Hydrobiologia

, Volume 553, Issue 1, pp 1–14 | Cite as

Use of Phytoplankton Assemblages for Monitoring Ecological Status of Lakes within the Water Framework Directive: The Assemblage Index

  • Judit Padisák
  • Gábor Borics
  • István Grigorszky
  • Éva Soróczki-Pintér
Opinion Paper
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

On basis of recent developments in phytoplankton ecology an assemblage index, Q, was developed to assess ecological status of different lake types established by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Since 5 ≥ Q ≥ 0, the developed index can provide 5-grade qualification required by WFD. Case studies from very different lake types support the usefulness of the developed index. Straights and weaknesses of the Q index for monitoring purposes are discussed. Without arguing for the superiority of the assemblage index in comparison with any other measures of ecological status of lakes, we aim to open a discussion about its possible applications.

Keywords

Water Framework Directive phytoplankton functional assemblages lake types monitoring 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Braun-Blanquet, J. 1964PflanzensoziologieSpringerWien865Google Scholar
  2. Brettum, P. 1989Alger som indikatorer pa vannkvalitet i␣norske innsjoer. PlanteplanktonNIVABlindern, OsloGoogle Scholar
  3. Clements, F. E. 1916Plant Succession: An Analysis of the Development of VegetationCarnegie InstituteWashingtonGoogle Scholar
  4. EC Parliament and Coincil2000Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2000/60/EC Establishing a Framework for Community Action in the Field of Water PolicyEuropean CommissionLuxembourgPE-CONS 3639/1/100 Rev 1Google Scholar
  5. Gleason, H. 1927Further views on the succession-conceptEcology8299326Google Scholar
  6. Grigorszky, I., Borics, G., Padisák, J., Tótmérész, B., Vasas, G., Nagy, S., Borbély, G. 2003Factors controlling the occurrence of Dinophyta species in HungaryHydrobiologia506–507203207Google Scholar
  7. Gulyás P., 1998. Szaprobiológiai indikátorfajok jegyzéke. [List of saprobic indicator species] Vízi Természet- és Környezetvédelem, Környezetgazdálkodási Intézet, Budapest. [in Hungarian].Google Scholar
  8. Heinonen P., 1980. Quantity and composition of phytoplankton in Finish inland waters. Publication of the Water Research Institute.Google Scholar
  9. Honti, M., V. Istvánovics & A. Osztoics, in press. Stability and change of phytoplankton communities in a highly dynamic environment – the case of large, shallow Lake Balaton (Hungary). Hydrobiologia.Google Scholar
  10. Hörnström, E. 1981Trophic characterisation of lakes by means of quantitative phytoplankton analysisLimnologica13249361Google Scholar
  11. Istvánovics V., A. Clement, L. Somlyódy, A. Specziár, L. G.-Tóth & J. Padisák, in press. Updating water quality targets for shallow Lake Balaton (Hungary), recovering from eutrophication. Hydrobiologia.Google Scholar
  12. Istvánovics, V., Osztoics, A., Honti, M. 2004Dynamics and ecological significance of daily internal load of phosphorus in shallow Lake Balaton, HungaryFreshwater Biology49232252Google Scholar
  13. Järnefelt, H. 1952Plankton als Indikator der Trophiegruppen der Seen. – Annales Academia Scientarium Fennica A IVBiology18129Google Scholar
  14. Kalff, J. 2002LimnologyPrentica HallUpper Sadle River, New JerseyGoogle Scholar
  15. Komárek, J., Anagnostidis, K. 1999Cyanoprokaryota. Chroococcales. Süβwasserflora von Mitteleuropa 19/1Gustav FischerJenaGoogle Scholar
  16. Kozhov, M. 1963Lake Baikal and its LifeDr. W. Junk PressThe HagueGoogle Scholar
  17. Kümmerlin, R. 1990Plankton-Gemenischaften als Bioindikatoren für StehgewässerÖkologie und Naturschutz3227241Google Scholar
  18. Lepistö L., 1999. Phytoplankton assemblages reflecting the ecological status of lakes in Finland. Monographs of the Boreal Environment Research 16, Tampere.Google Scholar
