Planktonic bloom of an introduced species of Polysiphonia (Ceramiales,Rhodophyta) along the coast of North Carolina,USA

Analysis was made of the species composition, egg number per female and the size-frequency of Amphipoda living on the dominating submerged macrophytes (Potamogeton perfoliatus and Myriophyllum spicatum) at 10 sampling stations of the northern and southern shoreline of Lake Balaton. The dominating Amphipoda at each sampling station was Corophium curvispinum (85.9–99.8%, mean: 96.6%). Besides this, two other species — Dikerogammarus haemobaphes and D. villosus — were also found in the samples. The two Dikerogammarus species were found in highest percentage near Keszthely (14.1 %); at the other places studied they were under 5%. The number of Amphipoda individuals per g macrophyte dry weight ranged from 5 to 574; the lowest value was found near Keszthely, the highest near B. Mária. The developmental stages of the C. curvispinum population differ in different parts of Lake Balaton: the adult (male and female) specimens occurred in highest percentage near Keszthely. The mean number of eggs per C. curvispinum female ranged from 2.4 to 6.3, showing differences at the different sampling stations. Regarding the two Dikerogammarus species, there were many more D. haemobaphes than D. villosus individuals at almost every station (mean: 75%). The mean number of eggs per egg-carrying female of D. haemobaphes was 11.7, being 19.1 for D. villosus.The total biomass of amphipods (in mg animal dry weight/g macrophyte dry weight) ranged from 1.2 to 59.8. The lowest value was observed near Keszthely (the most hypertrophic basin of Lake Balaton), the highest value near B. Maria     

Biomass of planktonic crustaceans and the food of young cyprinids in the littoral zone of Lake Balaton

The littoral zone of Lake Balaton and its periphyton-zooplankton-fish communities have been investigated intensively in recent years. Total average number of crustacean plankton varied from 36 to 126 ind l^–1, their biomass from 0.49 to 1.86 mg ww l^–1 month^–1 at different areas of the littoral zone. In general, these values for the above parameters were higher in hypertrophic areas. 23 fish species occurred in the littoral zone with cyprinids dominating. The seasonal food spectra of Y-O-Y roach (Rutilus rutilus), white bream (Blicca bjoerkna) and bream (Abramis brema) were based mainly on planktonic crustaceans and benthic/periphytic invertebrates. According to the frequency of occurrence of crustaceans and other invertebrates, the food composition of young cyprinids differed significantly in the NE and SW-basins of the lake.     

Life history of Corophium curvispinum G. O. Sars (Crustacea,Amphipoda) living on macrophytes in Lake Balaton

Samples of the amphipod Corophium curvispinum were collected from Myriophyllum spicatum twice a month during the vegetation period. The animals were sexed, their length measured and the eggs of females were counted. Length frequency histograms served to follow the life history of C. curvispinum.Reproduction lasts from May to October. The animals born in May–June reproduce in the same year while the summer-autumn generation reproduces the following year. The life span is about 1 year. The highest fecundity was found in June, the lowest in October.     

Relationships between phytoplankton and fish yields in Lake Balaton

Coefficients of determination between fish yields in Lake Balaton (kg/ ha) and different measurements of phytoplankton abundance were: phytoplankton biomass (0.48), chlorophyll a (0.45). The same indices for catch per unit of effort (CUE) proved to be 0.82 and 0.88, respectively. The correlation between fish yields and phytoplankton density has been described in second-degree polynomials.     

Ecological background and importance of the change of chironomid fauna (Diptera: Chironomidae) in shallow Lake Balaton

The objectives of this research were to record the changes in composition of the open-water, bottom-dwelling chironomid fauna in Lake Balaton between 1978–1984, to examine the causes of these changes, and to discover their significance in the life of the lake.The spatio-temporal dispersion of larvae is compared with the water and sediment quality of each basin in the lake. It is established that, under present conditions, nutrient status can be regarded as the chief environmental factor.Studies of population dynamics show that chironomids play a highly important role in preserving sediment quality. Chironomids are an essential element in the organic matter circulation of the lake. They dominate a sub-system that retards water quality degradation, and thus they play a prominent role in the natural prevention of eutrophication.     

