Assessing the Effects of Phytoplankton Structure on Zooplankton Communities in Different Types of Urban Lakes

Abstract

Urban lakes play important roles in microclimate regulation such as controlling run-off and groundwater recharge, as well as being a source of water supply and a habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna. Bucharest has a wide variety of water resources where phytoplankton represent the dominant primary producer, the defining biological factor for zooplankton development. Our hypothesis was that as a result of anthropogenic pressures, phytoplankton in the urban aquatic ecosystems diminish the qualitative and quantitative capacity to maintain a good health condition with effects on the food web. By the structural features of the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities, the objectives were to determine the changes in diversity in different types of urban lakes, to explore the relationships between communities, and to determine the response of phytoplankton and zooplankton functional groups to the environmental factors. The ecological status assessed by Chlorophyll-a (µL−1) highlights that most of the investigated lakes were eutrophic and hypereutrophic. The phytoplankton were influenced by lake types, seasonal variations and nutrient input. The dominance of the Chlorophyceae, Cyanobacteria and Bacillariophyceae influenced the zooplankton’s development. The rotifers were the most represented in both species richness and abundance in zooplankton, followed by Copepoda young stages.

Overview of the Eutrophication in Romanian Lakes and Reservoirs

“…As a result of anthropogenic pressures, phytoplankton in urban aquatic ecosystems (i.e., Bucharest lakes) had a diminished qualitative and quantitative capacity to maintain a good health condition, which had effects on the food web, as reported by Florescu et al in 2022. The ecological status, as assessed by chlorophyll a, highlights that most of the investigated lakes were eutrophic and hypereutrophic [62]. The water quality values presented were pH levels from 6.30 to 10.66, DO values from 1.67 to 34.81 mg/L, DO% (saturation) ranging from 5.86 to 158, transparency values of 15-170 cm, TP values of 0.28-0.87 mg/L, and Chl a values of 0.032-68.83 mg/L.…”

Riparian woody plant communities in the Romanian Carpathians: Species diversity and community structure of Salix and Hippophaë communities

“…The characteristics of the present populations in terms of the number of species and abundances were thus used in further analysis. Data were statistically processed using Past software and XLSTAT pro (Florescu et al., 2022 ; Hammer et al., 2001 ; XLSTAT pro, 2013 ).…”

Plankton Abundance and its Nexus with Climatic and Water Quality Parameters in the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Broodfish Pond

“…Zooplankton, which are heterotrophic organisms, feed on phytoplankton, regulating their populations and maintaining water clarity (Ahmed et al, 2016; Rasconi et al, 2017;Horn et al, 2021). The interactions between phytoplankton and zooplankton in ponds play a crucial role in providing a vital food source for various organisms, aiding in nutrient recycling, and establishing a balanced ecosystem that supports overall functioning and sustainability (Buczkowski, 1991;Kürten et al, 2019;Florescu et al, 2022).…”