Small water ponds as reservoirs of algae biodiversity

Abstract

The areas of northern Poland are typical examples of recently formed post-glacial landscapes with a very large number of small ponds. Phycology of these ponds has been seldom studied, especially when compared to data collected from lager post-glacial lakes. The aim of our study was to determine the importance of small ponds to the biodiversity of algae.In 1996-2002 and 2012-13, we carried out phycological studies in 20 small ponds located in fields and forests. During the study period, we recorded the presence of 503 taxa of algae. The flora of algae was unique in each pond. Another important and frequent observation was the total and rapid “rebuilding” of algal flora.Statistical analyses revealed some other important facts, including the importance of small ponds to algal biodiversity. The average number of taxa recorded during the studies of individual water reservoirs was 56, thus much less than usually recorded in typical large lakes. But when we take the large number of small ponds into consideration, it appears that they represent more than 97% of the populations of algae and for this reason they are important to the biodiversity of algae.

Algal diversity on the granite monument in front of the Faculty of Biology of Sofia University

“…The large share of diatom taxa in microalgae assemblages is probably connected with the fact that phytoplankton communities in ponds are enriched also by tychoplanktonic organisms (of epiphytic or benthic origin), due to their small area and depth. This was consistent with results of other studies concerning field ponds (Paczuska et al 2002;Kuczyńska-Kippen 2009;Celewicz-Gołdyn & Kuczyńska-Kippen 2017;Celewicz & Gołdyn 2021).…”

“…According to Wołowski (1998), it is a very common species in Poland and can occur in various types of water bodies with various levels of saprobity. T. volvocina reached the highest frequency also in field ponds of the southern edge of Wysoczyzna Świecka in Poland (Paczuska et al 2002). Permanent species included Euglenaformis proxima and T. hispida.…”

Small water bodies in agricultural areas as important habitats for euglenoids in Poland

“…2. Similar results were found in two temporary small water bodies in the farmlands of the southern edge of Wysoczyzna Świecka (Paczuska et al 2002), where also euglenoids and diatoms dominated in the phytoplankton communities. The large share of diatom taxa in microalgae assemblages is probably connected with the fact that phytoplankton communities in ponds are enriched also by tychoplanktonic organisms (of epiphytic or benthic origin), due to their small area and depth.…”

New Taxa of Streptophyte Algae (Streptophyta) from Terrestrial Habitats Revealed Using an Integrative Approach

“…The place of origin of Luk-89 (isolated from soils of North America) is distant from the type locality of H. parvula (soils of India). Members of Hormidiella are rather rare algae, but some findings of H. parvula are also known for Europe, North and South America (Freitas and Loverde-Oliveira 2013; Paczuska and Paczuski 2015; Patrick 1996). Therefore, we identified Luk-89 as H. parvula , and propose Luk-89 as epitype of this species together with an emendation of the species diagnosis based on new data.…”