The phytoplankton species composition and the seasonal periodicity in Lake Vechten from 1956 to 1979

The species composition and seasonal periodicity of the phytoplankton in Lake Vechten (The Netherlands) have been studied over a 20 year period. The results show a more or less regular pattern of algal succession during the year. Phytoplankton growth starts early in the year leading to a maximum in early spring, dominated by Bacillariophyceae and some Chlorophyceae. In summer a second maximum develops mainly consisting of a chrysophycean and a dinophycean species, accompanied by several Chlorophyceae. In September the summer species are gradually succeeded by diatoms. By the end of the summer stratification in October algal numbers decrease rapidly. The winter community consists of several species of Cryptophyceae and Chrysophyceae.When the data of 1975–1979 are compared with those from earlier records, distinct changes can be observed. These changes are discussed with reference to the trophic status of the lake. The vertical distribution of some species is described.     

Seasonal phytoplankton responses to N:Si:P enrichment ratio in the Bizerte Lagoon (southwestern Mediterranean)

This study investigated the role of N, P and Si enrichments on phytoplankton in the Bizerte Lagoon (southwestern Mediterranean Sea, Tunisia) during March, June, August, October and December 2004. Polycarbonate bottles were enriched with different nutrients according to four treatments N:Si:P ratios [+NSi/-P (40:40:1), +P/-NSi (20:20:2,5), +NP/-Si (16:0:1) and +Si/-NP (16:32:1)] and incubated in situ during six days. Chl a and carbon biomass of phytoplankton varied significantly during the course of months, with the highest levels recorded in summer (4-4.4 microg Chl a L(-1) or 1126-1721 microg C L(-1)). Dinoflagellates dominated the initial phytoplankton communities, except in August, when diatoms represented a high fraction of microalgae (48%). Enrichment experiments induced significant increases in Chl a and in the final phytoplankton carbon biomasses. In summer (June/August), Si was the main limiting element for phytoplankton. Diatoms strongly responded to +Si/-NP and +NSi/-P enrichments and dominated the final phytoplankton communities (52-61%) in both treatments. Si played the most important role in the growth and development of diatoms. The biomasses and growth rates of dinoflagellates were significantly stimulated by +P/-NSi and +NP/-Si enrichments. After 6 days, dinoflagellates represented more than 70% of the total phytoplankton biomass in samples subjected to these treatments. Moreover, the addition of +P/-NSi increased the biomasses of several dinoflagellates. This suggests that dinoflagellates were mostly controlled by P availability. Unlike diatoms and dinoflagellates, flagellates showed weak responses to nutrient treatments during only some months of the year. The results showed that phytoplankton dynamics in the lagoon were influenced by nutrients in different manners.     

Changes in fish species composition in Lake Naivasha,Kenya

The fish species composition in Lake Naivasha has been modified during recent years. Out of seven introduced and one indigenous species reported in 1962, only three introduced ones are found today. The elimination of species has been brought about by predation and changing ecological conditions. The most common fish species today is Sarotherodon leucosticuus. The hybridization found by previous workers between S. leucostictus x S. spilurus niger has stopped, as S. s. niger is no longer found in the lake. Most of the hybrid characters have been lost by the few surviving hybrids due to backcrossing between hybrids and between hybrids and S. leucostictus. The hybrids now mostly resemble S. leucostictus.     

Lake Kinneret phytoplankton: Response to N and P enrichments in experiments and in nature

A series of water samples from Lake Kinneret was supplemented with 100 µM N (as NH₄ or as NO₃ and/or 10 µM orthophosphate-P. The yield of phytoplankton both as chlorophyll and in cell numbers of major species was determined after a two-week incubation. During these experiments, some of the algae present initially never multiplied (e.g. Peridinium and Peridiniopsis spp. Cryptomonas spp., Rhodomonas spp. and Crysochromulina parva); others e.g. Anomoeoneis exilis, Synedra sp., Chlamydomonas sp., Elakatothrix gelatinosa), undetected in the original sample, grew out during the incubation. Chlorophyte species (the majority of commonly observed forms in the lake) responded most readily to added nutrients.The results of these enrichment experiments were related to the long-term record of phytoplankton populations observed in the lake and suggest that through summer and fall, when ambient levels of both P and N are minimal, P was generally, but not always, the most limiting nutrient for algal growth. In the spring, after the decline of the Peridinium bloom, P appeared to be limiting the growth of Chlorophyta. Although most algal species grew equally well on NH₄ or NO₃, some species appeared to respond preferentially either to the former (Coelastrum, Chodatella) or to the latter (Chroococcus, Anomoeoneis) source of N.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the species composition of summer phytoplankton of Lake Hubsugul,Mongolia

