Bloom formation of Gloeotrichia echinulata and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae in a shallow,eutrophic, Danish lake

Over a period of four years, the seasonal periodicity of dominant phytoplankton species in a shallow, eutrophic Danish lake changed markedly. Cyanophytes prevailed during the summer period of all four years. In the first three years, species of Microcystis, Anabaena and Aphanothece dominated, whereas in the fourth year of investigation, these algae were replaced by Gloeotrichia echinulata (J. E. Smith) Richter and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (L.) Ralfs. The most striking environmental differences in the fourth year as compared with the previous three years, were an increase in tranparency, from about 0.5 meter in 1989–1991 to more than 2 metres preceding the summer maximum in 1992, and a simultaneous occurrence of low oxygen concentrations. A collapse of the fish population was followed by an increased proportion of large Cladocerans in the zooplankton. Improved light conditions at the bottom and grazing pressure from large Cladocerans favoured growth of the large colony forming blue-green algae, Gloeotrichia echinulata and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. These species germinate from resting spores in the sediment and are able to sustain some growth there before migration to the lake water. The transfer of algal biomass from the bottom sediment to the water phase was accompanied by a marked increase in concentrations of particulate phosphorus and nitrogen in the entire lake.     

A survey of toxicity of cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Ladoga and adjacent water bodies

Twentyfive cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Ladoga and adjacent water bodies were studied in the summer of 1990–1992. Toxicity of the water bloom material for mice was detected in 9 cases. The maximal tolerable doses (MTD) of the material extracted from biomass varied within 3–30 mg kg^–1 mouse body weight; 50% lethal doses (LD₅₀) were within 45–125 mg kg^–1. Toxic water blooms were registered in Karelian lakes and in the Neva Bay, Gulf of Finland. Cyanobacterial samples collected on the eastern coast of Lake Ladoga proved to be non-toxic. The species identified in toxic bloom material included Anabaena circinalis, A. flos-aquae, A. lemmermannii, Anabaena sp., Aphanizomenonflos-aquae, Gloeotrichia echinulata, G. pisum, Microcystis aeruginosa and Oscillatoria sp. These data suggest that toxic forms of cyanobacteria are widespread in Karelian lakes belonging to the drainage basin of Lake Ladoga.     

Phytoplankton of Lake Peipsi-Pihkva: species composition, biomass and seasonal dynamics

With 33 years of phytoplankton quantitative studies carried out, a series of qualitative data with a length of over 80 years is at our disposal. About 500 algal species have been found in plankton by different researchers. In different seasons and years 35 main species (dominants and subdominants) form 68–96 % of biomass in L. Pihkva (southern, more eutrophic part) and 60–97 % in L. Peipsi (northern, less eutrophic part). L. Lämmijärv, connecting the two parts is similar to L. Pihkva in respect to phytoplankton and the trophic state. Diatoms and blue-green algae prevail in biomass, diatoms and green algae, in the species number. The oligo-mesotrophic Aulacoseira islandica (O. Müller) Sim. is characteristic of the cool period; A. granulata (Ehr.) Sim. and Stephanodiscus binderanus (Kütz.) Krieger prevail in summer and autumn, the latter being most abundant in the southern part. Gloeotrichia echinulata (J.S. Smith) P Richter and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (L.) Ralfs dominate in summer causing water-bloom. Phytoplankton has mostly three maxima in seasonal dynamics in L. Peipsi and two in L. Pihkva. Its average biomass in spring in different years has fluctuated in the range 5.6–16 and 6–12.7 g m^–3, in summer 3.1–14.8 and 5.6–125 (10–20 in most cases); and in autumn 7–16.3 and 5.2–26 in the northern and southern parts, respectively.The dominant complex has not changed considerably since 1909; however, the distribution of dominant species in lake parts has become more even in the last decades. Periods of high biomass occurred in the first half of the 1960s and 1970s and in 1988–1994, of low biomass in 1981–1987. The first coincided, in general, with periods of low water level and high water temperature.     

