Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton functional groups and its relationship with the environment in river: a case study in northeast China

Abstract

In this study, the concept of functional groups was applied for the first time to the seasonal dynamics of the phytoplankton community of Mudanjiang River (northeast China). The environmental variables as well as the phytoplankton communities were determined in 2007. The river showed strong seasonal fluctuations in water physical and chemical condition. A total of 11 phytoplankton functional groups (C, D, E, J, MP, P, T, T B , W1, X2 and Y) were identified that included 30 species. Groups C (Asterionella formosa and Cyclotella meneghiniana), MP (Cocconeis placentula, Cymatopleara solea, Diatoma vulgare, Ochromonas fragilis, Pinnularia major and Ulothrix variabilis), P (Fragilaria capucina, Fragilaris sp., Aulacoseira granulate and Aulacoseira granulate var. angustissima), T B (Aulacoseira varians and Navicula exigua, Navicula radiosa), X2 (Chlamydomonas sp.) and Y (Chroomonas acuta, Cryptomonas ovata, and Cryptomonas sp.) were the dominant groups during the study period. Mudanjiang River phytoplankton functional groups exhibited a noticeable seasonality in which group Y was predominant in the winter and spring associated with greater soluble reactive phosphorus availability, group MP in the summer associated with ammonium-nitrogen availability, and group P in autumn associated with greater transparency. This study underscores the usefulness of functional groups in studying phytoplankton dynamics in this river, in which phytoplankton dynamics can be significantly affected by tourism.

Warming Effects on Periphyton Community and Abundance in Different Seasons Are Influenced by Nutrient State and Plant Type: A Shallow Lake Mesocosm Study

“…Moreover, the periphyton community, which prefers warm water, exhibited higher relative abundances in spring/summer, such as functional groups B, J, and F (Jiang et al, 2013), whereas functional group D which prefers cold water (Jiang et al, 2013), showed higher proportions of periphyton in winter. Our results, therefore, support the view that functional group can be used as an approach to analyze the seasonal variability in algal community (Yang et al, 2011;Yu et al, 2012). Except for winter, the periphyton functional composition responded strongly to nutrient addition and temperature increase, which is consistent with the responses of periphyton genus composition to nutrient and temperature in spring, summer and winter.…”

Phytoplankton functional groups response to environmental parameters in Muling River basin of northeast China

“…We investigated 17 phytoplankton functional groups according to Padisák et al (2009), and the number was more than that collected in Mudanjiang River (11 FGs) which located in the same province (Yu et al, 2012). Yu et al (2012) also reported that, the distribution of phytoplankton functional groups was significantly affected by tourism. The finding of Tian et al (2015) revealed that phytoplankton community structure was influenced by hydrologic regime, and the water flushed bare riparian zone constantly in Hongze Lake, China.…”

“…Geographically, the Muling River is located in northeast China and the light intensity varies with seasons (Yu et al, 2012). We investigated 17 phytoplankton functional groups according to Padisák et al (2009), and the number was more than that collected in Mudanjiang River (11 FGs) which located in the same province (Yu et al, 2012). Yu et al (2012) also reported that, the distribution of phytoplankton functional groups was significantly affected by tourism.…”

“…According to Tilman et al (1982), the main driving factors of dynamic phytoplankton community structure are light and nutrient. Geographically, the Muling River is located in northeast China and the light intensity varies with seasons (Yu et al, 2012). We investigated 17 phytoplankton functional groups according to Padisák et al (2009), and the number was more than that collected in Mudanjiang River (11 FGs) which located in the same province (Yu et al, 2012).…”

Spatial and temporal variation of phytoplankton functional groups in extremely alkaline Dali Nur Lake, North China

“…Global alkaline lakes tends to occur in semi-arid or arid areas with very high productivity compared to other aquatic systems (Melack and Kilham 1974;Oduor and Schagerl 2007a) and a confined diversity of microbial life due to high salinity and pH values (Nielsen 1999;Oren 2011). In spite of their ecological value, studies on the composition and distribution of plankton species is very scant compared to freshwater systems (Sun et al 2009;Xu et al 2010;Niu et al 2011;Yu et al 2012;Sui et al 2016). Several environmental factors such as water temperature, conductivity, total phosphorus, calcium ions, magnesium ions and hydrological pattern have been considered as essential factors responsible for shaping biological composition in saline-alkaline lake (Wood and Talling 1988;Oduor and Schagerl 2007b;Schagerl and Oduor 2008).…”