Partitioning the Relative Importance of Phylogeny and Environmental Conditions on Phytoplankton Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids (EFA), which are primarily generated by phytoplankton, limit growth and reproduction in diverse heterotrophs. The biochemical composition of phytoplankton is well-known to be governed both by phylogeny and environmental conditions. Nutrients, light, salinity, and temperature all affect both phytoplankton growth and fatty acid composition. However, the relative importance of taxonomy and environment on algal fatty acid content has yet to be comparatively quantified, thus inhibiting predictions of changes to phytoplankton food quality in response to global environmental change. We compiled 1145 published marine and freshwater phytoplankton fatty acid profiles, consisting of 208 species from six major taxonomic groups, cultured in a wide range of environmental conditions, and used a multivariate distance-based linear model to quantify the total variation explained by each variable. Our results show that taxonomic group accounts for 3-4 times more variation in phytoplankton fatty acids than the most important growth condition variables. The results underscore that environmental conditions clearly affect phytoplankton fatty acid profiles, but also show that conditions account for relatively low variation compared to phylogeny. This suggests that the underlying mechanism determining basal food quality in aquatic habitats is primarily phytoplankton community composition, and allows for prediction of environmental-scale EFA dynamics based on phytoplankton community data. We used the compiled dataset to calculate seasonal dynamics of long-chain EFA (LCEFA; ≥C₂₀ ɷ-3 and ɷ-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid) concentrations and ɷ-3:ɷ-6 EFA ratios in Lake Washington using a multi-decadal phytoplankton community time series. These analyses quantify temporal dynamics of algal-derived LCEFA and food quality in a freshwater ecosystem that has undergone large community changes as a result of shifting resource management practices, highlighting diatoms, cryptophytes and dinoflagellates as key sources of LCEFA. Moreover, the analyses indicate that future shifts towards cyanobacteria-dominated communities will result in lower LCEFA content in aquatic ecosystems.     

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。       

A comparison of natural and human determinants of phytoplankton communities in the Kentucky River basin,USA

Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the Kentucky River and its tributaries were assessed for one year to compare effects of seasonal, spatial, and human environmental factors on phytoplankton. Phytoplankton cell densities were highest in the fall and summer and lowest in the winter. Cell densities averaged 1162 (± 289 SE) cells m1^–1. Cell densities were positively correlated to water temperature and negatively correlated to dissolved oxygen concentration and to factors associated with high-flow conditions (such as, suspended sediment concentrations). Chrysophytes, diatoms, and blue-green algae dominated winter, spring, and summer assemblages, respectively. Ordination analyses (DCCA) indicated that variation in taxonomic composition of assemblages was associated with stream size as well as season.Spatial variation in phytoplankton assemblages and effects of humans was investigated by sampling 55 sites in low flow conditions during August. Phytoplankton density increased with stream size. Assemblages shifted in composition from those dominated by benthic diatoms upstream to downstream communities dominated by blue-green algae and small flagellates. Human impacts were assumed to cause higher algal densities in stream basins with high proportions of agricultural or urban land use than in basins with forested/mined land use. While density and composition of phytoplankton were positively correlated to agricultural land use, they were poorly correlated to nutrient concentrations. Phytoplankton diversity changed with water quality: decreasing with nutrient enrichment and increasing with conditions that probably changed species composition or inhibited algal growth. Human impacts on phytoplankton in running water ecosystems were as great or greater than effects by natural seasonal and spatial factors. Our results indicated that phytoplankton could be useful indicators of water quality and ecosystem integrity in large river systems.     

Seasonal variation in phytoplankton composition and physical-chemical features of the shallow Lake Doïrani,Macedonia, Greece

