Wisconsin desmids. I. Aufwuchs and plankton communities of selected acid bogs,alkaline bogs,and closed bogs

Data are presented for 28 acid bogs, five alkaline bogs, and 12 closed bogs in Wisconsin with respect to the summer composition of the aufwuchs and plankton ccommunities, the relative importance of desmids in these communities, and the structure of aufwuchs communities associated with different macrophyte hosts. Generic diversity of desmids is highest in acid bogs and lowest in alkaline bogs and generally is greater in the aufwuchs community than in the plankton community at a given site. Whenever it was present, the greatest diversity occurred in association with the macrophyte host Utricularia. Among lakes of a given type, relationships between the occurrence of desmid genera and parameters of the chemical environment were not apparent for either the aufwuchs or plankton communities. Similarly, no clear-cut distinctions occur in the desmid communities of the three lake types in terms of population densities and percentage contribution to the total population, but acid bogs tend to have a somewhat more prominent flora quantitatively. Statistically significant differences in desmid population densities from one host to another within a given lake did occur in lakes of all three types, and this suggests that the nature of the substrate can definitely influence community size and composition. Data for other algal groups are similarly treated, and brief comparisons of the mat and open water communities of alkaline bogs are included.     

Wisconsin desmids. III. Desmid community composition and distribution in relation to lake type and water chemistry

This investigation summarizes quantitative data on the generic composition of the euplankton and aufwuchs desmid communities of 61 Wisconsin lakes, and analyzes the information with respect to 1) the role of the various genera in terms of frequency, density, and relative importance, 2) the suitability of various lake types for harboring desmid communities, and 3) the relationships between chemical parameters and desmid distribution. The generaStaurastrum, Cosmarium, andClosterium are of wide occurrence, appear to play major roles in the communities of all lake types, and are the most tolerant of varying chemical conditions. Most euplankton genera are of importance only in acid bogs, but aufwuchs genera generally are more widely distributed. Both the euplankton and the aufwuchs communities appear to be composed of 1–4 desmid assemblages, each with a differing range of importance values. Based on biological criteria, acid bogs appear to be the most suitable lake type for harboring desmid communities and calcareous spring ponds the least suitable type. High generic diversity of desmids appears to be correlated with low conductivity, calcium and alkalinity levels, pH values of 5.1–7.0, and the presence of free CO₂. The evidence attending various hypotheses concerning water chemistry and desmid distribution appears contradictory, and further studies are needed to help clarify the situation.     

The spatial distribution of desmids in lakes in northern Minnesota, U.S.A.

As a result of studies in certain lakes in northern Minnesota it has been found that the spatial distribution of desmids in them depends especially on the following factors: the constitution, abundance and distribution of the lakes' submerged aquatic flora and the morphometry and consequent patterns of their water circulation. The study has also shown a positive relationship between the size of desmid cells present in the plankton and the extent of water circulation. The latter factor may determine the composition and hence the diversity of lake phytoplankton.     

THE SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION,ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF DESMIDS (CHLOROPHYTA) IN A SOFTWATER,NORTH TEMPERATE STREAM1

Suspended and benthic algal communities from a mildly acidic, third-order Rhode Island stream were examined to determine the seasonal distribution, abundance and diversity of the lotic desmids. Within a one-year sampling period, 148 species and 202 subspecific taxa of desmids were identified, representing 23 genera. Species of Cosmarium and Closterium accounted for approximately 70% of the desmids present, and were the most diverse and abundant taxa during all seasons except spring, when Hyalotheca dissiliens was the dominant desmid species. Average abundance and species richness generally were greatest during summer for both suspended and benthic desmids. Most desmids occurred in benthic habitats, and were randomly distributed among substrata. Average seasonal abundance was 7.4 × 10⁴ cells·g^?1 dry wt substratum, among 13 types of substrata. Highest desmid abundance was measured among substrata with intricate morphologies, such as Fontinalis spp., which was associated with 1.2 × 10⁶ desmid cells·g^?1 dry wt substratum, or 1.7 × 10³ cells·cm^?2 substratum. Cell division was observed for 70 desmid taxa, and average seasonal reproduction (based on cell numbers) among all substrata ranged from 4% in winter to 20% during summer. In addition, sexually produced zygospores were found occasionally for H. dissiliens. Desmids were distributed among most substrata examined in this stream, with abundance comparable to reported estimates from softwater lakes and acid bogs. In contrast to established dogma, lotic desmids are not incidental drift organisms, but rather comprise a viable and persistent component of the stream periphyton.     

