The role of phosphorus in growth of phytoplankton in Lake Vesijärvi,southern Finland – a multitechnique approach

The role of phosphorus in phytoplankton growth was studied in Lake Vesijärvi, a large previously eutrophic body of water with a history of flourishing fishery. The study combined different approaches: long-term algal enrichment experiments with natural phytoplankton assemblages were carried out together with observations on nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations, elemental ratios (N:P, C:P, C:N) of particulate matter, and analysis of P uptake using [³³P]. None of the approaches revealed periods of P limitation, but some growth experiments as well as elemental ratios indicated slight deficiency in early summer. Concentrations of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), which were usually 20–30 g l^–1, also indicated luxurious P resources. Thermal stratification was weak and the lake mixed twice during the study period; this was reflected in the phytoplankton biomass that increased up to 4-fold. Results of elemental ratios usually suggested the occurrence of nitrogen limitation, and in general these ratios were low for a lake. All size fractions >0.22 m in the experiments with [³³P] showed P uptake. In August most of the P was taken up by picoplankton, but when the lake turned over in September, the uptake of P by this fraction was absent. Thus, there was always a plentiful supply of P for phytoplankton, but the shortage of inorganic N may have affected those algae not capable of fixing N₂. These conditions should have favoured the growth of heterocystous cyanobacteria, but these prokaryotes never attained high abundances. This may have been due to the weak stability of the water column, or the growth of cyanobacteria may have been limited by trace elements such as molybdenum or iron.     

Resistance of a coastal ecosystem to increasing eutrophic conditions: the Bay of Brest (France), a semi-enclosed zone of Western Europe

The Bay of Brest is a semi-enclosed coastal ecosystem receiving high nutrients loading from freshwater inputs. In order to analyse the response of phytoplankton stocks to increasing eutrophic conditions, a survey of the annual cycle of hydrographic properties, nutrients and chlorophyll a concentrations, and carbon uptake rates was performed at four stations in 1993. This database has been compared to earlier measurements performed during several comparable surveys within the last 20 years. As compared to the seventies, a doubled nitrate loading is now entering this ecosystem, which is related to increased agricultural activities on the drainage basins, while the geographical origin of the nitrate input has been modified. As a result of these anthropogenic modifications, summer averaged Si/N stoichiometric balance has decreased during the two last decades but, contrary to what has been observed in other coastal ecosystems, phytoplankton stocks have not increased. Several ecological factors have hindered eutrophication: the high hydrodynamic mixing with adjacent marine waters, caused by the macrotidal regime, induces important nutrients losses, temperature and mostly light limit primary production while Si and P high recycling maintain nitrogen limitation in this ecosystem. Conjunction of these non-anthropogenic factors explains the global stability of phytoplankton stocks.     

Planktonic algae and epiphyton of the littoral in lake Peipsi, Estonia

The littoral plankton of Lake Peipsi (3555 km², mean depth 7.1 m) was studied in summer 1980 and 2000–2002, and the epiphyton was studied on two dominating macrophytes, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. and Potamogeton perfoliatus L., in 2000. The purpose of the study was to estimate to what extent the littoral phytoplankton and epiphytic algae (their biomass, chlorophyll a content and dominant species) can be used as a criterion for the trophic state of the lake. In wind-open areas, phytoplankton biomass in the littoral is commonly more than ten times higher than in open water due to the presence of the macroscopic cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia echinulata (J.S. Smith) P. Richter. This alga is abundant in the moderately eutrophic northern lake's part and rare in the strongly eutrophic southern part; hence also biomass in the southern part is considerably lower. In open water, phytoplankton biomass increases southward with increasing trophy. Algal biomass in the littoral depends on wind direction and can change completely in a few days. Epiphyton biomass and Chla content increased southward with increasing trophic state. They both revealed significant Spearman correlations (P < 0.05) with wind index and transparency (negative), and with abundance of the host plant, both reed and pondweed (positive). The phytoplankton biomass of the littoral of the large and shallow Lake Peipsi can not be used as a criterion of trophic state, however, the species composition of the dominants, particularly cyanobacteria, is well applicable for this purpose. The biomass and Chla content of the epiphyton can be used as a criterion for trophic state.     