  19. Lepistö, L., Rosenström, U. 1998The most typical phytoplankton taxa in four lakes in FinlandHydrobiologia369/3708997Google Scholar
  20. Mischke, U., Nixdorf, B., Hoehn, E., Riedmüller, U. 2002Möglichkeiten zur Bewertung von Seen anhand des Phytoplanktons. Aktueller Stend in Deutschland. Aktuelle Reihe 5/02: 25–37Brandenburgische Technische UniversitätCottbusGoogle Scholar
  21. Naselli Flores L., J. Padisák, M. T. Dokulil, (eds), 2003a. Phytoplankton and Equilibrium Concept: The Ecology of Steady-State Assemblages. Hydrobiologia 502, Developments in Hydrobiology 172.Google Scholar
  22. Naselli-Flores, L., Padisák, J., Dokulil, M. T., Chorus, I. 2003bEquilibrium/steady-state concept in phytoplankton ecologyHydrobiologia502395403Google Scholar
  23. Nygaard, G. 1949Hydrobiological studies on some Danish ponds and lakes. Pert II: The quotient hypothesis and some little known plankton organismsKongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskab Biologiske Skrifter71293Google Scholar
  24. Padisák, J. 1998Sudden and gradual responses of phytoplankton to global climate change: case studies from two large, shallow lakes (Balaton, Hungary and the Neusiedlersee Austria/Hungary)George, D. G,Jones, J. G,Puncochar, P.Reynolds, C. S.Sutcliffe, D. W. eds. Management of Lakes and Reservoirs during Global ChangeKluwer Academic PublishersDordrecht, Boston. London111125Google Scholar
  25. Padisák, J., Adrian, R. 1999BiovolumenTümpling, W.Friedrich, G. eds. Methoden der Biologischen Wasseruntersuchung 2. Biologische Gewässeruntersuchung, Chapter 5.1Gustav Fischer VerlagJena334367Google Scholar
  26. Padisák, J. F., Barbosa, A. R., Koschel, R., Krienitz, L. 2003aDeep layer cyanoprokaryota maxima are constitutional features of lakes: examples from temperate and tropical regionsArchiv für Hydrobiologie, Special Issues Advances in Limnology58175199Google Scholar
  27. Padisák, J., Borics, G., Fehér, G., Grigorszky, I., Oldal, I., Schmidt, A., Zámbóné-Doma, Z. 2003bDominant species and frequency of equilibrium phases in late summer phytoplankton assemblages in Hungarian small shallow lakesHydrobiologia502157168Google Scholar
  28. Padisák, J., Dokulil, M. 1994Meroplankton dynamics in a saline, turbulent, turbid shallow lake (Neusiedlersee, Austria and Hungary)Hydrobiologia2892342Google Scholar
  29. Padisák, J., L. Krienitz & W. Scheffler, 1999. Chapter 3.6.1. Phytoplankton In Tümpling, W. & Friedrich, G. (eds), Methoden der Biologischen Wasseruntersuchung 2. Biologische Gewässeruntersuchung Gustav Fischer Verlag Jena: 35–52.Google Scholar
  30. Padisák, J., G. Molnár, É. Soróczki-Pintér, É. Hajnal & D. G. George, (in press), Four consecutive dry years in Lake Balaton (Hungary): consequences for phytoplankton biomass and composition. Verhandlunger der Internationale Vereinigung für Limnologie Vol. 29.Google Scholar
  31. Padisák, J., Reynolds, C. S. 1998Selection of phytoplankton associations in Lake Balaton, Hungary, in response to eutrophication and restoration measures, with special reference to cyanoprokaryotesHydrobiologia3844153Google Scholar
  32. Padisák, J., Reynolds, C. S., Sommer, U. 1993Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis in Phytoplankton Ecology. Developments in Hydrobiology 81/Hydrobiologia 249Kluwer Acad. PublDordrecht, Boston, LondonGoogle Scholar
  33. Padisák J. & I. Szabó, 1997. Botanikai kutatások: alacsony- és magasabbrendû növények [Botanical results: lower- and higher plants] In Salánki J. & J. Nemcsók (eds), A Balaton kutatás eredményei 1981–1996 [Results of scientific research in Lake Balaton between 1981 and 1997): 97–136. VEAB, Veszprém, ISBN 963 7385 452 [in Hungarian].Google Scholar
  34. Pankin, W. 1941Die Vegetation einiger Seen und Umgebung von JoachimsthalBibliotheca Botanica, H1191162Google Scholar
  35. Pankin, W. 1945Zur Entwicklungsgeschichte der Algensoziologie und zum Problem der ‘echten’ und ‘zugehörigen’ AlgengesellschaftenArchiv für Hydrobiologie4192111Google Scholar