The food of bream (Abramis brama L.) in two basins of Lake Balaton of different trophic status

Contrary to earlier observations the food composition of bream (Abramis brama L.) in Lake Balaton has changed in parallel with eutrophication. These changes were probably caused by increased population density and connected with density dependent growth as well as sharpened inter- and intraspecific competition in the cyprinid community. According to the frequency of occurrence, zooplankton followed by benthic invertebrates comprised the majority of the bream's food. By weight, however, benthic food dominated in both basins. Size-related dietary changes were pronounced, but statistically not always significant, suggesting the overall importance of the most abundant and available prey types. Bream did not strongly select any of the zooplankton groups, however, seasonal changes in food composition alternated in parallel with the trophic gradient along the longitudinal axis of the lake.     

Determination of the Limiting Plant Nutrient in the Water of Lake Balaton by Algal Assay Procedure

Algal assays were performed on water samples taken from different sites in Lake Balaton. Selenastrum capricornutum was used in the test to determine the primarily limiting plant nutrient. The results of supplementary nutrient additions to the bottle tests were evaluated by cell counts. The tests have indicated phosphorus as growth rate limiting, and in two cases as biomass limiting plant nutrient, but periodic occurrences of nitrogen limitation cannot be excluded.     

Population dynamics and food of bleak (Alburnus alburnus L.) in the littoral zone of Lake Balaton,Hungary

Intra- and interspecific effects together with changing environmental conditions regulate the dynamics of the fragile bleak populations in Lake Balaton. Size- and age-structures, length-weight relationships and mortality were studied on 1493 individuals and growth history were determined using scales from 703 specimens. The population growth rate was slow and the basic population parameters showed area variations along the longitudinal axis of the lake. Gut contents were analyzed in 224 individuals. The bleak stocks are trophically strongly related to the littoral zooplankton and benthos; and they play a significant energy-mediating role in the food-webs between the periphytic communities and fish assemblages in the littoral zone of Lake Balaton.     

Seven decades of monitoring the aquatic bug fauna of Lake Balaton (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha)

Detailed faunistic data originating from four sampling series of aquatic Heteroptera (Nepomorpha) in the Lake Balaton (the largest shallow lake of Central Europe) between 1928 and 2002 were analysed. A comparative analysis confirmed that the aquatic bug fauna of this great lake can be established with suitable accuracy if it is sampled by different but devoted collectors. So far 26 species of aquatic bugs have been reported from here. The fauna changed considerably during the seven decades. Species lists of the four basins of the lake established during the four sampling periods show characteristic differences. Not only the frequency of four Micronecta species (Micronecta griseola, M. pusilla, M. scholzi, M. minutissima) changed characteristically but there has been a distinct change in the ratio of rare species too. Rare species were present in significantly higher proportion in the period 1928–1930 than in any of the later samplings between 1984 and 2002. All these changes run parallel with the direction of anthropogenic influences.     

Copper and zinc in an ecological series of talitroidean Amphipoda (Crustacea)

Summary Cu and Zn concentrations were determined for the following talitroidean amphipods, Hyale nilssoni (Rathke), Talitrus saltator (Montagu), Talorchestia deshayesii (Audouin), Orchestia mediterranea Costa, O. gammarellus (Pallas), O cavimana Heller and Arcitalitrus dorrieni (Hunt) in September 1986 from sites in W. Britain (mostly Scottish). To minimize size effects, only animals >2mg body dry weight were included in analyses. Only Talorchestia (Cu & Zn) and O. cavimana (Zn) showed any residual relationship between metal concentration and dry weight. Log transformed data for concentrations of each metal against log dry wt. in all species were compared by ANCOVA. Copper and zinc concentrations of males and females were not significantly different in O. gammarellus, O. mediterranea and T. deshayesii, though Cu (but not Zn) concentrations differed with sex in O. cavimana. The order of species when ranked according to an ascending series of Cu concentrations (at standard body weight) reflected their ecological zonation from sea to land closely, with species living proximal to the sea having lowest Cu concentrations. The 6 talitrid species all had similar Zn concentrations but the Zn concentration of H. nilssoni was considerably lower. There was a relationship between Cu and Zn concentrations in individuals of only one species (O. gammarellus). Data on Cu and Zn concentrations for O. gammarellus derived from the same site in September 1983 were almost exctly the same as in September 1986. The possible impact of seasonal variation on haemocyanin levels is discussed.     

