Dynamics of ice algae and phytoplankton in Frobisher Bay

Summary Vertical and seasonal variations of ice algae and phytoplankton were studied in relation to their physico-chemical environments in Frobisher Bay from 1979 to 1986. The biomass, estimated by both chlorophyll a concentrations and cell counts, was greater in the ice algae than in the phytoplankton in the underlying sea-water during winter and spring. Algal distribution in the sea ice varied vertically and seasonally, while in the underlying water column the phytoplankton distribution was much less variable. The ice algal bloom occurred at the bottom of the ice, particularly in the lower 5 cm during late spring, while the phytoplankton bloom took place at depths between 1 and 10 m during early summer after the ice bloom was over. The community structure of the ice algae changed from pennate to centric diatoms as the ice melted. The centrics dominated through the fall, and then decreased as the pennates increased in dominance when the ice formed again in winter. Species diversity and number were greater in the sea ice than in the seawater, but they were similar vertically within each habitat. The evenness of the species distribution did not vary with ice thickness or water depth. Species composition, abundance and dominance of ice algae and phytoplankton continually change both vertically and seasonally. The differential abilities of the species to attain maximal growth rates under various environmental conditions may result in species succession. Evidence is given for the major role of environmental factors regulating the dynamics of ice algae and phytoplankton.     

Changes in phytoperiphyton community during seasonal succession: influence of plankton sedimentation and grazing by phytophages--Chironomid larvae

The investigation of seasonal changes in spatial structure of phytoperiphyton during succession was conducted at the lower reaches of Akulovsky water channel from April to August 2000. At the beginning of succession from April to June dominant forms were chain-forming diatoms and filamentous green algae, sedimented from plankton. Later, at the middle of June under increasing pressure of herbivorous, they were replaced by stretched unicellular diatoms and colonial cyanobacteria. In late June-August, when herbivorous predation was the most intensive, the relative abundance of typical periphytonic forms decreased while that of settled planktonic forms increased. The effect of planktonic algae sedimentation on periphyton composition was evaluated as similarity between phytoperiphyton and phytoplankton communities measured with Chekanovski--Sorensen index. The value of this index tends to decrease with the development of periphyton while showing some relation to intensity of herbivorous pressure. Minimal values of Chekanovski--Sorensen index were under moderate herbivorous density, whereas maximal values were observed in periods of extremely high or low herbivorous density.     

Seasonal succession of cladocerans and phytoplankton and their interactions in a shallow eutrophic lake (Lake Vela,Portugal)

Lake Vela is a polymictic shallow lake exhibiting some characteristics typical of an advanced trophic state, namely, the permanently turbid water, the reduction in biodiversity, and the recurrent occurrence of Cyanobacteria blooms, which occasionally lead to large fish kills. This study was carried out in order to understand the seasonal variation of Lake Vela’s phytoplankton and cladoceran communities and their interactions under advanced eutrophic conditions. When comparing our results with general models of plankton succession observed in other temperate and tropical lakes we found some coherence between several seasonal events. Our results suggest that phytoplankton is mainly regulated by nutrients (“bottom-up” effect). However, the warm mediterranean temperatures had an important role in the phytoplankton succession, being responsible for the rapid and intense Cyanobacteria development in spring and summer. Our work also demonstrated that phytoplankton is one of the main factors responsible for the seasonal structure of the community of cladocerans, which are well related to changes in algae diversity and abundance, being the Cyanobacteria having major impact. Moreover, the occurrence of a massive Cyanobacteria bloom during the study, which induced anoxia and consequent fish kill, enhanced the structuring role that fish have on the cladoceran seasonal succession and the effects of this episode in the normal seasonal succession of plankton.     