Phytoplankton species composition, seasonal dynamics and spatial distribution in the shallow Lake Doïrani were studied during the growth season of 1996 along with key physical and chemical variables of the water. Weak thermal stratification developed in the lake during the warm period of 1996. The low N:P ratio suggests that nitrogen was the potential limiting nutrient of phytoplankton in the lake. In the phytoplankton of the lake, Chlorophyceae were the most species-rich group followed by Cyanophyceae. The monthly fluctuations of the total phytoplankton biomass presented high levels of summer algal biomass resembling that of other eutrophic lakes. Dinophyceae was the group most represented in the phytoplankton followed by Cyanophyceae. Diatomophyceae dominated in spring and autumn. Nanoplankton comprised around 90% of the total biomass in early spring and less than 10% in summer. The seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton generally followed the typical pattern outlined for other eutrophic lakes. R-species (small diatoms), dominant in the early phase of succession, were replaced by S-species (Microcystis, Anabaena, Ceratium) in summer. With cooling of the water in September, the biomass of diatoms (R-species) increased. The summer algal maxima consisted of a combination of H and M species associations (sensu Reynolds). Phytoplankton development in 1996 was subject to the combined effect of the thermal regime, the small depth of mixing and the increased sediment-water interactions in the lake, which caused changes in the underwater light conditions and nutrient concentrations.     

Palaeolimnological evidence for the independent evolution of neighbouring terminal lakes,the Murray Darling Basin,Australia

Phytoplankton composition and production are highly unpredictable within an estuary, due to the high variability of forcing factors, such as freshwater flow, salinity, nutrients and light. The Guadiana estuary has shown sharp inter-annual differences in freshwater flow, related to variable precipitation, which is expected to affect nutrient loadings, light availability and phytoplankton succession. Water retention due to dam construction will further enhance changes in river flow and ecosystem dynamics. The main goal of the present study was to describe and relate phytoplankton succession and environmental conditions, namely nutrients and light, in the Guadiana upper estuary (south-western Iberian Peninsula), a dam regulated temperate estuary. From March 2004 to October 2005, water samples were collected in three stations along a longitudinal transect covering the upper estuary. Several water variables were determined and phytoplankton composition was studied through inverted and epifluorescence microscopy. A typical freshwater phytoplankton succession was observed, from a diatom spring bloom to cyanobacteria dominance in the summer, and a second diatom bloom in the autumn. Neither nutrients nor light availability seemed to be related to the observed succession, especially the seasonal variation of diatom abundance. During summer, nutrient concentrations (especially Si) were high and non-limiting, whilst light was available in the mixing layer. However, diatoms were present in low numbers. Grazing pressure was probably responsible for the regulation of diatom seasonal succession in the Guadiana upper estuary, which should be addressed in future studies. Handling editor: K. Martens     

海南岛以南海域浮游植物群落特征研究

为掌握海南岛以南海域浮游植物群落特征, 1998–1999年对其进行了4个航次的现场调查。经显微镜检, 共鉴定出浮游植物290种(包括23个变种和5个变型)。在此基础上, 作者通过统计和聚类分析方法, 研究了这一区域浮游植物的物种组成、丰度变动和群落结构等特征。结果显示, 海南岛以南海域浮游植物物种丰富, 以硅藻门和甲藻门为主; 物种组成的时空差异显著。其优势种的暖水性、高盐性或广盐性特征明显。冷季以广温种小舟形藻(Navicula subminuscula)占优势, 随气温回升, 暖水性种类优势地位突出。不同季节浮游植物丰度差异小, 以硅藻门丰度占优势, 但与冷季相比, 暖季中甲藻门和蓝藻门丰度明显上升。4月和9月的高丰度中心位于西部海域北部湾湾口附近, 1月和12月则出现在中东部水域。聚类结果显示各浮游植物群落组分无明显的斑块分布特征。群落物种多样性表现为4月和9月高于1月和12月; 群落稳定性以12月份为最差; 中南部水域群落稳定性较差。总之, 海南岛以南海域浮游植物群落具独特的热带开阔海域生物区系特征。冷暖季群落特征有明显差异。海域水文条件对群落特征的影响复杂。     

Effects of resuspension and eutrophication level on summer phytoplankton dynamics in two hypertrophic areas of Lake Taihu,China

The composition of summer phytoplankton communities in two highly eutrophic areas of Lake Taihu, a large, shallow water body in China (area 2,338 km²; mean depth 2.0 m), was studied in relation to selected environmental variables. Both areas have multiple uses, including drinking water supply, fisheries, and recreation. The first area, Meiliang Bay, is much closer to central lake and subjected to wind-driven sediment resuspension, while the second, at Wuli Lake, is less affected by wave action but is considered more nutrient-rich due to its proximity to human inhabitation. By comparing two lake areas, we attempt to advance the understanding and management of different regions of shallow lakes, mainly differing in resuspension levels and eutrophication levels. A comparison of these two lake areas indicated a higher standing crop of phytoplankton in Wuli Lake than in Meiliang Bay. Canonic Correspondence Analysis indicated that nutrient status and sediment resuspension were the principal factors influencing phytoplankton composition in both areas. The dominant algal group in Meiliang Bay comprised immobile R-type strategists (Reynolds in Growth and reproductive strategies of freshwater phytoplankton, 1988), including filamentous diatoms and green algae (Aulacoseira granulate and Planctonema lauterbornii), and recruitment-beneficial RS-type strategists, mainly the colonial cyanobacteria (Microcystis spp.). The community of Wuli Lake was dominated by S-strategists, principally motile flagellates (Cryptomonas spp.) and C-strategists including small nonmotile centric diatoms and chlorococcal green algae.     

Studies on the Primary Production of Phytoplankton in Suraha Lake (Ballia,India)

The paper describes the seasonal variation in the rate of phytoplankton primary production in Suraha Lake – a large shallow water body – in relation to certain physico-chemical parameters and the abundance and composition of the phytoplankton over a period of two years.     

滇池北部湖区浮游植物时空格局及相关环境因子

为研究滇池北部湖区浮游植物的时空格局,探讨影响格局形成的关键影响因子,2008年12月至2009年6月,在滇池北部湖区选择6个点位,共开展了24次采样,调查并分析了浮游植物群落及其相关理化参数。通过比对滇池全湖周年监测数据,研究发现,北部湖区叶绿素a浓度从12月中旬开始下降,2月中旬降至最低值26.5μg/L,5月中旬达到最大值530.5μg/L。调查期间共鉴定出浮游植物74属97种,其中绿藻53种,蓝藻20种,硅藻17种,隐藻2种,金藻2种,甲藻1种,裸藻2种。蓝藻生物量在12月、3月至6月期间占优势,12月份优势种为绿色微囊藻(Microcystis viridis),3月至5月为水华束丝藻(Aphanizomenonflos-aquae),6月为惠氏微囊藻(Microcystis wesenbergii)。硅藻在1月占优势,优势种为颗粒直链藻最窄变种(Melosira granulata var.angustissima)。研究结果表明,水温高于14℃以上,微囊藻生物量迅速增加;束丝藻生物量随温度增加而增加,高于22℃时迅速减少。北部湖区6个点位浮游植物的空间差异显著,D1、D4号点微囊藻、束丝藻生物量显著高于其他四个点(P<0.01),D2、D5号点广缘小环藻生物量显著高于其他四个点(P<0.01)。研究结果显示,在富营养化严重的滇池北部湖区,水温可能为影响浮游植物种类组成及生物量的关键因子,浮游植物水平分布的差异主要由气象因素和水体营养盐共同决定。     

Spatial and temporal variation in phytoplankton community structure in a southeastern U.S. reservoir determined by HPLC and light microscopy

Spatial and temporal variation in phytoplankton community structure within a large flood-control reservoir (Sardis Reservoir, MS, USA) was investigated in relation to variation in physicochemical properties, location within the reservoir, hydraulic residence time (HRT), nutrient concentrations, temperature, and light conditions over a 14-month period. During periods of short HRT, phytoplankton communities throughout the reservoir were homogeneous in biomass, composition, and production. With a gradual increase in HRT from spring to summer, spatially heterogeneous phytoplankton communities developed along the longitudinal axis of the reservoir. During this period of longer HRT, diatoms and chlorophytes were a larger proportion of total phytoplankton biomass at shallow and more turbid locations near the head of the reservoir, whereas cyanobacteria were a larger proportion of the community at deeper and less turbid locations closer to the outflow. Seasonal succession of the phytoplankton community was represented by high abundance of diatoms in spring, increasing biomass of cyanobacteria through summer, and a secondary bloom of diatoms in fall. Species of Cyclotella, Asterionella, Nitzschia, and Ankistrodesmus were among the first colonizers in the early growing season, closely followed by Aulacoseira, whereas species of Staurastrum and Tetraedron appeared later in the spring. Species of Synedra, Crucigenia, Selenastrum, Scenedesmus, and Merismopedia occurred throughout the sampling period. As the diatoms started to decrease during mid-spring, cryptophytes increased, prior to dominance of species of Pseudanabaena in summer. Reservoir management of HRT, in combination with spatial variation in reservoir morphology and seasonal variation in temperature and riverine nutrient inputs, creates seasonally variable yet distinct spatial patterns in phytoplankton community biomass, composition, and production. Handling editor: L. Naselli-Flores     

The phytoplankton of Great Bitter Lake,Egypt, including the impacts of nutrient-laden and heated effluents

A year-long survey of the phytoplankton and nutrients in Great Bitter Lake indicates that this is a severely eutrophic lake. Chlorophyll levels were consistently high (>30μg/l), especially in summer (>90μg/l). The phytoplankton community comprised mostly diatoms and blue-green algae, although dinoflagellates and green algae were important at times. Local effects of effluent from a drain coming from the city of Ismailia were evident, although the effect of tourist hotels at Palma Beach was not detectable. The discharge of heated water from a thermal power plant raised the water temperature in the impacted area by 13°C in autumn and 22°C in summer and also caused decreases in chlorophyll and phytoplankton abundance. Dissolved nutrient levels were high and, especially at the offshore station, had a rather constant ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen to phosphate. The distribution of phytoplankton and chlorophyll were related more to temporal, presumably seasonal, variation than proximity to point sources of pollution.     

Sequential rather than interactive effects of multiple stressors as drivers of phytoplankton community change in a large lake

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The impact of climate on the geographical distribution of phytoplankton species in boreal lakes

Here, we use a novel space-by-time approach to study large-scale changes in phytoplankton species distribution in Swedish boreal lakes in response to climate variability. Using phytoplankton samples from 27 lakes, evenly distributed across Sweden, all relatively unimpacted by anthropogenic disturbance and sampled annually between 1996 and 2010, we found significant shifts in the geographical distribution of 18 species. We also found significant changes in the prevalence of 45 species (33 became more common and 12 less common) over the study period. Using species distribution models and phytoplankton samples from 60 lakes sampled at least twice between 1992 and 2010, we evaluated the importance of climate variability and other environmental variables on species distribution. We found that temperature (e.g., extreme events and the duration of the growing season) was the most important predictor for species detections. Many cyanobacteria, chlorophytes, and, to a lesser extent, diatoms and zygnematophytes, showed congruent and positive responses to temperature. In contrast, precipitation explained little variation and was important only for a few taxa (e.g., Staurodesmus spp., Trachelomonas volvocina). At the community level, our results suggest a change in community composition at temperatures over 20 °C and growing seasons longer than 40 days. We conclude that climate is an important driver of the distributional patterns of individual phytoplankton species and may drive changes in community composition in minimally disturbed boreal lakes.     

Temperature modulated effects of nutrients on phytoplankton changes in a mountain lake

Piburger See, a dimictic mountain lake in Austria, experienced moderate cultural eutrophication in the 1950s. Lake restoration led to a re-oligotrophication in the 1990s with a decrease in seasonal phytoplankton biovolume until the late 1990s, but a reversed trend from the early 2000s onwards. We hypothesize that recent changes in phytoplankton biomass and functional structure are triggered by changes in lake nitrogen and silica concentrations, and we expect climate-related factors to modulate the trophic status of Piburger See. Phytoplankton data were analyzed by non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) applied on biovolume of morpho-functional groups, combined with correlation analyses of environmental variables. Since the 2000s, short-term changes in phytoplankton of Piburger See were explained by varying concentrations and ratios of nitrogen and silica, while the inter-annual variability in phytoplankton species composition was rather attributed to superimposed rising water temperature and lake thermal stability. Our results underline the co-dominant role of phosphorus and nitrogen as phytoplankton drivers in lakes that experience periods of nitrogen limitation. The combined impact of nutrients and climate on phytoplankton development can thus mimic short-term increases in the trophic level of less productive lakes.     