An evaluation of the role of daphnids in controlling phytoplankton biomass in clear water versus turbid shallow lakes

Phytoplankton and zooplankton were monitored during 2 years in four eutrophic shallow lakes (two turbid and two clear water) from two wetland reserves in Belgium. In each wetland, phytoplankton biomass was significantly higher in the turbid lake than in the clear water lake. Although total macrozooplankton biomass and the contribution of daphnids to total zooplankton biomass was comparable in the clear water and the turbid lakes, the grazing pressure of macrozooplankton on phytoplankton as estimated from zooplankton to phytoplankton biomass ratios was higher in the clear water lakes. Estimated grazing by daphnids in the clear water lakes was always high in spring. In summer, however, daphnid biomass was low or daphnids were even absent during prolonged periods. During those periods phytoplankton was probably controlled by smaller macrozooplankton or by submerged macrophytes through nutrient competition, allelopathic effects or increased sedimentation rates in the macrophyte vegetation.     

富营养化浅水湖泊生态修复中背角无齿蚌(Anodonta woodiana)对水质改善的影响

滤水速率的快慢是决定滤食性河蚌对水质改善与否的关键,但受蚌龄大小、食物多少和季节变化的影响.以背角无齿蚌（Anodonta woodiana）为研究对象,设置幼龄蚌组、成年蚌组和无蚌对照组,在惠州西湖生态修复后的清水态和未修复的富营养化水体同时进行中型系统原位实验,测定了各处理组水层中氮、磷、总悬浮物（TSS）浓度和浮游藻类生物量（用叶绿素a（Chl.a）浓度表示）的季节变化,以研究蚌龄、食物和季节变化对背角无齿蚌水质改善的影响.结果表明,与对照组相比,背角无齿蚌提高了清水态水体总磷（TP）和铵态氮浓度,但对总氮（TN）、TSS和浮游藻类Chl.a浓度的影响不显著,表明其不能有效改善清水态水体水质;富营养化水体中,背角无齿蚌虽对水中TN浓度影响不显著,但显著降低了TP浓度、浮游藻类Chl.a浓度和TSS浓度;表明背角无齿蚌可改善富营养化水体水质;且富营养化水体中幼龄蚌的滤水速率显著高于成年蚌;幼龄蚌的滤水速率春季最大（0.132±0.018 L/（g·h））,夏季最小.因此,在富营养化水体修复前期,可通过放养本地滤食性河蚌,如背角无齿蚌,以改善水质,春季放养幼龄蚌更佳,为接下来的修复创造有利条件;而在生态修复后期的清水态水体中,单独的河蚌对水质改善效果不明显.本研究可为水生态系统保护和富营养化水体生态修复提供参考.     

Hydrodynamic-phytoplankton model for short-term forecasts of phytoplankton in Lake Taihu, China

Phytoplankton biomass is an important factor for short-term forecasts of algal blooms. Our new hydrodynamic-phytoplankton model is primarily intended for simulating the spatial and temporal distribution of phytoplankton in Lake Taihu within a time frame of 1-5 days. The model combines two modules: a simple phytoplankton kinetics module for growth and loss; and a mass-transport module, which defines phytoplankton transport horizontally with a two dimensional hydrodynamic model. To adapt field data for model input and calibration, we introduce two simplifications: (a) exclusion of some processes related to phytoplankton dynamics like nutrient dynamics, sediment resuspension, mineralization and nitrification, and (b) use of monthly measured data of the nutrient state. Chlorophyll-α concentration, representing phytoplankton biomass, is the only state variable in the model. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify the most sensitive parameter set in the phytoplankton kinetics module. The model was calibrated with field data collected in 2008 and validated with additional data obtained in 2009. A comparison of simulated and observed chlorophyll-α concentration for 33 grid cells achieved an accuracy of 78.7%. However, mean percent error and mean absolute percent error were 13.4% and 58.2%, respectively, which implies that further improvement is necessary, e.g. by reducing uncertainty of the model input and by an improved parameter calibration.     

