h in comparison with control and bmal1 did not exert rhythmic pattern. Our study provided the first evidence about modified function of central and peripheral circadian oscillators in TGR rats at the level of clock gene expression. Expression of clock genes exerted up regulation in SCN and RVLM and down regulation in NTS. Circadian oscillators in selected brain structures were influenced more than oscillators in the heart and kidney by additional renin gene. Interactions of RAS and circadian system probably contribute to the development of inverted BP profile in TGR rats.