Limnological Studies on the River Tigris,Iraq. I. Environmental Characteristics

Regional and seasonal variations of some environmental characteristics in the 630 km stretch of the lower Tigris were studied and discussed. The lowest air and average water temperatures were recorded in January. The highest average pH values, generally found in October and July, are due mainly to the abundance of phytoplankton. The remarkably low average chlorosity values found in the periods of high water were correlated with the high discharge. The highest average values for dissolved oxygen concentration were generally recorded in January and April, and the lowest ones were observed in October and July.     

Patterns of seasonal phytoplankton distribution in prairie saline lakes of the northern Great Plains (U.S.A.)

Seasonal changes in freshwater phytoplankton communities have been extensively studied, but key drivers of phytoplankton in saline lakes are currently not well understood. Comparative lake studies of 19 prairie saline lakes in the northern Great Plains (USA) were conducted in spring and summer of 2004, with data gathered for a suite of limnological parameters. Nutrient enrichment assays for natural phytoplankton assemblages were also performed in spring and summer of 2006. Canonical correspondence analysis of 2004 data showed salinity (logCl), nitrogen, and phosphorus (N:P ratios) to be the main drivers of phytoplankton distribution in the spring, and phosphorus (C:P ratios), iron (logTFe), and nitrogen (logTN) as important factors in the summer. Despite major differences in nutrient limitation patterns (P-limitation in freshwater systems, N-limitation in saline systems), seasonal patterns of phytoplankton phyla changes in these saline lakes were similar to those of freshwater systems. Dominance shifted from diatoms in the spring to cyanobacteria in the summer. Nutrient enrichment assays (control, +Fe, +N, +P, +N+P) in 2006 indicated that nutrient limitation is generally more consistent within lakes than for individual taxa across systems, with widespread nitrogen and secondary phosphorus limitation. Understanding phytoplankton community structure provides insight into the overall ecology of saline lakes, and will assist in the future conservation and management of these valuable and climatically-sensitive systems.     

The spatial structure of potamophytoplankton in extreme environmental conditions of northeastern Siberia

The basic patterns of the spatial structure of phytoplankton in large oligotrophic rivers of northeastern Siberia were determined using principle component analysis (PCA), factor analysis, and cluster analysis. It was found that in extreme conditions of oligotrophic subarctic rivers the formation of the spatial structure of the phytoplankton generally occurs under the influence of climate, rather than physicochemical water properties. Among the developmental parameters of the phytoplankton, the floristic structure of phytoplankton is the most dependent on the abiotic factor.     

安康水库表层浮游藻类群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

为了解安康水库表层水质与浮游藻类群落现状以及浮游藻类群落结构与环境因子之间的关系,于2012年1—12月对水库表层水进行每月一次的采样,分别对浮游藻类分布状况和理化因子进行分析.利用Shannon指数(H)和Pielou均匀度指数(J)分析浮游藻类群落特征,根据理化指标和综合营养状态指数(TSI)评价水体营养状态.共检测到浮游藻类7门110属,丰度为0.11×10⁴～2.08×10⁴ cells·L^-1.藻类组成、污染指示种分布情况、多样性分析和TSI显示安康水库表层属于中污染水质,处于中营养状态.此外,高密度投饵水产养殖及生活污水直接排放入库对水质产生负面影响,支流岚河的水质状况也较差.典范对应分析(CCA)结果显示,测定的8个环境因子中,不同季节影响浮游藻类群落组成及分布的环境因子不同,且氮是影响浮游藻类组成的主要营养盐因子.理化指标分析显示,安康水库表层水大体满足Ⅱ类水标准,水质良好.但部分采样点的总氮出现差于Ⅱ类水标准的现象,表明安康水库水质有变差的趋势.     