基于15N稳定同位素示踪技术的太湖梅梁湾浮游植物群落氮吸收动力学研究

浮游植物对氮的吸收与其生长繁殖密切相关,太湖梅梁湾湖区蓝藻水华频频暴发,对该水域浮游植物氮吸收进行研究具有重要意义.本文分别在冬、春、夏、秋4个季节于梅梁湾采样,对水体常规理化指标和浮游植物群落结构进行分析,并利用¹⁵N稳定同位素示踪技术研究了浮游植物对铵态氮（NH₄⁺-N）、硝态氮（NO₃^--N）和尿素态氮（Urea-N）吸收的动力学特征.结果表明,太湖梅梁湾浮游植物群落除了秋季对NH₄⁺-N的吸收不符合米氏方程外,其余均符合.冬季和春季3种形态氮最大吸收速率（V_max）的大小依次为：NH₄⁺-N > NO₃^--N > Urea-N,而夏季为：NH₄⁺-N > Urea-N > NO₃^--N.3种形态氮V_max的季节变化规律为夏季 > 秋季 > 春季 > 冬季.V_max在不同季节以及不同形态氮之间的差异性可能与浮游植物群落组成以及水体中NH₄⁺-N浓度不同有关.浮游植物对NH₄⁺-N吸收的K_S值在冬、春季高于夏季,对Urea-N吸收的K_s值则在夏、秋季高于冬、春季,而对NO₃^--N吸收的K_s值则在夏季显著高于其他3个季节.冬季和春季梅梁湾浮游植物群落最容易受到NO₃^--N限制,而最不容易受到Urea-N的限制;而夏季,则最容易受到NO₃^--N限制,而最不容易受到NH₄⁺-N的限制,且浮游植物群落对NH₄⁺-N的亲和力最高.与NO₃^--N相比,秋季浮游植物更容易受到Urea-N的限制.不同季节,容易对浮游植物产生限制作用的氮的形态不同.     

Prediction and comparative characteristic of the biological production of reservoirs on the Zeya and Bureya Rivers

A mass balance model is applied to assess the biotic energy flux in ecosystems of the operating Zeiskoe and Bureiskoe reservoirs and the anticipated Lower Zeiskoe and Lower Bureiskoe Reservoirs. A forecast of the mean annual biomass and annual production of phytoplankton, macrophytes, epiphytes, and phytobenthos (primary producers), bacterioplankton, bacteriobenthos (decomposers), “peaceful” and predatory zooplankton, zoobenthos, plankton-feeding, benthos-feeding, and predatory fish (consumers).     

Sedimentation und Phosphorhaushalt im Vierwaldstättersee (Horwer Bucht) und im Rotsee

In 1969/70, chemical and physical parameters, phytoplankton and recent sedimentation at different levels were investigated in the mesotrophic Lake of Lucerne (Horw Bay) and in the highly eutrophic Rotsee. The rates of sedimentation came to 1277.4 g dry matter/m²·year in Horw Bay and to 879.3 g dry matter/m²·year in the Rotsee. The chemical analysis of sediments included the following components: total organic substance (loss on ignition), organic C, clay minerals (HCl-insoluble fraction), Ca, Mg, P, N, Fe and Mn. The Rotsee is distinguished by higher nutrient concentrations, higher rates of sedimentation (exceptions: clay minerals, Fe, to a certain extent N and Mn) and by a greater biomass of phytoplankton. The distribution and succession of selected species and groups of phytoplankton are discussed, the velocity of sinking, the degradation, the growth dynamics and the measure of trophic state are calculated. For both lakes, a phosphorus and a nitrogen balance have been drawn up. The N:P ratio continually decreases running through the nutrient cycle from the input to the storing into the bottom sediments. The intrabiocoenotic phosphorus cycle in the epilimnion is very intensive and supplies approximately two thirds of the nutrient requirements for primary production in both the Horw Bay and the Rotsee.     