太湖梅梁湾大型控藻围栏对浮游甲壳动物群落结构的影响

2005年对太湖梅梁湾大型鲢、鳙控藻围栏内外浮游甲壳动物群落结构的季节变化进行了监测.结果表明:围栏内外的环境因子、浮游植物生物量、浮游甲壳动物种类组成无显著差异.但鲢、鳙放养对浮游甲壳动物的生物量产生了较大的影响,围栏内浮游甲壳动物的总生物量和枝角类的生物量显著低于围栏外.总体上,枝角类各种类的生物量受鲢、鳙放养的影响程度大于桡足类的种类.太湖梅梁湾浮游甲壳动物的季节演替明显,大部分种类只是季节性出现.冬季和春季以溞(Daphnia sp.)和近邻剑水蚤(Cyclops vicnus)等大型种类为主,夏季和秋季以象鼻溞(Bosmina sp.)、角突网纹溞(Ceriodaphnia cornuta)和中华窄腹剑水蚤(Limnoithona sinensis)等小型种类为主.典范对应分析表明,透明度、温度和浮游植物的生物量是影响浮游甲壳动物季节变化的主要因素.     

Seasonal and spatial functional shifts in phytoplankton communities of five tropical reservoirs

Trait-based approaches have become increasingly important and valuable in understanding phytoplankton community assembly and composition. These approaches allow for comparisons between water bodies with different species composition. We hypothesize that similar changes in environmental conditions lead to similar responses with regard to functional traits of phytoplankton communities, regardless of trophic state or species composition. We studied the phytoplankton (species composition, community trait mean and diversity) of five reservoirs in Brazil along a trophic gradient from ultra-oligotrophic to meso-eutrophic. Samples at two seasons (summer/rainy and winter/dry) with a horizontal and vertical resolution were taken. Using multivariate analysis, the five reservoirs separated, despite some overlap, according to their environmental variables (mainly total phosphorus, conductivity, pH, chlorophyll a). However, between the seasonal periods, the reservoirs shifted in a similar direction in the multi-dimensional space. The seasonal response of the overall phytoplankton community trait mean differed between the ultra-oligotrophic and the other reservoirs, with three reservoirs exhibiting a very similar community trait mean despite considerable differences in species composition. Within-season differences between different water layers were low. The functional diversity was also unrelated to the trophic state of the reservoirs. Thus, seasonal environmental changes had strong influence on the functional characteristics of the phytoplankton community in reservoirs with distinct trophic condition and species composition. These results demonstrate that an ataxonomic trait-based approach is a relevant tool for comparative studies in phytoplankton ecology.     

Phytoplankton Composition and Abundance in Restored Maltański Reservoir under the Influence of Physico-Chemical Variables and Zooplankton Grazing Pressure

In this paper we present the effects of environmental factors and zooplankton food pressure on phytoplankton in the restored man-made Maltański Reservoir (MR). Two methods of restoration: biomanipulation and phosphorus inactivation have been applied in the reservoir. Nine taxonomical groups of phytoplankton represented in total by 183 taxa were stated there. The richest groups in respect of taxa number were green algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms. The diatoms, cryptophytes, chrysophytes, cyanobacteria, green algae and euglenophytes dominated in terms of abundance and/or biomass. There were significant changes among environmental parameters resulting from restoration measures which influenced the phytoplankton populations in the reservoir. These measures led to a decrease of phosphorus concentration due to its chemical inactivation and enhanced zooplankton grazing as a result of planktivorous fish stocking. The aim of the study is to analyse the reaction of phytoplankton to the restoration measures and, most importantly, to determine the extent to which the qualitative and quantitative composition of phytoplankton depends on variables changing under the influence of restoration in comparison with other environmental variables. We stated that application of restoration methods did cause significant changes in phytoplankton community structure. The abundance of most phytoplankton taxa was negatively correlated with large zooplankton filter feeders, and positively with zooplankton predators and concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and partly of phosphates. However, restoration was insufficient in the case of decreasing phytoplankton abundance. The effects of restoration treatments were of less importance for the abundance of phytoplankton than parameters that were independent of the restoration. This was due to the continuous inflow of large loads of nutrients from the area of the river catchment.     

