Longitudinal Plankton Dynamics in the Rivers Rhine and Elbe

Hardenbicker, Paulin; Weitere, Markus; Ritz, Stephanie; Schöll, Franz; Fischer, Helmut

doi:10.1002/rra.2977

Cited by 38 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…No significant longitudinal change in the rotifer community structure was observed, except for a higher relative abundance of brachionids in the lower parts of the river. Further Lagrangian sampling campaigns performed in the period 2009–2011 (Hardenbicker et al ., ) in the rivers Rhine and Elbe revealed contrasting patterns in longitudinal development of zooplankton abundances, and opposite impacts of tributaries on plankton biomass in the two rivers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test for paired samples was used to compare values of physico‐chemical variables and Chl‐ a across years and between tributaries and corresponding downstream stations in the Po river (Hardenbicker et al ., ). Spatio‐temporal patterns in zooplankton community structure were explored by means of non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) performed on a Bray–Curtis distance matrix (Legendre and Legendre, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Relatively few studies have used a Lagrangian approach to investigate the dynamics of the metazoan component of river plankton, mostly in Central and Eastern Europe (de Ruyter van Steveninck et al ., ; Welker and Walz, ; Ietswaart et al ., ; Zimmermann‐Timm et al ., ; Scherwass et al ., ; Gruberts et al ., ; Napiórkowski and Napiórkowska, ; Gruberts and Paidere, ; Hardenbicker et al ., ). Most of these studies showed the occurrence of downstream changes in zooplankton abundance and composition in large lowland rivers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Most of these studies showed the occurrence of downstream changes in zooplankton abundance and composition in large lowland rivers. These changes have usually been associated with the longer time available to grow and reproduce, although contrasting patterns may emerge as a result of different hydrological conditions, length of the considered river segment, grazing pressure from benthic filter feeders, time of the year and connectivity of the main river channel to the flood plain (de Ruyter van Steveninck et al ., ; Welker and Walz, ; Ietswaart et al ., ; Scherwass et al ., ; Hardenbicker et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Guhr et al ., ). More often, hydrodynamic model simulations of water transport time are used, for example the QSIM and HYDRAX models for the Elbe river (Zimmermann‐Timm et al ., ; Hardenbicker et al ., ) and the Rhine Alarm Model (de Ruyter van Steveninck et al ., ; Ietswaart et al ., ; Scherwass et al ., ). These models are fed by real‐time in‐situ hydrological and meteorological data, and predict river flow at various temporal resolutions to which different probability values can be associated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Longitudinal Variability in Hydrochemistry and Zooplankton Community of a Large River: A Lagrangian‐Based Approach

Bertani

Longo

Pecora

et al. 2016

River Research & Apps

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The variability in water quality and zooplankton community structure during downstream transport was investigated in the Po river (Italy) using for the first time a Lagrangian sampling approach. Two surveys were conducted, one in spring under relatively high discharge levels, and one at low flows in summer. Twelve stations along a 332‐km stretch of the river's lowland reach and four major tributaries were sampled. A hydrodynamic modelling system was used to determine water transport time along the river, with a satisfying fit between simulated and observed discharge values. No clear downstream trend in phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations was found. Conversely, a marked longitudinal decrease in dissolved silica supports the hypothesis of increasing downstream silica limitation during the phytoplankton growing season. In spring, at low residence time, no apparent plankton growth was observed during downstream transport. In summer, higher temperatures and lower turbulence and turbidity associated with longer residence time stimulated algal growth and in‐stream reproduction of fast‐growing rotifer taxa, with the gradual downstream development of a truly potamal assemblage and the increase of the ratio of euplanktonic to littoral/epibenthic rotifer taxa. Crustacean zooplankton density was generally low. The importance of biotic interactions within the zooplankton in driving community abundance and composition appeared to increase in the downstream direction, paralleled by a decrease in the influence of physical forcing. Tributary influence was especially evident where severe anthropogenic alterations of river hydrology and trophic status resulted in enhanced plankton growth, ultimately affecting zooplankton structure in the main river. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Longitudinal Variability in Hydrochemistry and Zooplankton Community of a Large River: A Lagrangian‐Based Approach