Phytoplankton community diversity is influenced by environmental factors in the coastal East China Sea

Surface seawater was collected in four different seasons in the coastal East China Sea adjacent to the Yangtze River Estuary and phytoplankton community diversity was analysed using rbcL genetic markers. Phytoplankton diversity (Shannon Index) was found to be highest in autumn and lowest in summer, which was mainly controlled by seawater temperature, river runoff, the Taiwan Warm Current and possibly other environmental factors. For taxa characterized by Form IAB rbcL, the abundance of Chlorophyta was much greater than those of Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria throughout the year with the most dominant taxa being Bathycoccus prasinos (Chlorophyta) in spring and Micromonas sp. (Chlorophyta) in other seasons. For taxa identified by Form ID rbcL, Coscinodiscophyceae (diatoms) constituted the largest group (most clones) in the phylogenetic tree. Dinophysis fortii (a dinoflagellate) was found to be the most abundant species in winter and spring and Skeletonema spp. (a diatom) dominated the phytoplankton community in summer and autumn. The seasonal dominance of Dinophysis fortii agreed well with the recently increasing proportion of dinoflagellates in the phytoplankton community in the coastal East China Sea. The abundance of Dinophysis fortii was negatively correlated with seawater temperature, suggesting that harmful algal blooms caused by this species may primarily occur in spring.     

Progressive changes in the structure and dynamics of the phytoplankton community along a pollution gradient in a lowland river — a multivariate approach

The phytoplankton of the River Lujan (Buenos Aires, Argentina) was studied for a period of 18 months, together with physical and chemical variables, in relation to a pollution gradient. 167 taxa were recorded within a seasonal succession characterized by dominance of diatoms with a brief summer green algae facies. A combination of several biotic indices and multivariate analysis was employed to assess the impact of pollution on the phytoplankton community. The biotic indices used were species diversity and richness, algal quotients (green algae/diatom ratio, Centrales/Pennales ratio) and the SD succession rate index. Multivariate procedures included cluster analysis and ordination by PCA of both species and samples, stepwise discriminant analysis and multiple discriminant analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results indicate that community dynamism is attenuated at the more polluted sites, concomitant with an increased predominance of a broad-tolerance algal assemblage, co-dominated by Cyclotella meneghiniana and Nitzschia stagnorum. The changes in the community structure and dynamics described herein involved alterations in the distribution and relative proportions of the algae, rather than modifications in the basic species composition. These changes may not be readily detectable by methods which over-simplify the ecological information, such as systems of indicator species and biotic indices, designed to assess the degree of pollution. The suitability of multivariate analysis and biotic indices in river phytoplankton studies is further discussed.     

大亚湾澳头水域浮游植物群落结构及周年数量动态

对1997年至1998年广东省大亚湾澳头水域的浮游植物群落进行调查和分析。结果发现浮游植物65属198种;硅藻在种类组成和数量上都比甲藻占有优势,存在春季和秋季高峰,主要优势类群依次是角毛藻、骨条藻、拟菱形藻等;甲藻只存在春季高峰,代表种类有裸甲藻、原甲藻等。主要优势种类的生长与调查水域的盐度没有明显关系,但全年水温的季节性变化对优势种类的消长影响显著。Simpson多样性指数、Shannon-Weaver多样性指数、均匀度的年平均值分别是0.611、2.107、0.557,多样性指数没有明显的季节变化规律和水平分布规律。       

Phytoplankton composition,dominance and abundance as indicators of environmental compartmentalization in Jurumirim Reservoir (Paranapanema River), São Paulo,Brazil

Patterns in the spatial and temporal composition, dominance and abundance of the phytoplankton community of the Jurumirim Reservoir (Brazil) were studied during one year at ten different sampling stations. The main phytoplankton associations were characterized by diatoms and blue-green algae, in distinctive patterns of dominance. The main species were Microcystis aeruginosa Küetz, Anabaena circinalis Rabenhorst, A. spiroides Kleb., A. solitaria Kleb., Aulacoseira cf. italica Grunow and A. granulata (Ehr.) Simon. A high growth of Aulacoseira was observed in the upstream zones of the reservoir in spring, at the beginning of the seasonal rainy period. This growth was a response to increased flow rates and input of fresh nutrients by the main feeder rivers. A high concentration of blue-green algae, especially Anabaena circinalis and A. spiroides, was observed in winter (dry season) in the lacustrine part of the reservoir, towards the dam. These algae benefitted from the longer water retention times and greater internal circulation of nutrients in the absence of a thermocline at this time of the year. Among the Cyanophyceae, there was an alternation between M. aeruginosa, more abundant in summer, and Anabaena, dominant in autumn and winter. A conspicuous growth of Anabaena occurred in a diverticle of the reservoir, sheltered from the main advective processes that predominate in the central channel. Higher phytoplankton diversity was associated with the contact zone between riverine and lacustrine systems.     