Interannual and between-site variability in the occurrence of clear water phases in two shallow Mediterranean lakes

It is widely accepted that clear water phases constitute a regular stage in the seasonal succession of plankton in dimictic lakes and reservoirs (i.e. PEG Model). The occurrence of such a phenomenon in Mediterranean shallow lakes is characterised by a marked interannual variability, which makes it difficult to establish reliable predictions on the dynamics and functioning of plankton in these ecosystems. In the present paper we analyse the factors influencing the occurrence of the clear water phases in the two shallow lakes of the Albufera of Adra, a coastal wetland region of south-eastern Spain: Lake Honda and Lake Nueva. Despite their geographical proximity, both lakes depicted large hydrological and limnological differences. Lake Honda is an epigenic and recharge lake that is strongly influenced by the hydrological conditions in its watershed, while Lake Nueva can be classified as a hypogenic and discharge lake and, as such, is less affected by the hydrological regime. In contrast, the morphometry, exposure and fetch of Lake Nueva make this ecosystem especially sensitive to wind forcing. Clear water phases in these shallow lakes were linked with periods of low thermal stability and the dominance of small-edible algae in the phytoplankton community, both of which allowed a Daphnia magna population to grow up and induce the algae collapse by grazing. In Lake Honda, those conditions were met during the spring of 2002 under the influence of intense rainfall-events, while in Lake Nueva the clear water phase was induced in the spring of 2003 by the occurrence of strong and frequent wind events. In both lakes, a relatively high water column thermal stability and the abundance of cyanobacteria early in the spring prevented the development of the Daphnia magna population and the occurrence of the clear water phase.     

Seasonal patterns of mercury species in water and plankton from softwater lakes in Northeastern Minnesota

Twelve softwater lakes in NE Minnesota were sampled in spring, summer, and fall of 1992 and 1993 for labile (unextracted) methyl-Hg, total (extracted) methyl-Hg, and total Hg in lake water and net plankton (300 µm). The lakes are small (5.6–56 ha), low productivity, headwater drainage or seepage lakes. They are acid-sensitive (ANC 200 µeq/L) but not low pH lakes (average pH 6.6). The lakes ranged in color from 8.5 to 70 PCU. Statistical analysis of the water chemistry variables and mercury species support the conclusion that these were a homogeneous set of lakes; therefore, seasonality of mercury forms was analyzed on combined (mean) data from the 12 lakes. Methyl-Hg in water declined throughout the growing season. Hg_T also declined sharply from spring to summer but increased again in the fall. In contrast to the methyl-Hg and Hg in water, concentrations in plankton were at the lowest levels in spring and rose to higher levels in summer. The mass of mercury in plankton increased from spring to fall, as did the methyl-Hg fraction, which increased from 20% of Hg_T in spring to 52% in autumn. Bioaccumulation factors (BAF) for methyl-Hg in net plankton increased over the growing season. Overall, log BAF for Hg_T in net plankton (wet wt.) was 4.45. Log BAF for methyl-Hg in plankton was 4.90 to 5.43 depending on the analytical form of methyl-Hg in water (labile or total). Seasonal patterns of methyl-Hg and Hg_T did not covary in water, but did covary in plankton. These results support the conclusion that measurement of Hg in water is not adequate in itself to determine the amount of bioavailable Hg (i.e., methyl-Hg) in a lake. Labile (unextracted) methyl-Hg could be a useful measurement of bioavailable Hg. Labile methyl-Hg exhibits the same seasonal patterns as total methyl-Hg, but does not require the extraction steps necessary for measuring total methyl-Hg.     

Observations on desmids from Scotland,Shetland, Cumbria and the English Midlands

Summary

Samples from bogs and lochs collected in the parish of Assynt, south — west Sutherland; loch and pool samples from Shetland; tarn samples from Cumbria and a small pool in Oadby, Leicestershire, have been examined. New desmid varieties and formae, some rare desmids and interesting observations on common desmids can be reported.     

Desmids in mountain lakes of the subpolar Urals

The species composition of desmids was studied in eight mountain lakes of the Kozhim and Malyi Patok River basins in the “Yugyd Va” National Park (subpolar Urals, Russia). A total of 98 desmid taxa representing 13 genera belonging to 4 families were identified. Geographical and ecological analyses showed that the desmid flora is typical, with a predominance of cosmopolitan species, planktic-benthic forms, acidophilic and pH indifferent species, and halophobic to salinity indifferent species. The investigated lakes can be classified as pristine and in good ecological condition on the basis of their hydrochemical and algal biodiversity characteristics. Presented at the International Symposium Biology and Taxonomy of Green Algae V, Smolenice, June 26–29, 2007, Slovakia.     

Seasonal periodicity of planktonic desmids in oligotrophic lake Grane Langsø, Denmark

60 desmids were identified from plankton samples collected during 20 years, bimonthly, or monthly in 5 of the years. Only 5 desmids were perennial, performing cell divisions in a frozen lake at PAR at only 5 cal cm ^–2 day ^–1, below ice-cover. The greatest number of desmids per 100 ml lake water was found in September; it never exceeded 150. Owing to a concentration of free CO₂ of only 0.02 mM l^–1 and a HCO _inf3 ^sup– concentration of 0.002 mM l^–1 the densities of desmid cells were often smaller than 1 cell per 100 ml lake water. A density of 1 cell per 1 ml was attained only by Staurastrum longipes, a desmid showing temporal variation. The relation of the compound phytoplankton quotient to two components of the CO₂-system is discussed. Three new taxa are described: Staurastrum brachiatum Ralfs var. bicorne n. var., Staurastrum thomassonii n.sp. and Xanthidium antilopaeum Kütz. f. bimaculatum n.f..     

Food quality for Daphnia in humic and clear water lakes

1. Growth and reproduction of Daphnia fed lake seston were measured in two categories of meso‐ to eutrophic lakes differing with respect to terrestrial organic matter influence (humic and clear water lakes). The content of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), P and N, as well as the taxonomical composition of seston were analysed. 2. Seston HUFA and C : P ratios were similar between lake categories, whereas C : N ratios were lower in the clear water lakes in both spring and summer. Despite the similarity in HUFA and P content of seston, Daphnia growth rate, clutch size and the proportion of gravid females were, respectively, about 1.5, 3 and 6 times higher in the clear water lakes. 3. Differences in growth and reproduction were related to a combination of higher N content and good fatty acid quality of the seston in the clear water lakes. Relatively high biomass of edible algae, such as Rhodomonas sp. and Cryptomonas sp., in the clear water lakes, and differences in water pH likely contributed to the observed differences in Daphnia growth and reproduction between lake categories. Additionally, it is possible that Daphnia was energy limited in the humic lakes despite high particulate organic carbon (POC) concentrations, as the contribution of non‐algal and detrital C to the POC pool was high. 4. Our results suggest that dietary HUFA content has the potential to improve herbivore growth and reproduction if N and P are not limiting. N merits more attention in studies of zooplankton nutrition.     

Enzymatic release of phosphate in water from subarctic lakes in Northern Sweden

Enzymatic phosphate release was studied in water from three small lakes in the subarctic region of northern Sweden. Free dissolved hydrolytic enzymes were shown to release considerable amounts of phosphate from autoclaved lake water. It was possible to show that phosphate was enzymatically released from particulate matter by exposure of autoclaved, ³²P-labelled plankton to lake enzymes followed by characterization of degradation products with gel chromatography. Seston turned out to be vitally important as a phosphorus source for planktic organisms since plankton inoculated in lake water freed from seston were shown to produce high activities of phosphatase.     

Salinity, depth and the structure and composition of microbial mats in continental Antarctic lakes

1. Lakes and ponds in the Larsemann Hills and Bølingen Islands (East‐Antarctica) were characterised by cyanobacteria‐dominated, benthic microbial mats. A 56‐lake dataset representing the limnological diversity among the more than 150 lakes and ponds in the region was developed to identify and quantify the abiotic conditions associated with cyanobacterial and diatom communities. 2. Limnological diversity in the lakes of the Larsemann Hills and Bølingen Islands was associated primarily with conductivity and conductivity‐related variables (concentrations of major ions and alkalinity), and variation in lake morphometry (depth, catchment and lake area). Low concentrations of pigments, phosphate, nitrogen, DOC and TOC in the water column of most lakes suggest extremely low water column productivity and hence high water clarity, and may thus contribute to the ecological success of benthic microbial mats in this region. 3. Benthic communities consisted of prostrate and sometimes finely laminated mats, flake mats, epilithic and interstitial microbial mats. Mat physiognomy and carotenoid/chlorophyll ratios were strongly related to lake depth, but not to conductivity. 4. Morphological‐taxonomic analyses revealed the presence of 26 diatom morphospecies and 33 cyanobacterial morphotypes. Mats of shallow lakes (interstitial and flake mats) and those of deeper lakes (prostrate mats) were characterised by different dominant cyanobacterial morphotypes. No relationship was found between the distribution of these morphotypes and conductivity. In contrast, variation in diatom species composition was strongly related to both lake depth and conductivity. Shallow ponds were mainly characterised by aerial diatoms (e.g. Diadesmis cf. perpusilla and Hantzschia spp.). In deep lakes, communities were dominated by Psammothidium abundans and Stauroforma inermis. Lakes with conductivities higher than ±1.5 mS cm^?1 became susceptible to freezing out of salts and hence pronounced conductivity fluctuations. In these lakes P. abundans and S. inermis were replaced by Amphora veneta. Stomatocysts were important only in shallow freshwater lakes. 5. Ice cover influenced microbial mat structure and composition both directly by physical disturbance in shallow lakes and by influencing light availability in deeper lakes, as well as indirectly by generating conductivity increases and promoting the development of seasonal anoxia. 6. The relationships between diatom species composition and conductivity, and diatom species composition and depth, were statistically significant. Transfer functions based on these data can therefore be used in paleolimnological reconstruction to infer changes in the precipitation–evaporation balance in continental Antarctic lakes.     

Desmids of the Staurastrum tetracerum-group from a eutrophic lake in mid-wales

Seven desmids have been found in the phytoplankton of a markedly eutrophic lake in mid Wales. All have grown well in laboratory cultures and so an opportunity has been provided to explore the taxonomy and morphological variability of four species, Staurastrum tetracerum, S. irregulare, S. bibrachiatum and S. pseudotetracerum, previously described inadequately. Suggestions for nomenclatural changes are made for S. irregulare and the very variable S. bibrachiatum, which is recorded from the British Isles for the first time. Reasons for the occurrence of the seven desmid species in the eutrophic lake plankton are discussed.     

Correlation of rotifer associations in a chain of lakes fed by reclaimed sewage

The quantitative composition of the rotifer fauna of seven interconnected lakes located in southern California was studied in a preliminary investigation. The lakes are fed by reclaimed sewage, and the water quality increases rapidly from the first lake, barely able to support life, to a series of lovely lakes stocked with fish and utilized for recreation. The Shannon index of rotifer population diversity showed an appropriate increase. Up to 24 – 28 different rotifer taxa in each lake provided a rich community dominated by Brachionids, Keratella and Trichocerca. The diversity and quantity of the rotifer association then declined again in the last lake. Comparison of the lakes using the Bray and Curtis index of similarity and cluster analysis supported the picture of a lake-chain evolution, a biotic development showing a maximum curve.     

Intraspecific phenotypic variation in a fish predator affects multitrophic lake metacommunity structure

Contemporary insights from evolutionary ecology suggest that population divergence in ecologically important traits within predators can generate diversifying ecological selection on local community structure. Many studies acknowledging these effects of intraspecific variation assume that local populations are situated in communities that are unconnected to similar communities within a shared region. Recent work from metacommunity ecology suggests that species dispersal among communities can also influence species diversity and composition but can depend upon the relative importance of the local environment. Here, we study the relative effects of intraspecific phenotypic variation in a fish predator and spatial processes related to plankton species dispersal on multitrophic lake plankton metacommunity structure. Intraspecific diversification in foraging traits and residence time of the planktivorous fish alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) among coastal lakes yields lake metacommunities supporting three lake types which differ in the phenotype and incidence of alewife: lakes with anadromous, landlocked, or no alewives. In coastal lakes, plankton community composition was attributed to dispersal versus local environmental predictors, including intraspecific variation in alewives. Local and beta diversity of zooplankton and phytoplankton was additionally measured in response to intraspecific variation in alewives. Zooplankton communities were structured by species sorting, with a strong influence of intraspecific variation in A. pseudoharengus. Intraspecific variation altered zooplankton species richness and beta diversity, where lake communities with landlocked alewives exhibited intermediate richness between lakes with anadromous alewives and without alewives, and greater community similarity. Phytoplankton diversity, in contrast, was highest in lakes with landlocked alewives. The results indicate that plankton dispersal in the region supplied a migrant pool that was strongly structured by intraspecific variation in alewives. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that intraspecific phenotypic variation in a predator can maintain contrasting patterns of multitrophic diversity in metacommunities.     