Bertani

Longo

Pecora

et al. 2016

River Research & Apps

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High irradiation and low discharge promote the dominant role of phytoplankton in riverine nutrient dynamics

Kamjunke

Rode

Baborowski

et al. 2021

Limnology & Oceanography

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Rivers play a relevant role in the nutrient turnover during the transport from land to ocean. Here, highly dynamic planktonic processes are more important compared to streams making it necessary to link the dynamics of nutrient turnover to control mechanisms of phytoplankton. We investigated the basic conditions leading to high phytoplankton biomass and corresponding nutrient dynamics in eutrophic, 8th order River Elbe (Germany). In a first step, we performed six Lagrangian sampling campaigns in the lower river section at different hydrological conditions. While nutrient concentrations remained high at low algal densities in autumn and at moderate discharge in summer, high algal concentrations occurred at low discharge in summer. Under these conditions, concentrations of silica and nitrate decreased and rates of nitrate assimilation were high. Soluble reactive phosphorus was depleted and particulate phosphorus increased inversely. Rising molar C:P ratios of seston indicated a phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton, so far rarely observed in eutrophic large rivers. Global radiation combined with mixing depth had a strong predictive power to explain maximum chlorophyll concentration. In a second step, we estimated nutrient turnover exemplarily for N during the campaign with the lowest discharge based on mass balances and metabolism-based process measurements. Mass balance calculations revealed a total nitrate uptake of 423 mg N m À2 d À1 . Increasing phytoplankton density dominantly explained whole river gross primary production and related assimilatory nutrient uptake. In conclusion, riverine nutrient uptake strongly depends on the growth conditions for phytoplankton, which are favored at high irradiation and low discharge.

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Spatial and temporal trends of Minnesota River phytoplankton and zooplankton

Sindt

Wolf

2021

River Research & Apps

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Plankton communities have important roles in aquatic ecosystems, but studies of plankton in lotic systems are infrequent. We collected over 100 water, phytoplankton, and zooplankton samples during 2016–2018 to explore spatiotemporal trends in Minnesota River plankton communities and evaluate relationships with physico‐chemical factors. Phytoplankton and zooplankton community structure exhibited temporal patterns but only the zooplankton community differed spatially. Cyanobacteria (M ± SE; 11.27 ± 1.43 mm3/L) and diatoms (8.12 ± 1.08 mm3/L) dominated phytoplankton biovolume with seasonal peaks in Cyanobacteria occurring during July–September and peaks in diatoms occurring during May, August, and September. All phytoplankton taxa except Cryptophyta exhibited a negative relationship with relative discharge. Crustacean zooplankton biomass was greatest at two upstream sites (146.7 ± 32.6 μg/L) where cladocerans and copepods were likely exported from upstream of dams where water residence time is greater. Within the lower free‐flowing reach rotifers dominated the zooplankton community (207.9 ± 40.9 individuals/L and 6.5 ± 1.0 μg/L). Thus, spatial differences in zooplankton community structure were primarily attributed to the influence of dams. Seasonal patterns in zooplankton community structure included peaks in Chydoridae, cyclopoid, immature copepod, and rotifer biomass during May and Bosminidae biomass during October. Excluding the influence of dams on zooplankton, the cumulative effects of month and relative discharge were the most important for explaining variability in plankton community structure. Baseline understanding of plankton community dynamics provides the ability to quantify responses to future perturbations such as climate change and establishment of invasive planktivores.

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Longitudinal Plankton Dynamics in the Rivers Rhine and Elbe

Cited by 38 publications

References 52 publications

Longitudinal Variability in Hydrochemistry and Zooplankton Community of a Large River: A Lagrangian‐Based Approach

Longitudinal Variability in Hydrochemistry and Zooplankton Community of a Large River: A Lagrangian‐Based Approach

High irradiation and low discharge promote the dominant role of phytoplankton in riverine nutrient dynamics

Spatial and temporal trends of Minnesota River phytoplankton and zooplankton

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