Modelling the effects on phytoplankton communities of changing mixed depth and background extinction coefficient on three contrasting lakes in the English Lake District

1. The process‐based phytoplankton community model, PROTECH, was used to model the response of algal biomass to a range of mixed layer depths and extinction coefficients for three contrasting lakes: Blelham Tarn (eutrophic), Bassenthwaite Lake (mesotrophic) and Ullswater (oligotrophic). 2. As expected, in most cases biomass and diversity decreased with decreasing light availability caused by increasing the mixed depth and background extinction coefficient. The communities were generally dominated by phytoplankton tolerant of low light. Further, more novel, factors were identified, however. 3. In Blelham Tarn in the second half of the year, biomass and diversity did not generally decline with deeper mixing and the community was dominated by nitrogen‐fixing phytoplankton because that nutrient was limiting to growth. 4. In Bassenthwaite Lake, changing mixed depth influenced the retention time so that, as the mixed depth declined, the flushing rate in the mixed layer increased to the point that only fast‐growing phytoplankton could dominate. 5. In the oligotrophic Ullswater, changing the mixed depth had a greater effect through nutrient supply rather than light availability. This effect was observed when the mixed layer was relatively shallow (<5.5 m) and the driver for this was that the inflowing nutrients were added to a smaller volume of water, thus increasing nutrient concentrations and algal growth. 6. Therefore, whilst changes in mixed depth generally affect the phytoplankton via commonly recognized factors (light availability, sedimentation rate), it also affected phytoplankton growth and community composition through other important factors such as retention time and nutrient supply.     

Influence of Hydrological Factors on the Seasonal Abundance of Phytoplankton in Kinjhar Lake,Pakistan

The correlation of various hydrological factors with the distribution of phytoplankton and bacteria has been studied in Kinjhar Lake, situated 120 km north of Karachi. This lake is highly eutrophic, containing rich concentrations of nutrients, but the temporal distribution of phytoplankton was generally related to the variations of light and temperature. The effects of light and temperature are perhaps modified by nutrients, particularly when nitrogen and phosphorus are present in surprisingly low concentrations. The effect of mechanical disturbances in the artificial lake also has a significant effect on the growth of phytoplankton and indirectly on consumers, especially fishes.     

Analysis of the seasonal dynamics of river phytoplankton based on succession rate indices for key event identification

The seasonal dynamics of river phytoplankton was analyzed using succession rate indices based on data collected from year-round observations of two small plain rivers in the Upper Ob Basin (Western Siberia). The study revealed a generally clear seasonal pattern of structural changes in the phytoplankton of the lower reaches of the studied rivers. The dynamics of succession rate indices reflects the key events in the life of phytoplankton in the Bolshaya Losikha and Barnaulka Rivers, showing mainly changes in the dominant species during the main phases of the hydrological cycle. The most significant changes in phytoplankton structure tend to occur in the period between the spring flood decline and the beginning of summer–autumn low water. These changes coincide with the most drastic changes in both environmental conditions and phytoplankton successional stages. Use of succession rate indices to analyze the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton allowed us to distinguish between periods of abrupt change and periods of comparatively low-intensity changes in plankton composition in small lowland temperate rivers.

     

Flow cytometry: instrumentation and application in phytoplankton research

In flow cytometry, light scattering and fluorescence of individual particles in suspension is measured at high speed. When applied to planktonic particles, the light scattering and (auto-)fluorescence properties of algal cells can be used for cell identification and counting. Analysis of the wide size spectrum of phytoplankton species, generally present in eutrophic inland and coastal waters, requires flow cytometers specially designed for this purpose. This paper compares the performance in phytoplankton research of a commercial flow cytometer to a purpose built instrument. It reports on the identification of phytoplankton and indicates an area where flow cytometry may supersede more conventional techniques: the analysis of morphological and physiological characteristics of subpopulations in phytoplankton samples.     