Ecological engineering in a eutrophic lake: A case study of large aquatic macrophyte enclosures in Baima Lake,China

Ecological restoration of eutrophic lakes using aquatic macrophytes is an important and practical technology. Here, we investigated the response of phytoplankton and zooplankton to a large-scale 2015-built aquatic macrophyte enclosure (AME, 200,000 m²) screened of by a PVC net in Baima Lake, a eutrophic lake, from spring to autumn of 2019. AME significantly improved water quality by increasing water transparency, and reducing total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a content during the growing season. AME significantly decreased phytoplankton abundance and biomass and marginally increased zooplankton abundance and biomass. Phytoplankton and zooplankton communities were closely related to environmental factors, such as water temperature, conductivity, total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand, and chlorophyll-a inside and outside the AME. The zooplankton:phytoplankton biomass ratio inside was slightly higher than outside the AME. Zooplankton and phytoplankton biomass were significantly positively correlated inside and outside the AME, as were chlorophyll-a and total phosphorus. We found phosphorus to be a key factor limiting primary productivity in Baima Lake, and that bottom-up effects were the main driver to control phytoplankton in the AME. Using aquatic macrophytes to reduce nutrient loads is an effective way to manage eutrophication in Baima Lake.     

The dynamics of phytoplankton, bacteria and heterotrophic flagellates at two Banks near Magdeburg in the River Elbe (Germany)

The main objectives of this study were to describe the seasonal standing stock dynamics of phytoplankton, bacterioplankton and heterotrophic flagellates in the highly eutrophic River Elbe (Germany), and to compare the seasonal patterns observed with other streams. Emphasis was placed on examining and assessing abiotic and biotic controlling factors influencing the structure and dynamics of the riverine plankton. All the physico-chemical and biological parameters determined were within the range or somewhat higher (in the case of phytoplankton abundance and biomass) than reported for other large streams. The underwater light conditions resulting from atypically short phytoplankton growth periods of about 6 months per year and the low phytoplankton carbon to chl a ratio of 23 were identified as a major limiting factor for phytoplankton development in the River Elbe. The seasonal distribution pattern of bacterioplankton indicated probable tight trophodynamical coupling both with phytoplankton and with heterotrophic flagellates, whereas heterotrophic flagellates showed a more trophic link with bacterial densities. Although approximately constant DOC and DON levels throughout the year sustained bacterial growth rates, during the phytoplankton growing season an increase of bacterial standing stocks was observed. Although the left-bank sampling site of the Elbe is strongly influenced by the tributaries Mulde and Saale containing higher concentrations of chloride, nitrogen nutrients, heavy metals and organic pollutants, no clear differences were observed between the two sides of the river concerning the biological parameters measured. Possible reasons and the slightly higher phytoplankton abundance and diversity at the right bank are discussed.     

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on phytoplankton composition and biomass in 15 subtropical, urban shallow lakes in Wuhan, China

This study aims at investigating the composition and biomass of the phytoplankton community in 15 urban shallow eutrophic lakes as well as the effects of main environmental factors, including nutrient concentrations and the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus, temperature, COD, BOD, water depth, etc. on the phytoplankton community structure. Lake water samples were taken and analyzed on a bimonthly basis during the period from March 2004 to March 2006. The redundancy analysis (RDA) and regression analysis (RA) were performed to identify the effects of nutrients on the phytoplankton community and biomass in these typical urban lakes. The results indicate that most of these urban lakes were hypertrophic due to high concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN), with mean levels of 490 and 5380 mg m⁻³, respectively. The phytoplankton community was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and Euglena caudate in summer and Cryptomonas ovata and Cyclotella meneghiniana in winter. The mean biomass of the phytoplankton reached 456.87 mg L⁻¹ in summer months and the annual level was 189.24 mg L⁻¹. Temperature and TP content were found to be the principal limiting factors for phytoplankton growth on an annual basis. On the other hand, the results of RDA and RA demonstrate that the dominant phytoplankton species were not nutrient-limited during summer months. Low TN:TP ratios (<10) were detected accompanied with fewer occurrences of N-fixing cyanobacteria and other filamentous algae in most lakes in summer, which implies that low N:P ratio does not always shifts the dominance of phytoplankton community to the N-fixing cyanobacteria. Moreover, TP always had higher correlation with chlorophyll a (Chl-a) than TN, even when the TN:TP ratios of most samples were lower than 10. Therefore, it is concluded that the TN:TP ratio is not always a suitable index to determine whether nitrogen or phosphorus limits the phytoplankton biomass in urban shallow eutrophic lakes.     

Standing stock and production rate of phytoplankton and a red tide outbreak in a heavily eutrophic embayment, Dokai Bay, Japan.