Mobility of phosphorus fractions in the sediments of Lake Balaton

Sediment phosporus was studied by a combination of the fractionation procedure of Hieltjes & Lijklema and the isotopic dilution technique in a mesotrophic (Tihany) and a hypertrophic (Keszthely) basin of Lake Balaton.In the calcareous sediments the largest part of phosphorus was bound to calcium. Iron-bound and residual P showed higher concentrations at Keszthely than at Tihany. There was little loosely adsorbed P at both locations. Vertical differences in P fractions of the sediments were more pronounced at Keszthely than at Tihany. Exchangeability of the fractions decreased in the following sequence: iron-bound > loosely adsorbed > calcium-bound > residual. Phosphorus, particularly in the calcium-bound fraction, was more mobile at Keszthely, and its exchangeability decreased rapidly downwards at both stations. Four times more potentially mobile phosphorus has been accumulated by the upper sediment layer at Keszthely than at Tihany.     

Hatchling Size and Aspects of Biology in the Deep-Sea Amphipod Genus Eurythenes (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

Records attributed to Eurythenes gryllus are discussed in the light of described morphological variation, and the existence of a third species in the genus is postulated. The presence of five pairs of oostegites in E. gryllus, a character almost unique among the Amphipoda, is confirmed. Brooding females of E. gryllus and E. obesus, captured in deep midwater hauls in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, are reported for the first time. The 120 mm E. gryllus female carried 237 hatchlings (mean length 11.13 mm) and the 48 mm E. obesus female 47 hatchlings (mean length 7.99 mm). Hatchlings showed variability in size and bodily proportion, and measurements of individual body segments could not be used to predict overall length. Despite this variability, no evidence for more than one instar was found. The hatchlings of E. gryllus are established as a hitherto unrecognized instar in this species. Egg size for E. gryllus and E. obesus is predicted. The biological consequences of the absolute and relative size of hatchling in the two species, and the depths of capture of the E. gryllus female, are discussed.     

Continuous monitoring of phytoplankton dynamics in Lake Balaton (Hungary) using on-line delayed fluorescence excitation spectroscopy

1. This study introduces delayed fluorescence (DF) excitation spectroscopy as an on‐line tool for in situ monitoring of the composition and biomass of various colour classes of phytoplankton when they are photosynthetically active (cyanobacteria, chlorophytes, chromophytes and cryptophytes). The DF data are validated by comparison with those from conventional methods (weekly microscopic counts and the measurement of chlorophyll concentration). 2. The composition of phytoplankton as assessed by DF agreed reasonably well with the results from microscopic counts, particularly when differences in chlorophyll‐specific DF integrals of the various colour classes were taken into account. 3. Integrals of DF spectra were converted into concentration of chlorophyll a using empirical factors derived from field data. The value of the conversion factor was nearly twice as high when the relative abundance of cyanobacteria was low (<15%) than when it was high. The converted DF‐chl time series agreed well with chlorophyll measurements particularly when blooms were developing. As the DF method is inherently free of the interference caused by pigment degradation products, the discrepancy between the two data sets increased during the collapse of blooms and when sediment resuspension was intense. 4. Fourier spectrum analysis of the time series of DF‐chl indicated that samples must be taken, at a minimum, every 2–3 days to capture the dynamics of phytoplankton. As a consequence, the dynamics of various algal blooms, including their timing, duration and net growth rate, could be estimated with greater confidence than by using conventional methods alone. 5. On‐line DF spectroscopy is an advanced technique for monitoring daily the biomass and composition of the photosynthetically active phytoplankton in aquatic environments, including turbid shallow lakes. At present, the detection limit is around 1 mg DF‐chl a m^?3 in terms of total biomass but confidence in estimates of phytoplankton composition declines sharply below about 5 mg chl a m^?3. 6. On‐line DF spectroscopy represents a promising approach for monitoring phytoplankton. It will be useful in water management where it can act as an early‐warning system of declines in water quality. In basic ecological research it can supplement manual methods. While default calibration spectra may be acceptable for routine monitoring, we suggest a careful individual calibration of the DF spectrometer for basic research. The statistical methods developed here help to assess the adequacy of various calibration sets.     