Phytoplankton Community Structure in the Drainage Network of a Mediterranean River System (Aliakmon,Greece)

Phytoplankton structure was studied in Aliakmon river basin in April (highflow) and September (lowflow) 1995 in 29 sampling sites. Abundance and biomass were generally low and ranged considerably between sites. Benthic diatoms contributed greatly to the suspended algal assemblages whereas trends of potamoplankton development were observed downstream. Limnoplankton and especially chlorophytes developed in the areas where lentic conditions prevailed. The nature of changes in phytoplankton seemed to be both longitudinal and temporal. Multivariate techniques revealed that areas with distinctive morphology, hydrology and anthropogenic inputs tended to have similar phytoplankton composition although no simple relation with physico-chemical factors can be shown. Human impact was more obvious on phytoplankton at the lowflow period. Generally, discharge played a significant role to the structure of phytoplankton communities.     

Distribution and development of under-ice phytoplankton in 90-m deep water column of Lake Päijänne (Finland) during spring convection

Distribution and development of phytoplankton were studied in the deep and large Lake Päijänne from mid-winter until the disappearance of ice. Diatoms were an important part of the phytoplankton assemblage and, with cryptophytes and chrysophytes, made up 50–80% of the phytoplankton biomass. In mid-winter, chlorophyll a and phytoplankton biomass were uniformly distributed over the whole water column down to a depth of 90 m. Thus, most of the phytoplankton was in virtual darkness and there was negligible growth. Only motile cryptophytes were concentrated in the layers below the ice and were rare in deep water. After the disappearance of snow, convection developed, but at first cryptophytes were able to resist mixing. When convection turned from penetrative to predominantly horizontal, all phytoplankton were generally uniformly distributed in the water column. In spite of the full under-ice overturn with low average availability of light, the phytoplankton biomass doubled in April. The growth of cryptophytes was higher than that of diatoms, suggesting that motile species gained an advantage by being able to maintain themselves in the upper, illuminated layers. The results show that knowledge of the basic physical framework is essential for interpretation of under-ice phytoplankton results.     

广西溢油海域的浮游植物跟踪监测与比对分析

针对广西涠洲岛海域的突发溢油事件,于2008年9月下旬进行了溢油海域浮游植物跟踪监测,并与历史资料比对,探讨溢油对浮游植物群落的影响。调查中,共记录4门106种,硅藻92种,甲藻12种,蓝藻1种,着色鞭毛藻1种,主要优势种为旋链角毛藻(Chaetoceros curvisetus)、菱形海线藻(Thalassionema nitzschioides)和洛氏角毛藻(Chaetoceros lorenzianus)。浮游植物种类多,站间差异小,分布均匀。浮游植物细胞密度高,平均2 645.32×10⁴cells·m^-3,密集中心位于涠洲岛西北部海域。优势种密度分布与浮游植物细胞密度分布态势基本一致。多样性指数(H')和均匀度(J')均较高,群落结构稳定。与国家海洋局同期调查资料及相关文献报道比对,表明溢油海域浮游植物种类组成无较大变化,细胞密度有较小降幅,密集中心不同,优势种变更明显,群落结构稳定,应重视溢油应急反应的迫切性。     

Acidity status and phytoplankton species richness,standing crop,and community composition in Adirondack,New York,U.S.A. lakes

The mid-summer phytoplankton communities of more than 100 Adirondack lakes ranging in pH from 4.0 to 7.2 were characterized in relation to 25 physical-chemical parameters. Phytoplankton species richness declined significantly with increasing acidity. Acidic lakes (pH < 5.0) averaged fewer than 20 species while more circumneutral waters (pH > 6.5) averaged more than 33 species. Phytoplankton abundance was not significantly correlated with any of the measured physical-chemical parameters, but standing crop parameters, i.e., chlorophyll a and phytoplankton biovolume, did correlate significantly with several parameters. Midsummer standing crop correlated best with total phosphorus concentration but acidity status affected the standing crop-phosphorus relationship. Circumneutral waters of low phosphorus content, i.e. < 10 µg·1^–1 TP, averaged 3.62 µg·1^–1 chlorophyll a whereas acidic lakes of the same phosphorus content averaged only 1.96 µg·1^–1 chlorophyll a. The midsummer chlorophyll content of lakes of high phosphorus content, i.e. > 10 µg·1^–1 TP, was not significantly affected by acidity status.Adirondack phytoplankton community composition changes with increasing acidity. The numbers of species in midsummer collections within all major taxonomic groups of algae are reduced with increasing acidity. The midsummer phytoplankton communities of acidic Adirondack lakes can generally be characterized into four broad types; 1) the depauperate clear water acid lake assemblage dominated by dinoflagellates, 2) the more diverse oligotrophic acid lake community dominated by cryptomonads, green algae, and chrysophytes, 3) the productive acid lake assemblage dominated by green algae, and 4) the chrysophyte dominated community. The major phytoplankton community types of acid lakes are associated with different levels of nutrients, aluminum concentrations, and humic influences.     