The seasonal variation of phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity in a heavily eutrophic embayment, Dokai Bay, Japan, was determined. Dokai Bay was characterized by high phytoplankton biomass and productivity during summer and low phytoplankton biomass and productivity during other seasons. The results suggested that phytoplankton growth was limited by only irradiance and water temperature under the high nutrient concentrations available for phytoplankton growth in the entire year. Moreover, in spite of sufficient nutrient for phytoplankton growth in the entire year, a red tide occurred only in the summer period in this bay. Our results suggested that a red tide occurred by the high phytoplankton growth rate in the summer season, but in other periods surface phytoplankton was flushed out of the bay before forming the red tide, because phytoplankton growth rate was low and could not form the red tide due to low irradiance and low water temperature.     

安徽菜子湖浮游植物群落结构的周年变化(2010年)

2010年对菜子湖浮游植物群落结构进行了调查和分析,结果显示:(1)共鉴定浮游植物8门110属285种,不同月份浮游植物的种类组成存在极显著差异,3月份种类数最多,173种,1月份最少,105种.优势度分析显示:蓝藻存在全年高峰;硅藻存在1、5、9、11月的高峰;黄藻存在1、3、5月的高峰;绿藻存在11月的高峰,隐藻存在5月份的高峰;金藻存在1月份的高峰.不同月份浮游植物的细胞密度亦存在极显著差异,7月份最高,为(66.13±8.58)×105cells/L,1月份最低,为(12.78±0.61)×105cells/L,夏、秋季较高,冬、春季较低;不同月份浮游植物的生物量差异极显著,9月份最高,为2.80±0.17 mg/L,5月份最低,为0.72±0.03 mg/L.(2)Margalef丰度指数为1.51～3、Shannon-Weaver多样性指数为1.41～3.01、Pielou均匀度指数为0.39～0.66,各指数表现为冬、春季节大于夏、秋季节,3月份最高,7月份最低.(3)聚类分析的结果显示,月份不同影响因素不同,菜子湖水域浮游植物按群落结构特征的分组不同.(4)2007年相比,2010年浮游植物物种数有明显下降,由340种下降到285种,细胞密度明显上升,由(5.91±0.90)×105cells/L上升到(33.81±10.10)×105cells/L,群落结构变化较大,贫营养型和固着型藻类都有所减少,富营养型藻类、丝状藻类和浮游性藻类增多.     

以鲢、鳙养殖为主的长江中下游武山湖浮游植物群落结构特征

武山湖是紧邻长江的通江型富营养化湖泊,是国家级湿地公园.为切实了解该湖在以鲢、鳙养殖为主的情况下浮游植物结构特征,于2017年9月-2018年8月对其浮游植物群落结构特征及水质开展了监测.监测结果表明武山湖水质全年处于轻度富营养到重度富营养水平之间;12次共采集浮游植物7门100种（属）,浮游植物优势种共有23种,其中蓝藻门有9种,绿藻门有8种,硅藻门和隐藻门各有3种.夏季和秋季蓝藻门优势种最多且优势度高,冬季和春季绿藻门和硅藻门优势种多且优势度高.武山湖浮游植物每月优势度最大的种类主要有蓝藻门微囊藻和细小平裂藻、绿藻门小球藻以及硅藻门小环藻.浮游植物生物量峰值出现在6月,达34.77 mg/L;丰度峰值出现在7月,达341.46×10⁶ cells/L.冗余分析（RDA）和线性相关分析均表明浮游植物丰度和生物量与总磷、温度和pH均呈显著正相关,且蓝藻门生物量和丰度以及优势属与总磷和温度均呈显著正相关.研究结果表明武山湖浮游植物丰度和生物量在夏季均很高,发生蓝藻水华的风险较大.相对于氮,磷是更重要的限制浮游植物生长的营养元素.     

