Abstract
Lake Baringo is a shallow equatorial lake. This paper reports a diel study of the depth-time distribution of phytoplankton and photosynthesis at one location in Lake Baringo on 10 March 1989. The water column shows a pattern of diurnal stratification probably accentuated by the high turbidity of the water and therefore rapid attenuation of solar energy. This stratified pattern breaks down at night due to atmospheric cooling and the regular onset of winds in the early evening. The phytoplankton is dominated byMicrocystis aeruginosa with some associated epiphytes. It concentrates in the narrow euphotic zone during the diurnal period of stratification due to buoyancy of theMicrocystis; evening breakdown of the thermocline results in the phytoplankton being mixed throughout the water column. A series of measurements of photosynthesis throughout the diurnal period gives an areal rate of 3.8 g O2 m−2 d−1. The relationship between this value and the level of fish exploitation in Lake Baringo is discussed. The diel cycle in Lake Baringo is interpreted as dominating over any seasonal limnological cycle in the lake.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen D. J. & W. C. Darling, 1989. Kenya Rift Valley geothermal project, phase II. British Geological Survey technical report: No. WD/89/51R.
American Public Health Association, 1975. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 13th edition, American Public Health Association, New York.
Beadle, L. C., 1932. Scientific results of the Cambridge Expedition to the East African lakes, 1930 — 1–4. The waters of the East African lakes in relation to their fauna and flora. J. linn. Soc., Zool. 38: 157–211.
Ganf, G. G., 1974. Diurnal mixing and the vertical distribution of phytoplankton in a shallow equatorial lake (Lake George, Uganda). J. Ecol. 62: 611–629.
Ganf, G. G. & A. J. Horne, 1975. Diurnal stratification, photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in a shallow, equatorial lake (Lake George, Uganda). Freshwat. Biol. 5: 13–39.
Grobbelaar, J. U., 1992. Nutrient versus physical factors in determining the primary productivity of waters with high inorganic turbidity. Hydrobiologia 238: 177–182.
Källqvist, T., 1980. Primary production and phytoplankton in Lakes Baringo and Naivasha, Kenya. Report No. E- 8041905. Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Blindern, Oslo.
Melack, J. M., 1976. Primary productivity and fish yields in tropical lakes. Trans. am. Fish. Soc. 105: 575–580.
Melack, J. M., 1979. Temporal variability of phytoplankton in tropical lakes. Oecologia 44: 1–7.
Patterson, G., 1986. Tin mine ponds of the Jos Plateau — their nature and resource value. Report No. 8. Jos Plateau Environmental Resources Development Programme. Dept. of Geography, University of Durham.
Richardson, J. L. & A. E. Richardson, 1972. History of an African Rift Lake and its climatic implications. Ecol. Monogr. 42: 499–534.
Riedel, D. R., 1962. Der Margheritensee (Südabessinien). Zugleich ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis des abessinischen Graben-seen. Arch. Hydrobiol. 58: 435–466.
Talling, J. F., 1992. Environmental regulation in African shallow lakes and wetlands. Revue Hydrobiol. trop. 25: 87–144.
Vollenweider, R. A., 1974. A manual of methods for measuring primary production in aquatic environments. Second edition. I.B.P. Handbook no. 12. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.
Walsby, A. E., 1969. The permeability of blue-green algal gasvacuole membranes to gas. Proc. r. Soc. B. 173: 235–255.
Wetzel, R. G., 1983. Limnology. Second edition. Saunders College Publ., Philadelphia.
Wilson, K. K., 1989. Phytoplankton and physicochemical dynamics of Lake Baringo. M. Sc. thesis. Kenyatta University. Nairobi, Kenya.
Wood, R. B. & J. F. Talling, 1988. Chemical and algal relationships in a salinity series of Ethiopian inland waters. Hydrobiologia 158: 29–67.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Patterson, G., Wilson, K.K. The influence of the diel climatic cycle on the depth-time distribution of phytoplankton and photosynthesis in a shallow equatorial lake (Lake Baringo, Kenya). Hydrobiologia 304, 1–8 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02530698
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02530698