Effects of flood on the functioning of the Dobczyce reservoir ecosystem

The effects of two summer floods, in 1997 and 2001 on phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish in the Dobczyce reservoir are presented. Shifts in phytoplankton distribution (from hypolimnion into the whole water column) and species composition (domination of diatoms after the flood) were observed. High water flow eliminated large species of cladocerans and copepods (the most effective filtrators) and favoured development of rotifers. Both, the total zooplankton biomass and chlorophyll a concentration after the flood dropped considerably. In the case of fish, the observed changes in their distribution and decrease in concentration were attributed to their behaviour. During the flood, fish were avoiding open water also during the night, but two weeks following the flood they returned to their usual migratory behaviour. The Dobczyce reservoir ecosystem showed great regeneration abilities to recover after the flood.