太湖浮游植物细胞裂解速率的酯酶活性法初步研究

本研究从2009年8月至2010年10月,每月采集太湖3个不同富营养化湖区水样,运用酯酶活性法,测定了颗粒态酯酶、溶解性酯酶活性以及酯酶衰变周期,估算了太湖浮游植物细胞裂解速率.研究结果表明,太湖颗粒态酯酶活性为0.58～35.15 nmol FDA/(L.h),溶解性酯酶活性为0.55～7.59 nmol FDA/(L.h),酯酶衰变周期为7～75 h,细胞裂解速率为0.02～0.77 d-1,三个采样点细胞裂解速率没有显著差异.颗粒态酯酶活性与叶绿素a浓度之间具有显著的线性关系,说明运用酯酶活性法估算太湖浮游植物细胞裂解速率是可行.此外,叶绿素a浓度与温度变化趋势基本一致,梅梁湾和湖心叶绿素a浓度具有显著差异.贡湖湾叶绿素a浓度与细胞裂解速率之间具有显著的反比例关系,说明细胞裂解速率也是影响太湖藻类生物量的重要因素.     

The use of phytoplankton patterns of diversity for algal bloom management

Many biotic and abiotic processes contribute to variability in phytoplankton diversity in aquatic ecosystems. Depending on their intensity and on their frequency, these may drive non-equilibrium dynamics and enhance the species diversity. Different studies propose that biodiversity buffers ecosystem functioning against environmental fluctuations leading to more predictable aggregate community or ecosystem properties. Salto Grande reservoir is polymictic and eutrophic with recurrent summer cyanobacterial blooms. The aim of this study was to determine the key variable(s) related with phytoplankton diversity in order to predict the possible occurrence of an algal bloom at the ecosystem. A preliminary analysis of the data matrix suggested non-linear relationships between diversity and the selected variables: phytoplankton abundance and the vertical attenuation coefficient (Kd). The best function fitting of the scatter plot of phytoplankton diversity versus phytoplankton abundance was a rational function. The inflection point of phytoplankton diversity estimated by the second derivate of this function was 2.7 bit cell⁻¹ which corresponded to an abundance of 3000 cells ml⁻¹. The relationship of phytoplankton diversity and vertical attenuation coefficient values also show a humped distribution pattern (Gauss function). The inflection point of this function corresponded to a diversity value of 1.9 bit cell⁻¹ and 2.5 m⁻¹ for Kd. These inflection points were, respectively, related with the resource competition among the present species and the light limitation conditions. The showed patterns of diversity and the estimated threshold values could be integrated to construct a predictive model for the reservoir based on phytoplankton diversity and the probable ambient conditions of the reservoir.     

Differences in zooplankton feeding rates and isotopic signatures from three temperate lakes

Bacteria and phytoplankton are integral in the mobilization and transfer of organic matter to higher trophic levels. Hence, we examined their role in zooplankton diets and assessed trends in their nitrogen isotopic variability. We performed feeding experiments with natural particulate organic matter (POM) and four zooplankton groups (Daphnia, Holopedium, large calanoids and small calanoids) to (1) examine whether there are differences in consumption (presented as clearance and ingestion rates) of phytoplankton and bacteria, and (2) determine whether differences in zooplankton clearance and ingestion rates are correlated with their δ¹⁵N isotopic signatures. In general, phytoplankton and bacteria clearance rates and biomass ingested per animal varied significantly among different zooplankton groups within lakes and between lakes for a given zooplankton group. Within a given lake, Daphnia and Holopedium had the highest phytoplankton and bacteria clearance and ingestion rates, followed by large calanoids, and then small calanoids. For a given zooplankton group, bacteria and phytoplankton clearance rates varied among lakes. In contrast, phytoplankton ingestion rates were consistently highest in Dickie Lake for all taxa, whereas bacteria ingestion rates were more variable among lakes for the different zooplankton taxa. The percentage contribution of different phytoplankton taxa to the biomass of phytoplankton ingested also varied significantly among lakes for a given taxa, but there were few differences within a given lake among zooplankton. Zooplankton δ¹⁵N_DOMC values were correlated with their size adjusted phytoplankton and bacteria clearance and ingestion rates. The correlations were stronger with (1) phytoplankton compared to bacteria, and (2) clearance rates compared to ingestion rates of biomass. Together our results suggest that zooplankton taxa with low phytoplankton and bacteria clearance and ingestion rates and higher δ¹⁵N_DOMC are likely exploiting food sources from higher trophic levels.