Cell death in lake phytoplankton communities

1. The fraction of living and dead phytoplankton cells in seven Florida lakes was assessed by using the cell digestion assay, a non‐staining membrane permeability test. The cell digestion assay is an effective method to analyse cell viability in complex natural phytoplankton communities. 2. The lakes examined ranged widely in phytoplankton abundance and community composition. The variability in the percentage of living cells (% LC) was high among the taxonomic groups forming the different phytoplankton communities, ranging from 19.7% to 98% LC. 3. All cells within single cyanobacteria filaments were determined to be either dead or alive, suggesting physiological integration of the cells within colonies. 4. Within each lake, the dominant taxa generally exhibited the highest proportion of living cells. A high proportion of living cells was found to be a characteristic of the different taxa forming the communities of eutrophic lakes. The average value for the % LC for all groups comprising the phytoplankton communities in each of the lakes ranged from 29.9 ± 7.2 to 80.4 ± 4.0 (mean ± SE) and varied strongly and positively with chlorophyll a concentration. 5. These results suggest phytoplankton cell death to be an important process structuring phytoplankton communities in lakes, particularly in oligotrophic ones.     

Water,nitrogen and phosphorus in freshwater Plankton

Summary Mixed phytoplankton, zooplankton and Thermocyclops hyalinus collected from Fort Moat, at Aligarh (U.P.) India, were analysed for water, nitrogen and phosphorus. Results are generally in agreement with observations of earlier investigators.Phosphorus values are found to be very high. Nutritional condition of zooplankton is noticed to have improved during phytoplankton maxima in the lake.     

Seasonal variation in abundance and size structure of phytoplankton in Baie des Chaleurs,southwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence,in relation to physical oceanographic conditions

We investigated changes in the abundance and size structure of phytoplankton and organic seston in relation to temperature, stratification and current patterns at Gascons on the north shore of Baie des Chaleurs, eastern Canada. Phytoplankton biomass showed a general decrease during the study (May to November 1989), except for a brief diatom bloom in late October. During most of the summer, a strong temperature driven stratification was present and <5 µm cells dominated the phytoplankton community. Particles measuring <5 µm also dominated the particulate organic matter (POC and PON) throughout the year. However, only 40% of these particles could be associated with phytoplankton cells. For both particulate matter and phytoplankton, the abundance of the <5 µm size fraction was positively correlated with the Brunt-Väilsälä index of stability of the water column. Inorganic nitrogen may have limited the phytoplankton growth, as generally reported for stratified environments. Most of the biomass was probably supported by nitrogen regenerated through microbial organisms. A large bacterioplankton community was suggested by the abundance of small (<5 µm) non-phytoplanktonic particles with a low and relatively uniform C/N ratio. Larger particles were only abundant at the beginning of the study (May–June) and on one date in October. Their C/N ratios indicated they were of varied origins.     

Field and Laboratory Studies on Nile Phytoplankton in Egypt. II. Phytoplankton

Variations in chlorophyll a concentration and in qualitative and quantitative counts of Nile phytoplankton were followed at Assiut from September 1980 to September 1982. Chlorophyll a concentrations usually correlated well with phytoplankton density. The total phytoplankton exhibited higher counts in spring and summer than in autumn and winter. While diatoms exhibited the highest counts, green algae contributed more genera to the phytoplankton community.     

