Phytoplankton and its relationships with chemical parameters and zooplankton in meromictic Piaseczno reservoir, Southern Poland

• Published in: Aquatic ecology 2006-06, Vol.40 (2), p.165-176
• Main Authors: Wilk-Woźniak, E., Żurek, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Bacillariophyceae; Cladocera; Copepoda; Discriminant analysis; Freshwater; Hypolimnion; Invertebrates; Monimolimnion; Navicula rhynchocephala; Phytoplankton; Plankton; Predators; Rotifera; Sulfides; Zooplankton
• ISSN: 1386-2588; 1573-5125
• DOI: 10.1007/s10452-005-0781-6

General relationships of algae with chemical, physical and biotic parameters were analysed in a meromictic sunken sulphur mine (50°33.08' N, 21°36.01' E). Both zooplankton and phytoplankton were in low densities and number of species. Among the zooplankton there were 20 rotifers, six cladocerans and eight copepods. Algal species belonged to the cyanoprokaryotes, chrysophytes, diatoms, euglenophytes, dinophytes, cryptophytes and chlorophytes. Some diatoms (e.g. Navicula rhynchocephala) were able to live in darkness and in an anoxic hypolimnion and the monimolimnion in presence of sulphide. However, only single individuals of zooplankton were able to live in this layer. Discriminant analysis showed that the annual phytoplankton period was stable, excluding November and December. The same method showed that in vertical profile layer - the fifth meter of depth was different than the others. Multidimensional scaling divided numerous biotic and abiotic features into several important groups: (1) large invertebrate predators, (2) a majority of rotifers, (3) small invertebrate predators with they potential prey, (4) factors responsible for non carbonate hardness and importance for life, (5) large planktonic filtrators, (6) a majority of algae, (7) sulphide with its derivatives, and (8) electrolytic elements.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]