Plankton communities of three Central Florida lakes

A study of planktonic primary productivity and community structure was carried out on three lakes of varying morphometric and chemical features, but which were within a single watershed in Central Florida. Primary productivity in these lakes was evaluated by means of in situ light and dark bottle determinations as well as by calculations based upon chlorophyll and light data. Lake Mize, a deep sinkhole lake containing highly colored waters of low pH, proved to be a very unproductive lake, while Biven's Arm, a shallow-basin lake with alkaline waters and Newnan's lake, a shallow-basin like with highly colored waters both showed relatively high productivities. Phytoplankton components of the two productive lakes were quite similar to one another in being composed of bloom-forming blue-green and green algae, while the predominant forms in Lake Mize were chrysophytes, dinoflagellates and a diatom. Zooplanktonic forms were more uniform among the lakes than were the phytoplankton, though population levels reflected relative productivities among the lakes. Rotifers predominated in the Lake Mize plankton while cladocerans were relatively inabundant. This was opposite to the condition in Biven's Arm and Newnan's Lake. It is suggested that the constant presence of larval Chaoborus in the water column in Lake Mize may be partially responsible for the paucity of cladocera.     

Phylogenetic composition of bacterial communities in small boreal lakes and ombrotrophic bogs of the upper Volga basin

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-specific oligonucleotide probes was used to assess the numbers and phylogenetic diversity of prokaryotic microorganisms in the water of small boreal lakes and peatland catchments of the swampy upper Volga basin. The abundance of bacterioplankton in lake water was found to vary from 1.6 to 8.7 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, with the highest values detected in neutral eutrophic lakes. The total cell numbers in the peat of ombrotrophic bogs were 3.9–4.3 × 10⁸ cells g⁻¹ of wet peat. The proportion of bacteria identified by the group-specific probes decreased from 79–85% in neutral (pH 6.6–6.9) mesotrophic and eutrophic lakes to 65–69% in acidic (pH 4.4–5.5) dystrophic lakes and to 51–58% in the peat of acidic (pH 3.6–3.9) ombrotrophic bogs. The diversity of bacterial communities was highest in lakes with neutral water. These communities were dominated by members of the phylum Actinobacteria (31–44% of the total bacterial number), while the contribution of Alphaproteobacteria (16–19%), Bacteroidetes (6–16%), Betaproteobacteria (6–7%), Planctomycetes (2–8%), and Gammaproteobacteria (4–5%) was also significant. In acidic dystrophic lakes, Actinobacteria (25–35%) and Betaproteobacteria (25–34%) predominated, while peatland catchments were dominated by the Alphaproteobacteria (20–23%). The presence of acidobacteria and some planctomycetes common for bogs in the water of acidic dystrophic lakes, as well as the high proportion of bacteria (31–49%) that were not identified by the group-specific probes, suggest the impact of microbial processes in peatland catchments on the microbial composition of the receiving waters.     

Protozoan Colonization Rates and Trophic Status of Some Freshwater Wetland Lakes

Primary productivity, chlorophyll a, phosphorus and nitrogen nutrients, and other chemical and physical parameters were measured in 13 wetland lakes in northern lower Michigan. These lakes included several examples located in each of the four major wetland types—bogs, fens, marshes, and swamps. Of the four types, the brown-colored waters of the acid bog lakes generally had the highest levels of primary productivity, chlorophyll a, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Primary productivity correlated positively with water color, total-N, and NH₃-N (α≤ 0.05). By these measures, waters of the bogs were the most eutrophic of the four types of wetland lakes. These findings would seem to contradict the generally-held concept that “dystrophic” bog lakes are extremely oligotrophic. Protozoan colonization of artificial substrate islands was monitored at each wetland site. The correlation between protozoan colonization rates (G values in the MacArthur-Wilson noninteractive model) and primary productivity, measured by 24-h light and dark bottle incubations, was significant at the 95% confidence level (r= 0.850, P= 0.001) and with water color at the 90% confidence level (r= 0.599, P= 0.084). It was concluded that protozoan colonization rate was an excellent indicator of the trophic status of wetland lakes.     

Desmids (Chlorophyta,Zygnematophyceae) from the Girutiskis mire complex reserve (East Lithuania)

The desmid flora of the Girutiskis mire complex reserve in Lithuania, a Natura 2000 territory and a potential Ramsar site, was investigated for the first time. Despite being a relatively small area with homogenous ecological conditions and a narrow range of pH-values, some pattern in the distribution of desmid species was observed. The lowest number of species was observed in the highly acidic lakes that were surrounded by sub-shrub bogs, and the highest number in less acidic lakes that were surrounded by trembling bogs. A total of 78 desmid taxa were found of which 16 were first records for Lithuania. Almost half of the taxa were uniquely found at one site, and only 10% were classified as frequent. Presented at the International Symposium Biology and Taxonomy of Green Algae V, Smolenice, June 26–29, 2007, Slovakia.