Disturbance events affecting phytoplankton biomass,composition and species diversity in a shallow,eutrophic, temperate lake

The seasonal changes in phytoplankton biomass and species diversity in a shallow, eutrophic Danish lake are described and related to different disturbance events acting on the phytoplankton community.Both the spring diatom maximum and the summer bloom of the filamentous blue-green alga, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (L.) Ralfs, coincided with low values of phytoplankton species diversity and equitability. Diatom collapse was mainly due to internal modifications as nutrient depletion (Si, P) caused by rapid growth of phytoplankton, and increased grazing activity from zooplankton. A large population of Daphnia longispina O.F. Müller in June effectively removed smaller algal competitors, thus favouring the development of a huge summer bloom (140 mm³ l^–1) of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Heavy rainfall and storms in late July increased the loss of Apahnizomenon by out-flow and disturbed the stratification of the lake. These events caused a marked decline in phytoplankton biomass but had no effect on species diversity. A second storm period in late August circulated the lake completely and was followed by a rapid increase in phytoplankton diversity, and a change in the phytoplankton community structure from dominance of large, slow-growing K-selected species (Aphanizomenon) to small, fast-growing r-selected species (cryptomonads).     

Polymixis of a shallow lake (Groβer Müggelsee,Berlin) and its influence on seasonal phytoplankton dynamics

The polymictic properties of Lake Müggelsee, a eutrophic shallow lake in Berlin, are described by the water column stability (N ²) and gradients in saturation of oxygen at the deepest site of the lake (7.5 m). Mixing and stratification changed irregularly up to 7 times during the vegetation season (April to September), as was indicated by all of the stratification parameters. Thermally stable conditions generally lasted 1–2 weeks. A maximum of 5 weeks stratification was observed in 1982.In order to investigate the response of algal development, the internal rates of change of the dominant algal species in the lake during the vegetation period were estimated from weekly measurements of phytoplankton biomass from 1980 to 1990. The necessity taking a mixed sample in a shallow lake is discussed. The polymictic properties favoured the development of specific blue-green algal species; there dominance was also favoured by the trophic conditions. Among the dominant blue-greens the growth of Limnothrix redekei was independent of polymixis whereas stratification supported the starting conditions for the summer blue-greens Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and Planktothrix agardhii. After these algae reached a distinct level of biomass, they grew under mixing as well as under stratified conditions.For the development of solitary centric diatoms during summer regulation by growth restriction through nutrient limitation, esp. dissolved silicon was more important. However, Melosira sp. developed well under stratified conditions but collapsed due to increased sinking losses when the water column became too stable.An attempt is made to apply Reynolds' possibility matrix of the most likely phytoplankton assemblages as a function of nutrients and mixing in the shallow Lake Müggelsee.     

Species composition and seasonal dynamics of water mites (Hydracarina) in a mountain stream (Steina,Black Forest,southern Germany)

The species composition and seasonal dynamics of water mites were studied in a small softwater stream in southern Germany from October 1986 to November 1988. On average water mites contributed 5.5% by abundance and 1.8% by biomass to the total invertebrate community. Annual densities and biomasses averaged 623–1057 (mean 905) individuals M^–2 and 45.9–75.6 mg (mean 64.0) dry mass m^–2, respectively. 41 species were identified, Torrenticola elliptica (Torrenticolidae) being the most abundant. Nearly every taxon showed a distinct and consistent seasonality, with maximum abundance and biomass in summer and minimum values in winter. Both abundance and biomass of water mites were significantly correlated with water temperature (p < 0.001).     

Factors influencing the phytoplankton steady state assemblages in a drinking-water reservoir (Ömerli reservoir, Istanbul)

In situ growth of heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) in Lake Donghu, a eutrophic shallow lake in mainland China, was studied from January 1999 to March 2000 using a modified Weisse protocol. The study results indicated that the growth rates of HNF showed pronounced seasonal variation (–0.37–1.25 d^–1), reaching the maximum during spring to early summer. When the water temperature was higher than 25.5°C, HNF growth was inversely proportional to water temperature. There was an effect by bacterial abundance and autotrophic picoplankton on HNF growth that depended on location. HNF biomass was the highest in late spring, and the HNF production ranged from –2.25 to 35.45 mg l^–1 d^–1 with mean of 3.17 mg l^–1d^–1. When considered in the context of biomass and production data for zooplankton in Lake Donghu, it was evident that HNF contributed significantly to the total zooplankton production in Lake Donghu. These in situ studies indicate that temperature and food supply are the major determinants of HNF abundance and productivity.     