The summer phytoplankton of ultraoligotrophic Lake Hubsugul, Mongolia, was studied in 1985–1989. 24 taxa, mostly belonging to the chlorococcal algae, are illustrated and their main diagnostic features discussed. Two new combinations,Monoraphidium pseudomirabile (Kor?.) Hind. etZagor., andOocystella mongolia (Antip.) Hind. etZagor, are created.     

Changes in the phytoplankton of Lake Trummen induced by restoration

Lake Trummen, previously an oligotrophic lake, was heavily polluted during 1930–1957. The lake was restored by suction dredging of the top sediment layer. After restoration nutrien concentrations and phytoplankton biomass were drastically reduced. Eutrophic species disappeared and more oligotrophic species returned to the lake. The investigation covers 12 years-monthly-bimonthly countings of algae together with electronmicroscopical studies of taxonomically difficult taxa. The investigation was made at the species level (300 species identified and 80 quantitatively recorded).     

The composition and abundance of phytoplankton in Lake Bukoni,western Uganda

Lake Bukoni is one of the crater lakes in western Uganda. Investigations into this lake is limited compared to other African lakes. Data on phytoplankton ecology in the lake are lacking. Phytoplankton consists of a community of photosynthetic, microscopic plants adapted to suspension in water. They constitute ‘hidden flora’ which make an important contribution to the primary productivity of a water mass. Some phytoplankton taxa, among them species belonging to Cyanophyta, are known to influence ecological transformations and to cause health hazards in water bodies that are used by humans. From July 2004 to December 2005, phytoplankton was collected from two sites (inshore and offshore) in Lake Bukoni. An inverted microscope, Sedgwick counting chamber and multiple tally denominator were used to quantify the phytoplankton. Phytoplankton was dominated by nonheterocystous cyanoprokaryotes especially Lyllgbya limnetica followed by the diatoms Synedra ulna and Fragillaria mutabilis. The inshore site had more phytoplankton species. Differences in phytoplankton diversity and density were mainly attributed to mixing and presence of macrophytes. The occurrence of large numbers of cyanoprokaryotes poses a potential health hazard to the local people who utilize the water from Lake Bukoni. The dominance of cyanoprokaryotes might result in ecological transformations like loss of biodiversity.     

Zooplankton contribution to the particulate N and P in Lake Kinneret,Israel, under changing water levels

The association of water level changes and the relative (%) contributions of crustacean zooplankton to particulate N (PNz) and particulate P (PPz) in Lake Kinneret, Israel were studied. The PNz and PPz were assessed for a period of 10 years (1999–2008) in relation to water level (WL) changes which occurred during that period. We estimated PNz and PPz, based on crustacean N and P content measured seasonally over 2 years, and a 10-year record of zooplankton densities. Mean cladoceran N and P contents were 8.7 and 1.2% of dry weight, respectively, while for copepods they were 9.5 and 1.5% of dry weight, respectively. Zooplankton density, and hence PNz and PPz, changed dramatically during the 10 years, concurrent with extreme variations in the lake’s WL. The lowest mean values of PNz and PPz occurred during high WL years and the highest PNz and PPz were during low WL years. PNz and PPz were negatively correlated with the total PN and PP concentrations, respectively, in the lake. The reduction in zooplankton contribution to the particulate N and P during high WL is probably due to higher loading of particulate matter in wet years, causing an increase of PN and PP concentration in the lake, as well as lower densities of zooplankton, caused by higher fish predation pressure, both are a by-product of the large water influx during extreme wet winters.     