腾格里沙漠东南缘不同生物土壤结皮细菌多样性及其季节动态特征

微生物多样性对于生物土壤结皮在沙漠生态系统中改善局部环境以及提升生态功能具有重要作用。本研究对腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头地区藻结皮、藓结皮及其下层的四季样品进行了16S rDNA高通量测序, 以期阐明细菌多样性及其在生物土壤结皮演替过程中的季节变化规律。结果表明4种类型样品的细菌丰富度在夏季显著低于其他3个季节。4种类型样品中主要的细菌类群为变形菌门、放线菌门、绿弯菌门、酸杆菌门、蓝细菌门等, 其中变形菌门和放线菌门为优势类群, 夏季时变形菌门的相对多度显著高于春季、秋季、冬季, 且在结皮层中相对多度显著高于结皮下层。放线菌门的相对多度在春季、夏季显著高于秋季、冬季, 且结皮下层相对多度高于结皮层。生物土壤结皮演替过程中细菌多样性及其相对多度季节动态变化表明其对沙漠土壤局部环境的变化作出了响应, 这为深入理解生物土壤结皮在沙漠生态系统中的生态功能提供了微生物多样性数据。     

Mechanisms responsible for the development of periphyton community structure during seasonal succession: the role of interspecies competition and plankton sedimentation

The development of periphyton community structure by exchange of organisms between substratum and water column (noninteractive mechanism) and by interspecific competition for surface (interactive mechanism) was studied during seasonal succession in Akulovsky water supply channel (the Upper Volga basin). The influence of exchange was assumed by similarity between the species composition of plankton and periphyton. At early stages of succession when the diatoms dominated in periphyton the community was formed mainly by phytoplankton sedimentation, while the competition for substratum didn't result in decrease of species diversity because the poor competitors were partly displaced by new colonists from the water column. Later when the green filamentous algae abundantly developed in periphyton, their numbers were probably controlled by factors not related to exchange of propagules. At the same time, the species structure of secondary periphyton cover developing on the thallus of filamentous algae depended mainly on the plankton sedimentation. At the last stages of seasonal succession when periphyton was represented by colonies of cyanobacteria and diatoms closely covering the substratum, the exchange of organisms between substratum and water column was not so important as interspecific competition for surface. As one could suppose, increase in biomass in this period resulted in the decrease of specificity as it was predicted by hypothesis of interactive community. In such a way, both mechanisms (interactive and noninteractive ones) took part in development of periphyton structure. Their relative influence changed in the course of seasonal succession.     

长湖浮游植物优势种生态位特征及种间联结性分析

为了解生态调控后的浮游植物群落稳定性和优势种种间联结性,于2020年10月—2021年7月按季节对湖北长湖浮游植物群落进行调查。运用生态位宽度、生态位重叠值、方差比率法、卡方检验、Pearson相关性检验和Spearman相关性检验的方法对浮游植物优势种间的相互关系进行综合分析。结果显示：四季共鉴定出浮游植物8门、67属、78种;优势种19种。长湖属于绿藻+蓝藻+硅藻为主的水体。其中,梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghiniana)和四尾栅藻(Scenedesmus quadricauda)为四季共有优势种,对水环境有较好的指示作用,显示长湖水体处于中度富营养化状态。根据优势度和生态位宽度的结果,19个优势种可以划分为4个类群。生态位重叠值的变化范围为0.02—0.96,季节差异明显,秋季>冬季>春季>夏季。方差比率的结果显示秋季和冬季浮游植物优势种间总体呈现显著正联结,群落较稳定;春夏季节优势种间总体呈现不显著负联结,群落处于波动状态。卡方检验、Pearson相关性检验和Spearman相关性检验结果综合显示：优势种对间联结性的显著率较低,群落种间联结不...     

