A Comparative Study of Benthic Algal Colonization in Shallow Lakes of China

Abstract

The colonization characteristics of benthic microalgae communities on artificial substrata were analyzed in four shallow lakes of different trophic status. Colonizations in lower nutrient lakes with macrophytes (Niuchao Lake and Langzi Lake) had longer lag phases, lower peak biomasses, and had longer times to community maturity than the higher nutrient lakes without macrophytes (Nanhu Lake and Donghu Lake). Hypereutrophic Nanhu Lake was dominated by filamentous green algae Oedogonium spp. and the diatom Gomphonema parvulum. The diatoms Melosira varians and Synedra spp. dominated the community in eutrophic Donghu Lake. Achnanthes minutissima was dominant in most colonization periods, and some filamentous green algae appeared with prolonged colonization time in the lower nutrient lakes. Succession rates were higher at sites with higher nutrient concentrations.

The role of periphyton in phosphorus retention in shallow lakes with different trophic status, China

“…Its littoral zone is composed of rocks or silt with extensive beds of macrophytes and filamentous green algae. Liangzihu (N30 • 14 31 , E114 • 27 22 ) has a surface area of 300 km 2 and contains dense stands of aquatic macrophytes in the littoral zone (Pei et al, 2010). Study sites were selected and experiments were scheduled to avoid differential impacts of light, temperature, disturbance, and water currents at different sites.…”

“…These lakes have been affected by industrial activities and domestic sewage output from Wuhan City, and all show varying trophic status. Periphyton is an abundant and ubiquitous feature of the littoral zone in these lakes, often forming thick mats that blanket substrates and submersed plants (Pei et al, 2010). Therefore, the role of periphyton in phosphorus cycling and retention in these lakes cannot be ignored.…”

Effects of different nitrogen species on sensitivity and photosynthetic stress of three common freshwater diatoms

“…Clonal cultures of algae are widely used in laboratory experiments and have contributed greatly to our knowledge of microbial ecosystems (Thessen et al 2009). Among the multitude of diatom species, Gomphonema parvulum and Cyclotella meneghiniana represent the most widely distributed species (Swift and Wheeler 1991;Rimet et al 2009), both G. parvulum and C. meneghiniana have been frequently observed as dominant species in eutrophic water bodies (Finlay et al 2002;Rimet et al 2009;Pei et al 2010), C. meneghiniana has even been studied as a structure template in material science (Lenoci and Camp 2008). Because many physiological characteristics vary drastically among different species, Nitzschia sp., G. parvulum, and C. meneghiniana, all dominants in Chinese water bodies were chosen as representatives to investigate the effect of ammonia on photosystem and O 2 evolving reaction of freshwater diatoms.…”

“…The nutrient conditions of different water bodies could have a distinct effect on the abundance of specific diatom species, because tolerance differences exist among various species (Bennion et al 1996;Leland et al 2001). For instance, Gomphonema parvulum was found to be dominant in hypereutrophic lakes, Melosira varians and Synedra spp., dominated the community in eutrophic water bodies (Pei et al 2010), and M. varians was sensitive to organic water pollution (Szczepocka and Szulc 2009).…”

Changes in phytoplankton communities along nutrient gradients in Lake Taihu: evidence for nutrient reduction strategies

“…meneghiniana was replaced by A . granulata and Synedra spp., which could dominate under high ammonium levels (Pei et al, 2010). Nutrient patterns in the southern area led to the codominance of cyanobacteria and diatoms.…”