Seasonality of macrophytes and interaction with flow in a New Zealand lowland stream

Introduced submerged macrophytes have come to dominate many shallow water bodies in New Zealand, and are a common component of many lowland streams. We investigated the seasonal variation of macrophyte abundance, its influence on flow and channel volume, and the implications of this on stream habitat and functioning in Whakapipi Stream, a typical lowland stream draining a predominantly agricultural catchment.Abundance of macrophytes over the summer was primarily controlled by the phenological cycles of the two dominant species. Mean minimum total macrophyte biomass (36 g m^–2) and cover (7%) occurred in winter (June and August, respectively), and mean maximum biomass (324 g m^–2), and cover (79%) occurred in late summer (March and February respectively). Egeria densa comprised the majority of both cover and biomass during the study period, except early summer (December) when Potamogeton crispus was prevalent in the shallow stream reaches.Macrophyte beds had a major impact on summer stream velocities, reducing average velocities by an estimated 41%. Stream cross-sectional area was maintained at relatively stable levels similar to that recorded over winter, when stream discharge was in the order of seven times greater. The mean velocity distribution coefficient (), and Manning's roughness coefficient (n) were dependent on and displayed a positive linear relationship with macrophyte abundance. The velocity distribution coefficient is recommended as a better indicator of macrophyte effects on velocity in natural streams, as it does not assume uniform velocity, channel depth and slope within the stream reach.Our study shows that submerged macrophytes play an important structuring role within the stream during the summer period, where macrophyte beds act as semi-permeable dams, retarding flow velocities and increasing stream depth and cross-sectional area. This promotes habitat heterogeneity by creating a greater range of flow velocity variation, and also provides large stable low-flow areas. Other likely ecosystem effects resulting from macrophyte/velocity interactions include increased sedimentation, potential for nutrient processing and increased primary production, both by macrophytes and attached epiphyton. The complex architecture of submerged macrophytes and their influence on stream flow may also provide an increased diversity of habitat for other aquatic biota. We propose that management of degraded lowland streams such as the Whakapipi Stream to maintain stretches with moderate quantities of submerged macrophytes interspersed with shaded areas would optimise stream health during low summer flows.     

Seasonal succession of the phytoplankton in the upper Mississippi River

Species composition and seasonal succession of the phytoplankton were investigated on the upper Mississippi River at Prairie Island, Minnesota, U.S.A. Both the numbers and volume of individual species were enumerated based on cell counts with an inverted microscope. A succession similar to algal succession in the local lakes occurred. The diatoms were dominant during the spring and fall and blue-green algae were dominant during the summer. The algal concentrations have increased up to 40 fold the concentrations of the 1920's, since the installation of locks and dams. The maximum freshweight standing crop was 4 mg · l^–1 in 1928 (Reinhard 1931), 13 mg · l^–1 in 1975 a wet year, and 47 mg · l^–1 in 1976, a relatively dry year with minimal current discharge. The diatoms varied from 36–99%, the blue-green algae from 0–44% and the cryptómonads from 0–50% of the total standing crop. The green algae were always present but never above 21% of the biomass. The dominant diatoms in recent years were centric -Stephanodiscus andCyclotella spp. (maximum 50,000 ml^–1). The dominant blue-green algae wereAphanizomenon flos-aquae (L.) Ralfsex Born.et Flahault andOscillatoria agardhii Gomont (maximum 800 ml^–1). These algal species are also present in local lakes. Shannon diversity values indicated greatest diversity of algae during the summer months.     

Density and biomass of Gastrotricha in sediments of different types of standing waters

The results of an investigation of the density and biomass of Gastrotricha in freshwater lakes and in small fertile and shallow water bodies in eastern Poland are presented. The density varied from 495.0 to 2600.0 thousand indiv. m^–2 and was affected by water fertility much less than expected. The highest biomass value, 517.9 mg fresh weight m^–2, was obtained for one of the fertile water bodies. For lakes, these values were from 200.0 mg m^–2 in a dystrophic to 80.0 in an a-mesotrophic lake. In the latter the biomass decreased gradually from 319.8 mg fresh weight m^–2 in littoral to 65.0 mg in the profundal zone.     