Seasonal distribution and fatty acid composition of littoral microalgae in the Yenisei River

We studied fatty acid (FA) composition of littoral microalgae in the fast-flowing oligotrophic river, the Yenisei, Siberia, monthly for 3 years. Seasonal dynamics of species composition had similar patterns in all the studied years. In springs, a pronounced dominance of filamentous green algae occurred, in summer and autumn diatoms were abundant, and in late autumn and winter epilithic biofilms consisted primarily of cyanobacteria and detritus. In general, FA composition of the algal periphytic community was dominated by 16:0, 16:1ω7, 20:5ω3, 14:0, and 18:3ω3 throughout the studied period. Several groups of FAs, which had peculiar seasonal dynamics, were differentiated by statistical analysis based on a method of correlation graphs. The seasonal changes in FA composition could be partly explained by the seasonal succession of species composition of the community. Besides, we found that populations of both diatom and green algae grown in summer at a higher water temperature were lower in polyunsaturated fatty acids than those in spring, at a lower temperature. Hence, we suppose that the regular seasonal dynamics of FA composition of the studied littoral microalgae was driven both by changes in species composition and by temperature adaptations of the algal populations. The highest content of essential polyunsaturated FAs, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, in the spring “psychrophilic” populations of diatoms could make them of the higher nutritive value for zoobenthic primary consumers.     

The effect of environmental parameters and cyanobacterial blooms on phytoplankton dynamics of a Portuguese temperate Lake

The increasing occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in freshwaters is of great concern due to the ability of many cyanobacteria to produce cyanotoxins. In the present work, the eutrophied Vela Lake (Central Portugal), used for recreational purposes and as a water source for agriculture, was monitored every fortnight between 2000 and 2001. Phytoplankton diversity and densities were measured and correlated to environmental parameters. A seasonal phytoplanktonic succession was observed and it was mainly correlated with conductivity, temperature, total suspended solids and nutrients availability (particularly phosphorus). Diatoms were dominant during winter months (inferior temperatures and higher nutrients availability) followed by green algae in early spring and then cyanobacteria from late spring until early autumn (less nutrient availability and higher temperatures). A massive cyanobacterial bloom of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae occurred early in May 2001 and was preceded by the lowest nitrogen levels measured in the water during all the study period. At the time of this bloom senescence, dissolved oxygen was severely depleted and a massive death of ichthyofauna was recorded. A Microcystis aeruginosa bloom was also detected in July 2001 and it occurred following a rapid decrease in abundance of green algae and diatoms. By considering not only the environmental parameters but also the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms as explanatory variables in a canonical correspondence analysis, the variance explained for the phytoplanktonic assemblage during the study period was increased in about 7% achieving a total of 61.0%, indicating a correlation that may be due to the known competitive advantage and/or allelopathy of the bloom-forming cyanobacteria towards microalgae.     