  36. Popovsky, J., Pfiester, L. A. 1990Dinophyceae (Dinophyta). Süβwasserflora von Mitteleuropa 6Gustav FischerJenaGoogle Scholar
  37. Reynolds, C. S. 1980Phytoplankton assemblages and their periodicity in stratifying lake systemsHolarctic Ecology3141159Google Scholar
  38. Reynolds, C. S. 1988Functional morphology and the adaptive strategies of freshwater phytoplanktonSandgren, C. D. eds. Growth and Reproductive Strategies of Freshwater PhytoplanktonCambridge University PressCambridge388433Google Scholar
  39. Reynolds, C. S. 1997Vegetation Processes in the PelagicEcology InstituteOldendorf/Luhe, GermanyGoogle Scholar
  40. Reynolds, C. S. 2000Phytoplankton designer – or how to predict compositional responses to trophic-state changeHydrobiologia424123132Google Scholar
  41. Reynolds, C. S., Huszar, V., Kruk, K., Naselli-Flores, L., Melo, S. 2002Towards classification of the freshwater phytoplanktonJournal of Plankton Research24417428CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Rosén, G. 1981Phytoplankton indicators and their relation to certain chemical and physical factorsLimnologica13263290Google Scholar
  43. Scheffer, M., Reinaldi, S., Huisman, J., Weissing, F. J. 2003Why plankton communities have no equilibrium: solutions to the paradoxHydrobiologia491918CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  44. Scheffler, W., Padisák, J. 2000Stephanocostis chantaicus (Bacillariophyceae): morphology and population dynamics of a rare centric diatom growing in winter under ice in the oligotrophic Lake Stechlin, GermanyArchiv für Hydrobiologie 98/Algological Studies1334969Google Scholar
  45. Schönfelder, I. 1997Eine Phosphor-Diatomeen-relation für alkalische Seen und Flüsse Brandenburgs und ihre Anwendung für die paläolimnologische Analyse von Auensedimenten der unteren Havel. Dissertaiones Botanicae 283Cramer JBerlinGoogle Scholar
  46. Sommer, U. 1986The periodicity of phytoplankton in Lake Constance (Bodensee) in comparison to other deep lakes of central EuropeHydrobiologia13817CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. Sommer, U. 1991Phytoplankton: directional succession and forced cyclesRemmert, H. eds. The Mosaic-Cycle Concept of EcosystemsSpringer VerlagBerlin132146Google Scholar
  48. Sommer, U., Gliwicz, M., Lampert, W., Duncan, A. 1986The PEG model of seasonal succession of planktonic events in fresh watersArchiv für Hydrobiologie106433471Google Scholar
  49. Symoens, J.-J., Kusel-Fetzmann, E., Descy, J.-P. 1988Algal communities of continental watersSymoens, J.-J. eds. Vegetation of Inland WatersKluwer Academic PublishersDordrecht183221Google Scholar
  50. Teiling, E. 1955Some mesotrophic phytoplankton indicatorsVerhandlunger der Internationale Vereinigung für Limnologie12212215Google Scholar
  51. Thunmark, S. 1945Zur Soziologie des Süsswasserplanktons. Eine methodisch-ökologische StudieFolia Limnologica Skandinvaica3166Google Scholar
  52. Transley, A. G. 1935The British Isles and their VegetationCambridge University PressCambridgeGoogle Scholar
  53. Tremel, B. 1996Determination of the trophic state by qualitative and quantitative phytoplankton analysis in twi gravel pit lakesHydrobiologia323138Google Scholar
  54. Tüxen, R. 1955Das Systeme der nordwestdeutschen PflanzengesellschaftMitteilungen der Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitgemenschaft51119Google Scholar
  55. Utermöhl, H. 1958Zur Vervollkommnung der quantitativen Phytoplankton-MethodikMitteilungen der internationale Vereinigung der theoretische und angewandte Limnologie5567596Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  • Judit Padisák
    • 1
  • Gábor Borics
    • 2
  • István Grigorszky
    • 3
  • Éva Soróczki-Pintér
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of LimnologyUniversity of VeszprémVeszprémHungary
  2. 2.Environmental Protection Inspectorate for Trans-Tiszanian RegionDebrecenHungary
  3. 3.Botanical DepartmentUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary

Personalised recommendations