Abstract
Phytoplankton numbers, biovolume, chlorophyll-a and various physico-chemical characteristics were followed at weekly intervals in Mondsee, Austria during the year 1982. Secchi-disk transparency varied from 10 m in winter to 2 m in September. Prior to the onset of stratification phosphate-phosphorus concentration was 4 µg 1−1 decreasing to undetectable values thereafter. Nitrate-nitrogen dropped from 590 µg 1−1 to about 100 µg 1−1 during the same time. The vernal bloom was dominated by Asterionella formosa Hass. which abruptly declined after silicon depletion. Spring growth ceased in early June, when Tabellaria flocculosa (Lyngb.) Kütz var. asterionelloides Grun. dominated.
Oscillatoria rubescens D.C. and Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz. dominated summer and early autumn followed by the chrysophyte Dinobryon divergens Imh. and D. sociale Ehr. which formed up to 69% of total biovolume in October. Thereafter diatoms and Cryptophyceae (Rhodomonas lacustris Pascher and Ruttner, Cryptomonas pusilla Bach.) became abundant again.
Maximum chlorophyll-a concentration in the epilimnion (16 µg 1−1) was reached during spring growth of the diatoms. During summer higher chlorophyll-a levels were always associated with the metalimnetic layer of Oscillatoria.
Compared with earlier studies, both the total biovolume and the share of Oscillatoria rubescens significantly decreased because of reduced nutrient loading of the lake and wash-out of Oscillatoria (theor. renewal time of the lake: 1.7 years).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahlgren, G., 1978. Response of phytoplankton and primary production to reduced nutrient loading in Lake Norrviken. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 20: 840–845.
Cloern, J. E., 1977. Effects of light intensity and temperature on Cryptomonas ovata (Cryptophyceae) growth and nutrient uptake rates. J. Phycol. 13: 389–395.
Crumpton, W. G. & R. G. Wetzel, 1982. Effects of differential growth and mortality in the seasonal succession of phytoplankton populations in Lawrence Lake, Michigan. Ecology 63: 1729–1739.
Danecker, E., 1969. Bedenklicher Zustand des Mondsees im Herbst 1968. Österr. Fisch. 22: 25–31.
Edmondson, W. T., 1977. Trophic equilibrium of Lake Washington. Rep. EPA-600/3–77–087. U.S.E.P.A., Corvallis, Oregon, 44 pp.
Faafeng, B. A. & J. P. Nilssen, 1981. A twenty year study of eutrophication in a deep, soft-water lake. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 21: 412–424.
Findenegg, I., 1969. Die Eutrophierung des Mondsees im Salzkammergut. Wass. Abwass. 4: 139–144.
Findenegg, I., 1971. Die Produktionsleistungen einiger planktischer Algenarten in ihren natürlichem Milieu. Arch. Hydrobiol. 69: 273–293.
Findenegg, I., 1973. Vorkommen and biologisches Verhalten der Blaualge Oscillatoria rubescens D.C. in den österreichischen Alpenseen. Carinthia II 163: 317–330.
Ganf, G. G. & R. L. Oliver, 1982. Vertical separation of light and available nutrients as a factor causing replacement of green algae by blue green algae in the plankton of a stratified lake. J. Ecol. 70: 829–844.
Heaney, S. I. & J. F. Talling, 1980. Ceratium hirundinella — ecology of a complex, mobile, and successful plant. Ann. Rep. Freshwat. biol. Ass. 48: 27–40.
Holm-Hansen, O. & B. Riemann, 1978. Chlorophyll-a determinations: improvements in methodology. Oikos 30: 438–447.
Jagsch, A. & G. Bruschek, 1984. Ergebnisse der Wasserchemie des Mondsee. Arb. Labor Weyregg 7 (in press).
Knoechel, R. & J. Kalff, 1978. An in situ study of the productivity and population dynamics of five freshwater planktonic diatom species. Limnol. Oceanogr. 23: 195–218.
Konopka, A., 1981. Influence of temperature, oxygen, and pH on a metalimnetic population of Oscillatoria rubescens. Appl. envir. Microbiol. 42: 102–108.
Krüger, G. H. J. & J. N. Eloff, 1978. The effect of temperature on specific growth rate and activation energy of Microcystis and Synechococcus isolates relevant to the onset of natural blooms. J. Limnol. soc. s. Afr. 4: 9–20.
