PHYTOPLANKTON FUNCTIONAL GROUPS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN A EUTROPHIC AND HIGH-ALKALINITY LAKE IN THE COLD REGIONS OF NORTHERN CHINA

In this study, use survival strategies of phytoplankton functional groups to environmental factors in a drinking water reservoir. Survival strategies of phytoplankton in drinking water reservoirs were rarely analysed. Dynamics and survival strategies of phytoplankton community in Zhushuqiao Reservoir (Changsha, China) were studied bimonthly from April 2016 to February 2017 to fill this gap. In spring, species of CRS-strategy that adapted to low water temperature, light, and nutrient dominated. There were small individuals of opportunistic colonists of C-strategy observed before stratification. With the increase of nutrient and water temperature in summer, slightly bigger, disturbance-tolerant species of R-strategy and species of CS-strategy that adapted to stratification dominated. In winter, some species adapted to low water temperature, which were R-strategists. Key factors driven seasonal phytoplankton succession were water temperature, total phosphorus, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Attention should be paid to potential threats from algal bloom species with C-strategy, and future longer-term monitoring of the system and its surrounding watersheds is greatly needed.

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Phytoplankton functional groups indicators of environmental conditions in floodplain rivers and lakes of the Paraná Basin

Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia ◽

10.1590/s2179-975x8117 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (0) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Barbara Furrigo Zanco ◽

Alfonso Pineda ◽

Jascieli Carla Bortolini ◽

Susicley Jati ◽

Luzia Cleide Rodrigues

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Functional Groups ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Trophic State ◽

Phytoplankton Community ◽

Paraná River ◽

Parana River ◽

Phytoplankton Functional Groups ◽

Rivers And Lakes ◽

Floodplain Rivers

Abstract Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of phytoplankton functional groups as indicators of environmental conditions in floodplain rivers and lakes with different trophic state and connectivity degree to the Paraná River. Phytoplankton functional groups (FGs) cluster sensitive species to environmental variation and can be an alternative for environmental monitoring. Methods Samples were performed quarterly from 2010 to 2013 in the Ivinhema, Paraná and Baia Rivers and in three lakes permanently connected to each river. Results 419 taxa were identified, and those taxa that had values greater than 5% of the total biovolume were classified into FGs (P, C, A, B, MP, H1, W1, J, TD, LO, and N). The lakes presented higher biovolume and were more productive than rivers, especially in the dry periods. The rivers presented light limitation and low phytoplankton development. The FG LO was an indicator in rainy seasons. Both rivers and lakes were mostly oligotrophic. We registered FG indicators only for the lakes (A, B, C, E, LO, P, and W1) and mesotrophic environments (A, B, C, E, J, LO, and P). Conclusion The FGs reflected the seasonal variation and the trophic state of environments in the upper Paraná River floodplain, mainly in the lentic environments. The species-environment relationship (FGs as indicators) was clearer in the lakes, probably because of the longer water retention that allows evidencing the response of the phytoplankton community to environmental factors. On the other hand, the absence of FGs as indicators in the rivers could be due to the high water flow that promotes dispersal stochasticity and masks the relationship between the environmental factors and the phytoplankton community. Thus, phytoplankton FGs proved to be a viable tool to evaluate the environmental conditions in a floodplain.

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Effects of temperature increase and nutrient enrichment on phytoplankton functional groups in a Brazilian semi-arid reservoir

Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia ◽

10.1590/s2179-975x7517 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Maria da Conceição de Souza ◽

Luciane Oliveira Crossetti ◽

Vanessa Becker

Keyword(s):

Functional Groups ◽

Green Algae ◽

Nutrient Enrichment ◽

Arid Regions ◽

Soluble Reactive Phosphorus ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Mean Values ◽

Rainy Period ◽

Phytoplankton Functional Groups ◽

Semi Arid

Abstract Aim Our study aimed to evaluate changes in the phytoplankton functional groups brought about by increases in temperature and nutrients predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenario for semi-arid regions. Methods Two experiments were performed, one in the rainy season and another in the dry season. The nutrient enrichment was based on the annual mean values (August 2012-August 2013) of soluble reactive phosphorus and nitrate verified in the reservoir. The microcosms were exposed to two different temperatures, the five-year average of air temperature in the reservoir (control) and 4°C above the control temperature (warming). The experiment was conducted over 12 days; every three days water samples of approximately 60 mL in volume were taken from the reservoir for chemical and phytoplankton analysis. All species were classified by Reynolds Functional Groups (RFG). Results The functional groups H1, X1, LO and S1 were the most representative in both seasons (rainy and dry). Our results showed that bloom-forming cyanobacteria, in particular the species of functional groups H1 and M, commonly reported in reservoirs in semi-arid regions of Brazil, were not significantly benefited by the warming and nutrient enrichment. The recruitment of other blue-green species, as well as diatoms and green algae, could be observed. Conclusions The effects of warming and/or nutritional enrichment can change the structure of the phytoplankton community. However, as not expected as the pessimist scenario, in our study the bloom-forming phytoplankton functional groups did not show changes in relative biomass. Instead, the recruitment of diatoms and green algae currently found in enriched environments was verified, specifically in the rainy period, when nutrient dilution typically occurs.

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Defining centric diatoms of most relevant phytoplankton functional groups in deep karst lakes

Hydrobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10750-016-2996-z ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 788 (1) ◽

pp. 169-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Marija Gligora Udovič ◽

Aleksandra Cvetkoska ◽

Petar Žutinić ◽

Sunčica Bosak ◽

Igor Stanković ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Groups ◽

Centric Diatoms ◽

Karst Lakes ◽

Phytoplankton Functional Groups

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Indirect drivers of plant diversity-productivity relationship in semiarid sandy grasslands

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-9-1277-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 1277-1289 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

X. A. Zuo ◽

J. M. H. Knops ◽

X. Y. Zhao ◽

H. L. Zhao ◽

T. H. Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Plant Diversity ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Northern China ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Vegetation Composition ◽

Wet Meadow ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Sandy Grasslands

Abstract. Although patterns between plant diversity and ecosystem productivity have been much studied, a consistent relationship has not yet emerged. Differing patterns between plant diversity and productivity have been observed in response to spatial variability of environmental factors and vegetation composition. In this study, we measured vegetation cover, plant diversity, productivity, soil properties and site characteristics along an environmental gradient (mobile dune, semi-fixed dune, fixed dune, dry meadow, wet meadow and flood plain grasslands) of natural sandy grasslands in semiarid areas of northern China. We used multivariate analysis to examine the relationships between environmental factors, vegetation composition, plant diversity and productivity. We found a positive correlation between plant diversity and productivity. Vegetation composition aggregated by the ordination technique of non-metric multidimensional scaling had also a significantly positive correlation with plant diversity and productivity. Environmental gradients in relation to soil and topography affected the distribution patterns of vegetation composition, species diversity and productivity. However, environmental gradients were a better determinant of vegetation composition and productivity than of plant diversity. Structural equation modeling suggested that environmental factors determine vegetation composition, which in turn independently drives both plant diversity and productivity. Thus, the positive correlation between plant diversity and productivity is indirectly driven by vegetation composition, which is determined by environmental gradients in soil and topography.

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