Effects of nutrient (N, P, C) enrichment upon periphyton standing crop, species composition and primary production in an oligotrophic softwater lake

SUMMARY. 1. The effects of nutrient addition upon algal periphyton standing crop and benthic community metabolism were investigated in Lake Lacawac, Pennsylvania. Nutrient-diffusing flower pot substrates were filled with combinations of P (0.015 mol Na₂HPO₄), N (0.15molNaNO₃) and carbon as glucose (0.015mol (LG) or 0.15mol (HG)) or 0.58 mol NaHCO₃ (C). Fifty-two pots representing ten treatments were placed in the lake on 5 May 1985 and sampled after 32-38 days. 2. Maximum chlorophyll-a values of 23.82μgcm^?2 and 29.72μgcm^?2 were obtained on NPC and NPHG pots respectively, compared to 0.82μgcm^?2 on control pots. Algal growth was not enhanced unless N and either organic or inorganic carbon were supplied. Ash Free Dry Mass was especially high on NPHG pots. 3. Gross production, net production and community respiration were assessed with light-dark chambers affixed to the pots using microwinkler measurements of dissolved oxygen. Highest production rates were obtained on NC and NPC pots. Pots with NPLG and NPHG also showed significant increases in gross production compared to control levels (P < 0.01). Specific production (=gross production/chlorophyll-a) was significantly related to standing crop as chlorophylls (P < 0.001), alkalinity in the chambers (P < 0.00l) and light (P < 0. 05), but not to N or P supplied by the pots. 4. The periphyton community was dominated by Chlorophyta, which averaged 86.1% of total algal biovolume. Enrichment with NC and NPC significantly enhanced the growth of three Chlorophyceae (Stigeoclonium, Scenedesmus and an unidentified coccoid) and two Cryptophyceae (Cryptomonas. Rhodomonas) (all P < 0.05). In contrast, the filamentous green alga Mougeotia dominated other treatments, but declined significantly with NPC enrichment (P < 0.05). Addition of NPHG stimulated an 8-fold increase in total biovolume and significant increases in growth of Cryptomonas, Rhodomonas and Euglena (all P < 0.05).     

Dredging effects on P status and phytoplankton density and composition during winter and spring in Lake Taihu, China

Phytoplankton density and composition, together with phosphorus (P) concentrations and size-fractionated alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), were investigated in dredged and undredged zones in Lake Taihu from January to April 2004. P concentrations were also determined in the corresponding interstitial water. Enzyme Labeled Fluorescence (ELF) was used for localizing extracellular phosphatase on phytoplankton cell membranes in April. The increase in phytoplankton density was paralleled by a significant increase in soluble reactive P (SRP) concentrations in the water column and interstitial water at all sites from January to April, with chlorophyte gradually becoming dominant. In February, at the undredged site, more algae dominated by chlorophyte occurred in overlying water, rather than in the surface, coinciding with higher SRP concentrations in overlying and interstitial water. Therefore, P status in the bottom is important to phytoplankton development in terms of density and composition. Undredged sites had higher SRP concentrations in interstitial water than dredged sites. Furthermore, Higher APA was observed, accompanied by higher dissolved organic P (DOP) and lower total P at the undredged site in February. Enzymatic hydrolysis of DOP may have been an additional source of P for phytoplankton. In April, Schroederia sp. was ELF labeled in surface water at the dredged site, which showed markedly lower SRP concentration, but not at the undredged site with higher SRP concentration. Thus, the dredging might regulate algal density and composition in water column by reducing P bioavailability.     

Effects of the halocline on water quality and phytoplankton composition in a shallow brackish lake (Lake Obuchi, Japan)

The relationships of the halocline to both water quality and phytoplankton composition in Lake Obuchi, a shallow brackish lake in northern Japan, were investigated from April 2001 to December 2004. The halocline in this lake became stronger in summer (July–September, mean maximum density gradient 4.3–5.8 ρ_tm⁻¹) but weaker in spring, fall, and winter (1.9–3.3 ρ_tm⁻¹). Although the difference in water quality between the upper and lower layers separated by the halocline was high in summer, nutrients (PO₄³⁻-P and NH₄⁺-N) were eluted from the bottom sediment as levels of dissolved oxygen decreased in the bottom layer because of the strong stratification caused by the halocline formed over the long term. Moreover, phytoplankton taxa composition also differed between the upper and lower layers in summer, but was similar in other seasons. The dominant phytoplankton taxa in the upper layer in summer were Skeletonema costatum and Cyclotella spp., whereas in the lower layer, Gymnodinium spp. (Dinophyceae) and Chlorophyceae, which prefer eutrophic and low dissolved oxygen conditions, dominated. This suggests that the halocline was related to differentiations in both water quality and ecosystem components between the upper and lower layers in the brackish lake water.     