珠江口南沙河涌浮游植物群落结构时空变化及其与环境因子的关系

随着城市生态健康理念的提出,城市河涌生态健康也受到了前所未有的关注。为更好的了解河涌的水环境和浮游植物现状,于2015年3月至2016年2月对珠江口南沙河涌8个站位水环境和浮游植物群落结构进行调查。结果显示:共发现浮游植物164种(属),隶属7门73属,其中以绿藻种类最多,达33属79种,占48.17%;硅藻次之,17属41种,占25%。优势种为梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghiniana)、假鱼腥藻属(Pseudanabaena sp.)和小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)。浮游植物细胞密度在0.19×10~6—101.34×10~6个/L内变动,呈现单峰型,在4月发生拟菱形弓形藻(Schroederia nitzschioides)水华,14涌密度高达87.38×10~6个/L,随后因强降雨细胞密度骤降。浮游植物群落的季节演替基本符合PEG(Plankton Ecology Group)模型,从冬季的硅藻,到春夏季的绿藻,再到秋季的蓝藻。One-way ANOVA分析显示,各月份浮游植物细胞密度差异显著(P0.01)。Pearson相关性分析表明绿藻细胞丰度变化主导着浮游植物总丰度的变化(r=0.454,P0.01)。运用Margalef物种丰富度指数、Shannon物种多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数对水体进行评价表明,调查水体呈中度污染。相关加权营养状态指数表明,河涌全年处于富营养化状态。浮游植物聚类分析表明,时间异质性较高,总体相似性较低;空间上相似性较高,人为活动可能是导致空间差异的关键因子。冗余分析显示,叶绿素a、溶解氧、盐度、水温、总氮和p H与浮游植物群落结构关系最为密切。p H对硅藻门浮游植物影响较大,碱性条件适宜直链藻生长,春季水华形成的驱动因子是盐度、温度和总氮。     

西江下游浮游植物群落周年变化模式

西江肇庆段是珠江干流汇入珠三角河网水域的咽喉通道,对2009年该江段的浮游植物群落组成及变化进行系统阐析.调查期间共发现浮游植物7门,245种(包括变种、变型),其中硅藻和绿藻是浮游植物群落组成的最主要类群,分别占总种数的42.44％和34.69％,其次是裸藻和蓝藻.PCA分析结果显示,浮游植物各类群的种类丰富度和生物量的周年变化趋势主要受水温和径流量的影响.浮游植物种类丰富度的周年变化呈现明显的高温季节高,低温季节低的特征,除因大多数藻类物种直接喜好高温之外,径流量的增大有助于真浮游绿藻种类的外源注入及半浮游和偶然性浮游硅藻种类的增加.浮游植物生物量的周年变化呈现明显的双峰型,峰值分别出现在8月和11月.然而8月份第1个高峰出现之前,生物量波动不大,尽管水温的升高有助于生物量的增加,但是径流量增大所带来的稀释作用掩盖了水温上升对浮游植物生长的促进作用.真浮游植物生物量的变化趋势和数值与总浮游植物极其接近,主要得益于真浮游硅藻物种颗粒直链藻在总种群中的绝对优势地位.综上,水温升高对浮游植物种类丰富度和生物量的增长均有促进,径流量的增大虽然有助于种类丰富度的增加,但不利于生物量的增加.     

COLONIZATION AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF TWO PERIPHYTON ASSEMBLAGES,WITH EMPHASIS ON THE DIATOMS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)

Examination of the three-dimensional structure of periphyton communities through time indicated that their microsuccession is analogous to higher plant succession. The development of attached diatom communities in two reservoirs was studied using artificial substrates, and the morphology of dominant organisms, patterns of spatial heterogeneity, and community interactions were documented with scanning electron microscopy. Of 93 taxa found, Gomphonema parvulum, G. olivaceum, Navicula graciloides, Nitzschia palea, and N. dissipata were dominant, depending upon season and reservoir. Comparisons of community diversity (SIMI) between reservoirs within seasons ranged from 0.023–0.843 (median = 0.254), indicating that the reservoirs were quite different with respect to diatoms present and their apportionments. Colonization was slow the first 2 wk in spring and fall, and throughout winter, but rapid during summer. Shifts in numerical dominance between certain species occurred in fall, spring, and summer. These inverse correlations of abundances and the functional dominance of overgrowth suggested competition for substrate surface area in the periphyton. The colonization sequence was often predictable—a presumably organic coating and a variety of bacteria, followed by low profile diatoms, and finally an upperstory of long-stalked and large-rosette diatoms and filamentous green algae. Periphyton microsuccession is similar to higher plant succession in the consistent change in vertical community structure from low to high physical stature, in the association of numerical dominance with large stature (via cell size or long mucilaginous stalks), and in the progressive slow-down in the rate of succession. Diatom mucilage also contributed to community structure by binding particulates and entrapping other algae and serving as the mechanism for substrate attachment.     