Lund, J. W. G., 1955. Further observations on the seasonal cycle of Melosira italica (Ehr.) Kütz. subsp. subarctica O. Müll. J. Ecol. 43: 90–102.
Lund, J. W. G., 1964. Primary production and periodicity of phytoplanktno. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 15: 37–56.
Lund, J. W. G., C. Kipling & E. D. Le Cren, 1958. The inverted microscope method of estimating algal numbers and the statistical basis of estimation by counting. Hydrobiologia 11: 143–170.
Mackereth, F. J. H., J. Heron & J. F. Talling, 1978. Water analysis: Some revised methods for limnologists. Freshwat. biol. Ass., scient. Publ. 36: 1–120.
Moore, J. W., 1981. Seasonal abundance of Ceratium hirundinella (O. F. Müller) Schrank in lakes of different trophy. Arch. Hydrobiol. 92: 535–548.
Morgan, K. C. & J. Kalff, 1979. Effect of light and temperature interactions on growth of Cryptomonas erosa (Crytptophyceae). J. Phycol. 15: 127–134.
Müller, G., 1979. Grundlagendaten für Fuschlsee, Mondsee und Attersee, sowie das gesamte Einzugsgebiet. Arb. Labor Weyregg 3: 10–14.
Müller-Jantsch, A., 1979. Untersuchungen and der Mondseeache und Sedimentationsmessungen im Attersee. Arb. Labor Weyregg 3: 107–120.
Nicklisch, A. & J. G. Kohl, 1983. Growth kinetics of Microcystis aeruginosa (Kütz.) Kütz. as a basis for modelling its population dynamics. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 68: 317–326.
Ramberg, L., 1979. Relations between phytoplankton and light climate in two Swedish forest lakes. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 64: 749–782.
Reynolds, C. S., 1980. Phytoplankton assemblages and their periodicity in stratifying lake systems. Holarct. Ecol. 3: 141–159.
Reynolds, C. S., 1982. Phytoplankton periodicity: its motivation, mechanism and manipulation. Ann. Rep. Freshwat. biol. Ass. 50: 60–75.
Reynolds, C. S., 1984. Phytoplankton periodicity: the interactions of form, function and environmental variability. Freshwat. Biol. 14: 111–142.
Reynolds, C. S. & D. A. Rogers, 1976. Seasonal variations in the vertical distribution and buoyancy of Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz. emend. Elenkin in Rostherne Mere, England. Hydrobiologia48: 17–23.
Reynolds, C. S. & S. W. Wiseman, 1982. Sinking losses of phytoplankton in closed limnetic systems. J. Plankton Res. 4: 489–522.
Reynolds, C. S., J. M. Thompson, A. J. D. Ferguson & S. W. Wiseman, 1982. Loss processes in the population dynamics of phytoplankton maintained in closed systems. J. Plankton Res. 4: 561–600.
Rott, E., 1981. Some results from phytoplankton counting intercalibrations. Schweiz. Z. Hydrol. 43: 34–62.
Sampl, H., L. Schulz & N. Schulz, 1981. Bericht über die limnologischen Untersuchungen der Körntner Seen. Veröff. Körntner Inst. Seenforschip. 6: 1–175.
Schmitt, J. & J. H. Olive, 1980. Interacting effects of light, temperature, and nutrients on C-14 uptake of Oscillatoria rubescens De Candolle. Hydrobiologia 70: 51–56.
Schwarz, K., 1979. Das Phytoplankton des Mondsees 1978. Arb. Lab. Weyregg 3: 84–92.
Schwarz, K., 1981. Das Phytoplankton im Mondsee 1980. Arb. Lab. Weyregg 5: 110–118.
Sommer, U., 1981a. The role of r- and K-selection in the succession of phytoplankton in Lake Constance. Acta oecol., Oecol. gen. 2: 327–342.
Sommer, U., 1981b. Phytoplanktonbiozönosen and -sukzessionen im Bodensee/Überlingersee. Verh. Ges. Ökol. 9: 33–42.
Wurzer, E. (ed.), 1982. Seenreinhaltung in Österreich. — Limnologie — Hygiene. Maßnahmen — Erfolge. In Wasserwirt-schaft. BM Land- und Forstwirtschaft. 6, 256 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dokulil, M., Skolaut, C. Succession of phytoplankton in a deep stratifying lake: Mondsee, Austria. Hydrobiologia 138, 9–24 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027229
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027229