Pore water phosphorus and iron concentrations in a shallow,eutrophic lake — indications of bacterial regulation

Peak pore water SRP and iron(II) concentrations were found during summer in surface sediments in the shallow and eutrophic L. Finjasjön, Sweden, and the concentrations generally increased with water depth. The SRP variation in surface sediments (0–2 cm) was correlated with temperature (R² = 0.82–0.95) and iron(II) showed a correlation with sedimentary carbon on all sites (R² = 0.42–0.96). In addition, sedimentary Chla, bacterial abundances and production rates in surface sediments (0–2 cm) varied seasonally, with peaks during spring and fall sedimentation. Bacterial production rates were correlated with phosphorus and carbon in the sediment (R² = 0.90–0.95 and R² = 0.31–0.95, respectively), indicating a coupling with algal sedimentation. A general increase in sediment Chla and bacterial abundances towards sediments at greater water depth was found. Further, data from 1988–90 reveal that TP and TFe concentrations in the lake were significantly correlated during summer (R² = 0.81 and 0.76, in the hypolimnion and epilimnion, respectively). The results indicate that the increase in pore water SRP and Fe(II) in surface sediments during summer is regulated by bacterial activity and the input of organic matter. In addition, spatial and temporal variations in pore water composition are mainly influenced by temperature and water depth and the significant correlation between TP and TFe in the water suggests a coupled release from the sediment. These findings support the theory of anoxic microlayer formation at the sediment-water interface.     

Some aspects of photosynthetic characteristics in a set of perennial irrigation reservoirs located in five river basins in Sri Lanka

Phytoplankton primary productivity of eleven irrigation reservoirs located in five river basins in Sri Lanka was determined on a single occasion together with light climate and nutrient concentrations. Although area-based gross primary productivity (1.43–11.65 g O₂ m^–2 d^–1) falls within the range already established for tropical water bodies, net daily rate was negative in three water bodies. Light-saturated optimum rates were found in water bodies, with relatively high algal biomass, but photosynthetic efficiency or specific rates were higher in water bodies with low algal biomass, indicating nutrient limitation or physiological adaptation of phytoplankton. Concentrations of micronutrients and algal biomass in the reservoirs are largely altered by high flushing rate resulting from irrigation release. Underwater light climate and nutrient availability control the rate of photosynthesis and subsequent area-based primary production to a great extent. However, morpho-edephic index or euphotic algal biomass in the most productive stratum of the water column is not a good predictor of photosynthetic capacity or daily rate of primary production of these shallow tropical irrigation reservoirs.     

Seasonality of phytoplankton in some South Indian lakes

The landscape of South India is dotted with innumerable man-made lakes. They differ vastly in age, physiography, water flow characteristics, chemistry and trophic state, yet maintain a phytoplankton overwhelmingly dominated (43–93%) by blue-green algae; the subdominants are diatoms and/or Chlorococcales and euglenoids. The blue-greens apparently reach them from soils which are known to harbour a rich blue-green flora and several species in common with limnoplankton.South Indian lakes resemble some tropical counterparts in sustaining dense phytoplankton populations all the year round and temperate dimictic ones in showing two annual growth peaks that usually occur in summer (February–May) and the post-monsoon period (October–November), in synchrony with rise in temperature. In the chemically more oligotrophic lakes, the peaks are constituted by Raphidiopsis mediterranea Skuja, Navicula cryptocephala Kütz., Melosira granulata (Ehr.) Ralfs, and others and in hypereutrophic lakes by Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz., Synechocystis aquatilis Sauv., Oscillatoria spp., Burkillia coronata West & West and Euglena acus Ehr. The bimodal seasonality in abundance of phytoplankton reflects in chlorophyll and biomass concentrations although these are not in strict synchrony with each other. At the maxima chlorophyll a and over-dry biomass may rise to 8.5 mg l^–1 and 204 mg l^–1 respectively in highly productive waters. The highest rate of carbon assimilation recorded in such phases is 10.6 g C m^–3 d^–1.     

Effects of grazing by fish and waterfowl on the biomass and species composition of submerged macrophytes

Biomanipulation improved water transparency of Lake Zwemlust (The Netherlands) drastically. Before biomanipulation no submerged vegetation was present in the lake, but in summer 1987, directly after the measure, submerged macrophyte stands developed following a clear-water phase caused by high zooplankton grazing in spring. During the summers of 1988 and 1989 Elodea nuttallii was the most dominant species and reached a high biomass, but in the summers of 1990 and 1991 Ceratophyllum demersum became dominant. The total macrophyte biomass decreased in 1990 and 1991. In 1992 and 1993 C. demersum and E. nuttallii were nearly absent and Potamogeton berchtholdii became the dominant species, declining to very low abundance during late summer. Successively algal blooms appeared in autumn of those years reaching chlorophyll-a concentrations between 60–130 µg l^–1. However, in experimental cages placed on the lake bottom, serving as exclosures for larger fish and birds, E. nuttallii still reached a high abundance during 1992 and 1993. Herbivory by coots (Fulica atra) in autumn/winter, and by rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) in summer, most probably caused the decrease in total abundance of macrophytes and the shift in species composition.     