The effects of the flood cycle on the diversity and composition of the phytoplankton community of a seasonally flooded Ramsar wetland in Bangladesh

Freshwater wetlands in Bangladesh are strongly influenced by the monsoons and the annual flood cycle has measurable impacts on the abiotic and biotic components of these ecosystems. The northeastern Haor Basin of Bangladesh is particularly rich in seasonally flooded freshwater wetlands that support a wide diversity of flora and fauna. These wetlands are of great importance to the local economy due to the abundance of rich floodplain fisheries. Little is known about the phytoplankton communities of these wetlands that are known to be linked with zooplankton and fish productivity. We investigated the seasonal variation in the diversity and abundance of phytoplankton assemblages in Tanguar Haor, a Ramsar wetland in northeastern Bangladesh during the period of inundation (June–December). A total of 107 genera of phytoplankton representing five classes were recorded. Blooms of Microcystis dominated the phytoplankton community throughout the study period but were particularly acute during the early part of the high water period. Among the Bacillariophyceae, Melosira was the most dominant, reaching bloom proportions early in the high water period. Factor analysis of physicochemical variables separated the flood cycle into four distinct periods: early high water, mid high water, late high water and low water periods. Phase of the flood cycle, nutrient availability, the physicochemical variables combined with the dominance of Microcystis seemed to be important in controlling the abundance, diversity and dynamics of the phytoplankton genera. The abundance of genera of desmids and some Bacillariophyceae is indicative of the relatively unpolluted conditions of Tanguar Haor.     

水东湾海域浮游植物潮汐分布特征及其与环境因子的关系

2014年秋、冬两季,每个季节在大潮期和小潮期对水东湾海域浮游植物群落结构和环境因子进行了调查,共鉴定出4门57属134种。其中硅藻门42属106种,占浮游植物种类数的79.1%;甲藻门13属26种,占浮游植物种类数的19.4%;蓝藻门1属1种,占浮游植物种类数的0.8%;针胞藻纲1属1种,占浮游植物种类数的0.8%。优势种15种,主要为尖布纹藻Gyrosigma aluminatum、圆海链藻Thalassiosira rotula、中肋骨条藻Skeletonema costatum、丹麦细柱藻Leptocylindrus danicus和舟形鞍链藻Campylosira cymbelliformis等。4个航次共有种类数在18—40种,Jaccard种类相似性指数范围在0.200—0.404,多样性指数和均匀度平均值分别为2.60和0.60。秋季大、小潮期多样性指数差异较显著(P0.05),冬季细胞丰度、多样性指数和均匀度大、小潮期均无明显差异。浮游植物细胞丰度变化范围为0.95×10~4个/L—28.0×10~4个/L,平均为6.86×10~4个/L,平均丰度冬季小潮期(9.46×10~4个/L)秋季小潮期(7.56×10~4个/L)冬季大潮期(5.97×10~4个/L)秋季大潮期(4.44×10~4个/L)。主成分分析(PCA)表明:盐度和营养盐可能是影响水东湾海域生态环境的主导因子。对水东湾海域浮游植物群落结构与主要环境因子进行Spearman相关性分析,细胞丰度与盐度在秋季大、小潮期为负相关,在冬季大、小潮期呈显著正相关;与无机氮和磷酸盐在冬季大、小潮期呈极显著负相关,在秋季大、小潮期均无相关性。冬季小潮期水温与多样性指数、均匀度和细胞丰度均呈正相关;从测定结果来看浮游植物细胞丰度、多样性指数和均匀度与叶绿素a含量均无统计学意义上的相关性。     

Interactions between phytoplankton and zooplankton in the hypertrophic Swarzedzkie Lake in western Poland