Benthic algal response to N and P enrichment along a pH gradient

Nutrient enrichment and its effect on benthic algal growth, community composition, and average cell size was assessed across two sites of differing pH within a single habitat. Nutrients were added using in situ substrata, which released either N, P, or no additional nutrients (controls) at each site for 21 days. Upon collection, chlorophyll and biovolume standing stocks of the attached algal microflora were measured. Chlorophyll concentration was different among all treatments, accumulating greatest on P, followed by N, and the least on C substrata (P < 0.001) and was highest at site-2 (P < 0.001), while total algal biovolume was highest on P compared to both N and C substrata (P < 0.05) and did not vary between sites. Increased growth on P substrata was due to the enhanced biovolume of filamentous green algae, although the affected taxa varied between sites. Biovolume to cell density ratios (as a measure of average cell size) were highest on P substrata over both N-enriched and control substrata (P < 0.05) and this pattern was similar between sites. Progression towards a community composed of larger cells following P enrichment observed along this pH gradient, seems to be related to the dominance of larger celled filamentous green algae. Thus, nutrients exhibited greater control on benthic algal growth than did changes in hydrogen ion concentration.Contribution number 581, Great Lakes Environmental Research LaboratoryContribution number 581, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory     

Changes to the phytoplankton assemblage of Lake Kinneret after decades of a predictable, repetitive pattern

1. Phytoplankton abundance and species composition in Lake Kinneret, Israel, have been monitored at weekly or fortnightly intervals since 1969. This paper summarises the resulting 34‐year phytoplankton record with a focus on the last 13 years of new data, and reassesses an earlier conclusion that the lake phytoplankton shows remarkable stability despite a wide range of external pressures. 2. The Kinneret phytoplankton record can be split into two major periods. The first, from 1969 till 1993, was a period of distinct stability expressed by a typical annual pattern revolving around a spring bloom of the dinoflagellate Peridinium gatunense that repeated each year. The second period, starting around 1994 and ongoing, is characterised by the loss of the previously predictable annual pattern, with both ‘bloom years’ and ‘no‐bloom years’. 3. In the second period, deviations from the previous annual pattern include: the absence of the prevailing spring P. gatunense blooms in some years and increased variability in the magnitude of the bloom in others; intensification of winter Aulacoseira granulata blooms; higher summer phytoplankton biomass with replacement of mostly nanoplanktonic, palatable forms by less palatable forms; new appearance and establishment of toxin‐producing, nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria in summer; increase in the absolute biomass and percentage contribution of cyanobacteria to total biomass; and fungal epidemics attacking P. gatunense. 4. The 34‐year record serves to validate Schindler's (1987) assessment that phytoplankton species composition will respond to increased anthropogenic stress before bulk ecosystem parameters.     

Interannual variability in phytoplankton biomass and species composition in a subtropical reservoir

• 1 The interannual variability of the dominant phytoplankton populations is described in a subtropical reservoir in Queensland using weekly data for a 16-year period between 1978 and 1994. North Pine Dam, Brisbane, is in an area characterized by strong interannual variability in rainfall. This variability is linked to El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Between 1978 and 1994 periods of drought (during strong ENSO events) were interspersed by periods of flooding rains. Rainfall on the catchment and temperature and oxygen within the dam showed strong 40-day periodicities which also varied in strength interannually in response to ENSO events. Similar patterns of fluctuations in the 40-day periodicity have been found elsewhere in SE Australia. Seasonal cycles of stratification in the dam were a function of both hydrographic and hydrological events. Intermittent rain storms caused partial turnovers and large outflows. As much as 90% of the dam volume was exchanged in a single flood event.
• 2 The dominant phytoplankton species were similar to those frequently found in tropical and subtropical lakes and reservoirs. The phytoplankton community switched between cyanobacterial blooms (Cylindrospermopsis, Microcystis) during drought and falling water levels and diatom blooms (Aulacoseira) in response to inflows and seasonal turnovers. There appeared to be a subtle interaction between inflows, water column stability, the periodic overturns and the occurrence of the dominant species. All the dominant species showed long periods (2–4 years) of exponential increase or decrease superimposed on top of the seasonal fluctuations in abundance. These patterns of abundance led to marked interannual variability in the phytoplankton biomass. Climate variability had a major impact on the seasonal and interannual changes of the dominant phytoplankton species.
• 3 Phytoplankton biomass tended to be depressed for about 3 months after individual storm events but the data also displayed long-term lag effects (2–4 years) which destroyed any significant correlation between water residence time and biomass. Summer maxima of biomass dominated by cyanobacteria disappeared between 1985 and 1990 and were replaced by smaller winter peaks. The data presented here are not capable of unequivocally identifying the precise reason for these longer-term effects. Because of the implications for water quality management in subtropical and tropical reservoirs they warrant further study.