Cyanobacterial toxicity and migration in a mesotrophic lake in western Washington, USA

In fall 1997, the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa was documented in Lake Sammamish (western Washington, U.S.A.) for the first time. Cyanobacterial activity and environmental conditions that may promote toxic cyanobacteria were investigated during summer and fall 1999. Development of toxic Microcystis was hypothesized to be due to runoff of nutrients from the watershed (external loading hypothesis) or from vertical migration of dormant cyanobacteria from the nutrient-rich sediments into the water column (cyanobacterial migration hypothesis). Microcystins were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay during late August and early September 1999 despite low cyanobacterial abundance. Microcystin concentrations ranged between 0.19–3.8 g l^–1 throughout the lake and at all depths with the exception of the boat launch where concentrations reached 43 g l^–1. Comparison of the conditions associated with the toxic episodes in 1997 and 1999 indicate that Microcystis is associated with a stable water column, increased surface total phosphorus concentrations (> 10 g l^–1), surface temperatures greater than 22°C, high total nitrogen to phosphorus ratios (> 30), and increased water column transparency (up to 5.5 m). Migration of the cyanobacteria, Microcystis and Anabaena, occurred in both the deep and shallow portions of the lake. Microcystis dominated (89–99%) the migrating cyanobacteria with greater migration from the shallow station. External loading of nutrients due to the large rainfall preceding the 1997 toxic episode may have provided the nutrients needed to fuel that bloom. However, toxic Microcystis occurred in 1999 despite the lack of rain and subsequent external runoff. The migration of Microcystis from the nutrient-rich sediments may have been the inoculum for the toxic population detected in 1999.     

Interactions between sediment and water in a shallow and hypertrophic lake: a study on phytoplankton collapses in Lake Søbygård,Denmark

Short-term changes in phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass have occurred 1–3 times every summer for the past 5 years in the shallow and hypertrophic Lake Søbygård, Denmark. These changes markedly affected lake water characteristics as well as the sediment/water interaction. Thus during a collapse of the phytoplankton biomass in 1985, lasting for about 2 weeks, the lake water became almost anoxic, followed by rapid increase in nitrogen and phosphorus at rates of 100–400 mg N M^–2 day^–1 and 100–200 mg P m^–1 day^–1. Average external loading during this period was about 350 mg N m^–2 day^–1 and 5 mg P m^–2 day^–1, respectively.Due to high phytoplankton biomass and subsequently a high sedimentation and recycling of nutrients, gross release rates of phosphorus and nitrogen were several times higher than net release rates. The net summer sediment release of phosphorus was usually about 40 mg P m^–2 day^–1, corresponding to a 2–3 fold increase in the net phosphorus release during the collapse. The nitrogen and phosphorus increase during the collapse is considered to be due primarily to a decreased sedimentation because of low algal biomass. The nutrient interactions between sediment and lake water during phytoplankton collapse, therefore, were changed from being dominated by both a large input and a large sedimentation of nutrients to a dominance of only a large input. Nitrogen was derived from both the inlet and sediment, whereas phosphorus was preferentially derived from the sediment. Different temperature levels may be a main reason for the different release rates from year to year.     