海南西部近岸浮游植物的周年变化及主要关联因素

报道了2008—2009年4季度海南西部近岸浮游植物群落的周年动态并探讨其主要关联因素。165份样品经鉴定共有浮游植物4门74属155种(含5变型和2变种),周年平均丰度为(6.36±4.75)×103cells/L。硅藻在物种组成和丰度上均占绝对优势,其次为甲藻,蓝藻(束毛藻)在7月增殖。主要优势种为菱形海线藻(Thalassionema nitzschioides)、奇异棍形藻(Bacillaria paradoxa)、具槽帕拉藻(Paralia sulcata)、旋链角毛藻(Chaetoceros curvisetus)、笔尖根管藻(Rhizosolenia styliformis)、束毛藻(Trichodesmium spp.)、海洋原甲藻(Prorocentrum micans)等。物种组成的季节差异较大,10月浮游植物种类贫乏,1月次之,4月、7月最丰富。丰度10月最高,季节差异并不明显。束毛藻在4月、7月呈斑块状群聚分布。浮游植物周年平均丰度并不高(<1.0×104cells/L)。不同季节优势种有明显的交错和变化,菱形海线藻、奇异棍形藻、具槽帕拉藻为全年优势种。浮游植物物种多样性指数和均匀度都表现出较高的值,均匀度与多样性指数的季节变化特点基本一致,群落多样性高的季节物种均匀度也好。物种多样性指数指示调查区水体遭受污染程度低,水质状况优。调查区各季节的浮游植物丰度与温度之间无显著的相关关系,1月丰度与盐度则呈密切负相关关系。10月浮游植物丰度与无机氮(DIN)呈密切的正相关关系。7月浮游植物丰度与活性磷酸盐(PO4-P)呈密切的负相关关系。浮游动物对浮游植物的摄食压力直接影响到后者的丰度变动,并伴随着海区生态系统的相关复杂现象及生物学过程的作用。     

A global satellite observation of phytoplankton taxonomic groups over the past two decades

Marine phytoplankton fuel the oceanic biotic chain, determine the carbon sequestration levels, and are crucial for the global carbon cycle and climate change. In the present study, we show a near-two-decadal (2002–2022) spatiotemporal distribution of global phytoplankton abundance, proxy as dominant phytoplankton taxonomic groups (PTGs), with a newly developed remote sensing model. Globally, six chief PTGs, namely chlorophytes (~26%), diatoms (~24%), haptophytes (~15%), cryptophytes (~10%), cyanobacteria (~8%), and dinoflagellates (~3%), explain most of the variation (~86%) in phytoplankton assemblages. Spatially, diatoms generally dominate high latitudes, marginal seas, and coastal upwelling zones, whereas chlorophytes and haptophytes control the open oceans. Satellite observations reveal a gentle multi-annual trend of the PTGs in the major oceans, indicative of roughly “unchanged” conditions on the total biomass or compositions of the phytoplankton community. Jointly, “changed” status applies to a short-term (seasonal) timescale: (1) Fluctuations of PTGs exhibit different amplitudes among different subregions, together with a general rule-more intense vibration in the Northern Hemisphere and polar oceans than other zones; (2) diatoms and haptophytes vary more dramatically than other PTGs in a global-scale scope. These findings provide a clear picture of the global phytoplankton community composition and can improve our understanding of their state and further analysis of marine biological processes.     

Recurrent seasonal variations in abundance and composition of filamentous SOL cluster bacteria (Saprospiraceae, Bacteroidetes) in oligomesotrophic Lake Mondsee (Austria)

The spatial and temporal variation of SOL cluster bacteria was assessed in oligomesotrophic Lake Mondsee and adjacent lakes by fluorescence in situ hybridization over two annual cycles. The filamentous SOL bacteria were present in Lake Mondsee throughout the study period, and the seasonal dynamics of the SOL community were remarkably similar with respect to both abundance and composition in the two consecutive years. Only two of the three SOL subclusters were detected in Lake Mondsee and four connected lakes. These two populations significantly differed in size distribution and demonstrated pronounced but recurrent differences in seasonality and length of period of appearance in Lake Mondsee. Extensive sampling of the lakes in September 2003 revealed low horizontal variation in the composition of the SOL community within Lake Mondsee but marked variations with depth. Between connected habitats pronounced differences in the composition and abundance of the SOL community were detected. The interaction of SOL bacteria with bacterivorous protists, mesozooplankton, and phytoplankton was investigated in order to reveal variables controlling the structure and dynamics of SOL communities. No strong indication for a bottom-up influence of phytoplankton was found, while the estimated community grazing rates of mesozooplankton on SOL bacteria indicated a top-down control of SOL abundance during mesozooplankton peaks in spring and early autumn. Furthermore, species-specific differences in grazing of mesozooplankton on SOL bacteria were observed. In general, the overall composition of SOL communities was controlled by abiotic factors (water chemistry), while their dynamics seemed to be controlled by abiotic and biotic interactions.