     

Succession of phytoplankton species in indoor reservoir models varying in sediment composition and water inlet site

Using four continuous-flow indoor reservoir models, the combined effects of varying water inlet depth and sediment composition on phytoplankton species composition and its succession pattern were studied. Species which are known to bloom in eutrophicated reservoirs were dominant in the species succession in each tank. At any one time, a step-like pattern was observed in the composition of the dominant species of each tank, wherein all the species which appeared in a tank with a lower phosphorus concentration were included in the species composition of the tank with a higher phosphorus concentration in an additive relationship.     

Stable patterns in size structure of a phytoplankton species of Lake Kinneret

The aim of the study was a search for typical structure patterns of phytoplankton assemblages, based on the long-term dynamics analysis. As a test case we used the interannual phytoplankton variability of Lake Kinneret (Israel). The dominant phytoplankton species (Peridinium gatunense) structure was presented as the frequency-weighted taxonomic size spectrum (TSS) which describes the size distribution of the operational taxonomic unit (OTUj) occurrence frequencies. Using 24 years monitoring data, the TSS annual patterns of P. gatunense were compared. Typical persistent TSS patterns were evident even during years of pronounced deviations from the typical patterns of phytoplankton biomass dynamics and species composition. By correlation analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and ANOVA the TSS variability was quantified and compared. While the TSS general shape was almost constant, its amplitude variations allowed us to distinguish between three levels of annual bloom intensity. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users     

Species-specific differences in phytoplankton responses to N and P enrichments and the N:P ratio in the Archipelago Sea, northern Baltic Sea

A nutrient enrichment experiment was conducted in order to studythe role of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and the N:P ratio onthe early summer phytoplankton community in the ArchipelagoSea, northern Baltic Sea. The phytoplankton community was, interms of chlorophyll a and total biomass, primarily N-limited,but the individual species varied in their responses to thenutrient supply. The recorded overall N limitation was due tofast growth responses of a few N-limited species such as thediatom Chaetoceros wighamii (Brightwell) and the mixotrophicchrysophyte Uroglena sp. Another dominating diatom, Skeletonemacostatum (Greville) Cleve was most clearly P-limited. The N:Pratio had the strongest effect on Uroglena sp., which grew exponentiallyin the enrichments with a high N:P ratio. This can be explainedby the ability of the species to feed on P-rich bacteria, whichgives it a competitive advantage in P-limited conditions. Thespecies-specific differences in the responses to the nutrientenrichments can generally be explained by differences in thespecies physiology and they were consistent with the theoryof resource competition.     

The role of C, N and P in dissolved and particulate organic matter as a nutrient source for phytoplankton growth, including toxic species

Phytoplankton have traditionally been regarded as strictly phototrophic, with a well defined position at the base of pelagic food webs. However, recently we have learned that the nutritional demands of a growing number of phytoplankton species can be met, at least partially, or under specific environmental conditions, through heterotrophy. Mixotrophy is the ability of an organism to be both phototrophic and heterotrophic, in the latter case utilizing either organic particles (phagotrophy) or dissolved organic substances (osmotrophy). This finding has direct implications for our view on algal survival strategies, particularly for harmful species, and energy- and nutrient flow in pelagic food webs. Mixotrophic species may outcompete strict autotrophs, e.g. in waters poor in inorganic nutrients or under low light. In the traditional view of the ‘microbial loop’ DOC is thought to be channeled from algal photosynthesis to bacteria and then up the food chain through heterotrophic flagellates, ciliates and mesozooplankton. Are mixotrophic phytoplankton that feed on bacteria also significantly contributing to this transport of photosynthetic carbon up the food chain? How can we estimate the fluxes of carbon and nutrients between different trophic levels in the plankton food web involving phagotrophic algae? These questions largely remain unanswered. In this review we treat evidence for both osmotrophy and phagotrophy in phytoplankton, especially toxic marine species, and some ecological implications of mixotrophy.     

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).