Distribuzione del fitoplancton in un'area salmastra della Sicilia nord-orientale

Abstract

Phytoplankton distribution in a brackish area of North-Eastern Sicily -The abundance and taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton have been studied in relation to temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen in the brackish pools of Oliveri-Tindari, a very restricted area on the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily (Italy). The phytoplankton distribution in these pools has been subject to relatively few investigations. Although this area is not influenced by sewage and industrial effluents, some pools showed episodical high densities of phytoplankton, due to the influence of organic inputs (streams and water-bearings), and anoxic conditions.

The microalgal communities were generally characterized by chlorophyceans, although sometimes other taxa prevailed.     

The impact of diel vertical migration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphnia</Emphasis> on phytoplankton dynamics

Diel vertical migration (DVM) of large zooplankton is a very common phenomenon in the pelagic zone of lakes and oceans. Although the underlying mechanisms of DVM are well understood, we lack experimental studies on the consequences of this behaviour for the zooplankton’s food resource—the phytoplankton. As large zooplankton species or individuals migrate downwards into lower and darker water strata by day and upwards into surface layers by night, a huge amount of herbivorous biomass moves through the water column twice a day. This migration must have profound consequences for the phytoplankton. It is generally assumed that migration supports an enhanced phytoplankton biomass and a change in the composition of the phytoplankton community towards smaller, edible algae in the epilimnion of a lake. We tested this assumption for the first time in field experiments by comparing phytoplankton biomass and community assemblage in mesocosms with and without artificially migrating natural stocks of Daphnia hyalina. We show that DVM can enhance phytoplankton biomass in the epilimnion and that it has a strong impact on the composition of a phytoplankton community leading to an advantage for small, edible algae. Our results support the idea that DVM of Daphnia can have strong effects on phytoplankton dynamics in a lake.     

有机磷农药对微藻的毒性作用研究概述

论文就有机磷农药对藻类生长的影响、毒性机理以及对浮游植物群落结构的影响进行综述。相对于水生甲壳类和鱼类,有机磷农药对藻类毒性较低,EC₅₀一般高于1mg/L,对藻类生长的影响大致呈现低浓度促进、高浓度抑制的趋势,有机磷农药之间及其与其它化合物之间具有联合毒性作用。有机磷农药对藻细胞酶活性具有一定影响,而对光合作用的影响也是有机磷农药对藻类毒性效应的重要致毒机制。浮游植物对有机磷农药敏感性差异以及施药引起的浮游动物对藻类的选择性摄食,可能会导致水生态系统中浮游植物群落结构的变化。     

Testing the Sensitivity of Phytoplankton Communities to Changes in Water Temperature and Nutrient Load, in a Temperate Lake

Freshwater lakes are biologically sensitive to changes in the surrounding environment and the impacts that such changes have on their water quality are of considerable ecological, recreational and economic importance. In this study the phytoplankton community model, PROTECH, was used to experiment with the effects of elevated temperatures and increased nutrient load on phytoplankton succession and productivity. The response of a phytoplankton community to combined incremental changes in these drivers was analysed, in order to elucidate the resulting ecological changes. Annual mean phytoplankton biomass increased with increases in temperature and nutrient loading, although the latter had the larger effect. The phenology of the dominant phytoplankton taxa changed with increasing water temperature; the three spring blooming species all peaked earlier in the year. The simulated summer bloom of Anabaena became earlier in the year and the Chlorella bloom later. The increased phytoplankton biomass was largely dominated by the cyanobacterium Anabaena, which was especially prevalent during the summer bloom. This resulted in a progressive loss of phytoplankton biodiversity with increasing water temperature and nutrient supply. Model experimentation showed that whilst both factors greatly affected the community, the changes to nutrient loading generally had the greater effect and that at low nutrient levels the effect of water temperature change was reduced considerably. Finally, the model predicted that cyanobacteria have the potential to dominate the phytoplankton community, with clear consequences for water quality, and that this dominance was at its greatest when high water temperatures were combined with high nutrient loads.