The hypertrophic Swarzdzkie Lake, Poland, is characterized byhigh species diversity, abundance and biomass of both phytoplanktonand zooplankton (up to 99.5 mg WW L^–1 and 817.75 µgDW L^–1, respectively). The community grazing rate calculatedwith the use of two empirical models, and based on herbivorouscrustaceans, peaked in spring and early autumn up to 150.6%of water filtered per day, and was the lowest during winter.Simple statistics revealed a positive correlation between zooplanktonbiomass and chlorophyll a concentration (r = 0.404, P = 0.033)and between zooplankton abundance and phytoplankton biomass(r = 0.42, P = 0.028). Canonical statistics indicated, however,that the relationship exists only with size groups and/or livingforms of a few taxonomical groups of phytoplankton. Redundancyanalysis (RDA) confirmed a positive influence of the communitygrazing rate on micro- and nanoplanktonic Cryptophyceae, butnot on the microplanktonic Cyanobacteria, as was suggested bycanonical correlation analysis. RDA also indicated a weak negativeinfluence on nanoplanktonic Euglenophyceae and Chlorophyceaeexerted by filtering crustaceans. Some taxonomically diverseflagellated nanoplanktonic algae were grazing sensitive, whereasmicroplanktonic cryptophytes and coenobial green algae weresignificantly grazing resistant.     

Successional dynamics of the phytoplankton in the lower part of the river Ebro

The temporal and spatial dynamics of phytoplankton have beenstudied in four sites located along the last 60 km of the riverEbro, over a period of 1 year. Diatoms and green algae werethe most abundant groups; blue-green algae were frequent onlyin autumn. Asterionella formosa dominated the winter phytoplanktonassemblages. In autumn, spring and early summer centric diatomswere dominant: Aulacoseira granulata (Ehr.) Simonsen in autunm;Cyclotella sp. p1., Skeletonema potamos (Weber) Hasle and StephanodisciLssp. p1. in spring. A great abundance of green algae was observedduring the summer, mainly in the lower sites. In the sites closerto the mouth, the spring maximum of centric diatoms extendedto the summer. Mainly in the downstream sites, a remarkablegrowth of Acrinocyclus normanii f. subsalsa (Juhl.-Daunf.) Hustedtand Stephanodiscus hantzschii f tenuis (Hust.) Hak. & Stoerm.was added to green algae in the late summer. As has been investigatedthrough a principal component analysis, the phytoplankton temporalsuccession and longitudinal differences between the sites maybe affected by the variations in flow and the increase of waterconductivity downstream; both factors seem to act together.The river is rather homogeneous with respect to the phytoplanktonassemblages during the winter and spring months, and from latespring to the following autumn, differences greatly increaseboth in time and downstream.     

Dynamic analysis of phytoplankton community characteristics in Daya Bay, China

Daya Bay is a large bay along the southern coast of China. The composition, abundance, community structure and diversity of phytoplankton in Daya Bay were investigated to assess its status in different seasons in 2002, and a total of 48 genera and 114 species of phytoplankton were identified. The cell abundance of phytoplankton varied from 5.79 × 10⁴ cells/m³ to 5.37 × 10⁶ cells/m³ with an average of 1.14×10⁶ cells/m³. The largest community was Bacillariophyta containing 84 taxa, and its average abundance was 1.08 × 10⁶ cells/m³. Annual abundance variations show a typical one-peak cycle, with the highest peak recorded during summer and the lowest recorded during autumn. The ecotypes of phytoplankton were mostly alongshore warm-water species; however, marine warm-water species and eurytopic species during winter and autumn are more abundant than during the other seasons. The dominant species were diverse and varied with seasons. The species diversity index of phytoplankton in Daya Bay was low during summer, especially near the nuclear power station (NPS) and the aquaculture farms during summer and autumn. Community structure and cell abundance were categorized in relation to monsoon, current and anthropological activities. It is presented that the temperature and hydrodynamics in conjunction with the pattern of nutrients (DIN, DIP and N/P) availability and depletion affect the composition, abundance, community structure, community succession and diversity of phytoplankton.