Copepod grazing in a summer cyanobacteria bloom in the Gulf of Finland

Blooms of the cyanobacteria Nodularia spumigena and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae dominated the phytoplankton assemblages of the western Gulf of Finland and the eastern side of the northern Baltic Sea in late July–August, 1992. The bloom overlapped the peak seasonal contributions of the dominant mesozooplankton herbivores in the region, the copepods Acartia bifilosa and Eurytemora affinis and the cladoceran Bosmina longispina maritima. Using radio-labelling techniques; the copepods were offered one of the cyanobacteria, Nodularia, as well as the 10–54 µm fraction of the natural phytoplankton assemblage. In general, incorporation rates of the labelled phytoplankton into the copepods declined with increasing contributions of the cyanobacteria. For both copepods, incorporation was inversely related to total phytoplankton biomass, whether measured as chlorophyll, total cells or cyanobacteria biomass. The very low rates for Acartia (< 0.8 µl [copepod h]^–1) indicated that this copepod was likely starving in the cyanobacteria bloom, consistent with the generally poor condition of the animal observed in the laboratory. The other major mesozooplanktor, B. longispina maritima, ingested substantially more cyanobacterial biomass than the two copepods, based on HPLC-identified cyanobacteria-specific pigment echinenone in the gut. Bloom carbon provided < 1% and < 4% of the daily rations for Acartia and Eurytemora, respectively. Total copepod demand in the cyanobacteria blooms was trivial, < 1% of bloom biomass consumed daily. These results suggest that copepod herbivory is relatively unimportant in dissipating summer cyanobacteria blooms in the Gulf of Finland.     

Struttura e biomassa dei popolamenti fitoplanctonici del Lago Omodeo (Sardegna centrale)

Abstract

Composition and biomass of phytoplanktonic communities of Lago Omodeo (Central Sardinia).—A qualitative and quantitative study has been made on the phytoplankton of Lago Omodeo. The algal associations are typical of eutrophic waters. The dominant blue-green algae in summer and autumn were: Chroococcus dispersus, Microcystis flos-aquae, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Anabaena flos-aquae, Anabaena planctonica; dominant in winter and spring the diatom Melosira distans. The mean standing crop of algae for the trophogenic zone was 9.2 mm³/l; a maximum crop of 53 mm³/l was recorded in August during a Microcystis bloom.     

Microphytobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands), 1981–1990; consequences of a changed tidal regime

During the period 1981–1990 the functioning of microphytobenthos in the carbon cycle was studied in the Oosterschelde, a mesotidal, euhaline estuary (SW Netherlands), both before and after completion of a storm-surge barrier in the sea ward entrance of the estuary in 1986, which reduced the tidal range to 88% and current velocities to 70% of their former values on average.The annual biomass cycle has changed from small spring and autumn peaks into a much larger summer peak. The average biomass during summer has increased from 70 to 170 mg Chlorophyll-a m². The average annual biomass has increased from 115 to 195 mg Chlorophyll-a m². As a consequence the (calculated) primary production by microphytobenthos has increased also, from 150 to 242 gC m^–2 y^–1 (14 045 to 22 265 tonnes C y^–1), and its share in the total primary production of the Oosterschelde has increased from 16 to 30%. These increases in biomass and primary production are mainly ascribed to a decrease in the dynamic forces (water current velocities) over the intertidal flats in most parts of the basin. Increased water transparency in parts of the estuary and increased import of inorganic carbon from the water column towards shoals may have contributed as well.The rate of reworking of the top layer of the soil (0–10 cm) has not changed significantly, as the decrease in Chlorophyll-a biomass with depth has hardly changed.     

The spring energy budget of the algal mat community in a Crimean hypersaline lake determined by microcalorimetry

The energy contents (standing stock) of the floating mat formed by the green alga Cladophora sivaschensis and the energy transfers through it were quantified for a shallow hypersaline lake (at Cape Khersones, Crimea, Ukraine) during the spring months. Appropriate direct calorimetric techniques were applied to: (i) measure the heat energy dissipated by the mat community and by the free bacterioplankton in the water column below it; and (ii) differentiate between the heat flows by the heterotrophic and the phototrophic components of the community. It was shown that Cladophora biomass reached a peak of 579.5 g C m^–2, contributing more than 99.6% of the total mat community. Throughout the spring, the total bacterial energy transfer (6 to 23 mW m^–2) was as little as 1.1 to 2.6% of the total heat dissipated by the microplankton community. The rest of the estimated heat energy (584 to 1488 mW m^–2) was associated with Cladophora metabolism. In the spring community: (i) the rate of biomass accumulation in the lake photic layer significantly exceeded its heterotrophic mineralisation; (ii) the efficiency of the microbial loop was too low to process even a minor part of the accumulated organic matter. The microcalorimetric technique was shown to be a highly promising approach for further studies of natural microbial mats and biofilms, biological systems with complex metabolism that involves not only aerobic processes but also anaerobic catabolism under local hypoxic/microxic conditions.