Phycological investigations of pelagic vs. littoral zones of shallow lake ecosystems

Authors:

• Sofia Celewicz-Gołdyn,
• Małgorzata Klimko,
• Natalia Kuczyńska-Kippen

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to examine the influence of two aquatic plants representing various ecological types (Chara tomentosa and Typha angustifolia) and comparatively the pelagic zone, on the phytoplankton communities in three shallow and macrophyte-dominated lakes. The stand dominated by Chara tomentosa was characterised by the richest taxonomical structure, the highest biomass of algae (phytoplankton sensu lato), as well as by the highest values biodiversity indices out of all the examined stations. Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophyta dominated in the biomass. There was a numerous group of species that selectively chose the Chara bed among the two groups of phytoplankton, e.g. Cymbella lanceolata (Ehr.) Kirchner, Rhopalodia gibba (Ehr.) O.Müll and Spirogyra sp. It was found that the stand of submerged macrophytes, represented by Chara tomentosa, significantly and specifically influenced the differentiation of the structure of the algal communities of shallow and eutrophic lakes. The aim of the study was to determine differences in algal communities, relating to biomass and diversity indices, between lake zones - eulittoral (with Typha), infralittoral (with Chara meadows) and pelagial. © 2010 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien.