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Importance quantitative de différentes classes de taille phytoplanctoniques en milieu lacustre eutrophe

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Abstract

The distribution of three phytoplanktonic size fractions was studied in an eutrophic lake. Size fractionation experiments were performed using cell enumeration by inverted microscopy and chlorophyll a estimation. The results were also compared with the ATP content in the analysed algal fractions.

The (1–12 µm) fraction represented only on average 5 % of the total biomass, when estimated by the cell enumeration method, but made up 26 % of the total chlorophyll a and 33 % of the total ATP. This discrepancy confirms that cell enumeration with an inverted microscope seriously underestimates the ‘nanoplankton’ biomass.

The (12–45 µm) fraction made up to 50% of the total biomass regardless the method of analysis used. The chlorophyll a and biovolume estimation in this fraction were positively correlated.

The contribution of algal species with large cell size (45–160 µm) to the total algal biomass was higher (39%) when based on their biovolume estimation than when on the chlorophyll a (27%). The low ATP contribution of this fraction (17%) may be attributable to high percentage of dead cells.

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  1. Laboratoire de Zoologie, U.A. CNRS 138, Université Clermont II, BP 45, 63170, Aubière, France

    Lotfi Aleya & Christian Amblard

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Aleya, L., Amblard, C. Importance quantitative de différentes classes de taille phytoplanctoniques en milieu lacustre eutrophe. Hydrobiologia 183, 97–113 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018715

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