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

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 23;10(4):e0124738. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124738. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomass
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Fresh Water / chemistry*
  • Fresh Water / microbiology
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Nitrogen / analysis
  • Oxygen / analysis
  • Phosphorus / analysis
  • Phytoplankton / classification
  • Phytoplankton / growth & development*
  • Temperature
  • Zooplankton / classification
  • Zooplankton / growth & development*

Substances

  • Phosphorus
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen

Grants and funding

This research was financed by the grant No NN305 372838 from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Poland). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.