Long-term Changes in Littoral Habitats and Communities in Lake Mikolajskie (Poland)

Lake Mikolajskie is seriously affected by Mikolajki town and tourism. The amount of sewage entering the littoral zone is increasing as also is the area of the artificially transformed shore. During the past 20 years the area occupied by macrophytes has decreased markedly. The decline of Phragmites australis, changes in species composition, and reductions in biomass and in the depth-range colonized by submerged plants have been observed. Simultaneously the biomass of algae has increased markedly. Animals characteristic of polluted sites have become more abundant. Changes in animal numbers result to a great extent from changes in the availability of natural substrates. Zonation of the occurrence of organisms has been observed for years on sites directly affected by sewage—quantitatively and qualitatively poor communities are found at sewage discharge points and the richer ones at a greater distance in the zone fertilized by diluted sewage.     

Spatial distribution and short-term changes of benthic macrofauna in Lake Balaton (Hungary)

Spatial and short-term changes in the composition and density of the macrobenthic fauna were studied in Lake Balaton, a large shallow lake in Central Europe (Hungary). Spatial differences were examined along five transects and short-term changes at two stations of different trophic state. The macrobenthos consisted almost exclusively of Tubificidae and Chironomidae of the species Chironomus gr. plumosus, Procladius choreus, Tanypus punctipennis, Microchironomus tener and Cladotanytarsus sp. The Oligochaeta biomass showed a significant short-term decrease from 1995 to 1998, and their average biomass proved to be 0.86 and 0.79 g WFW (wet formalin weight) m-2 in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Chironomidae showed significant spatial and short-term differences following variations in primary production. Higher primary production resulted in higher biomass (up to 153.4 g WFW m-2 and 9785 ind. m-2 in 1995) of Chironomus-Procladius community, while lower primary production resulted in a very low biomass and abundance of the predatory Procladius-Tanypus-Microchironomus community (average: 3.16 g WFW m-2 and 1311 ind. m-2 in 1997). As compared to other lakes of similar climatic conditions, the total production of oligohaetes and chironomids proved to be very low in 1996 and 1997 (49.2 and 54.1 KJ m-2 yr-1, respectively). The 90% of the average chironomid production of Lake Balaton in 1996 and 1997 belonged to Ch. gr. plumosus (5.63 and 5.13 g m-2 yr-1), P. choreus (4.3 and 3.47 g m-2 yr-1) and T. punctipennis (0.27 and 2.21 g m-2 yr-1). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Life history,population dynamics and production of Pontoporeia hoyi (Crustacea,Amphipoda) in relation to the trophic gradient of Lake George,New York

The life history characteristics, population dynamics and production of Pontoporeia hoyi in Lake George, New York, were studied from May 1981 through October 1982. P. hoyi, in terms of both density and standing crop, is the most prevalent member of the deep water macrobenthos of Lake George. It reproduces in the winter, with young being released in the late winter-early spring. At the southernmost study site, young released in the spring grew to 6–7 mm in length and bred during their first winter. At the remaining sites, P. hoyi required two years to complete its life cycle. This difference in life history characteristics can be related to food availability and temperature differences. The open waters of the south end of Lake George are not only more productive but are also more closely associated with the littoral zone, providing a wealth of bacteria-rich detritus for benthic deposit feeders. The greater food availability in the south basin of Lake George is reflected in significantly larger brood sizes and smaller size at maturity for P. hoyi populations from the south end of the lake.The southernmost study site has significantly greater P. hoyi density and standing crop than all other sites. The cohort of the year dominated density and standing crop at the southern site while the cohort of the previous year dominated standing crop at the other sites. Peak abundance ranged from 600 · m^–2 at the north site to 2 900 · m^–2 at the south site. Cohort production ranged from 2g · m^–2 at the north site to 15g · m^–2 at the south site.