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The relationship between phytoplankton species dominance and environmental variables in a shallow lake (Lake Vrana, Croatia)

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Abstract

The shallow Lake Vrana was studied over a 1-year period, special attention being paid to the phytoplankton. Phytoplankton was investigated monthly with respect to temporal variability of selected environmental factors. The regular annual development observed was in species contribution to total biomass rather than in seasonal changes in species composition. The assemblage was dominated by Cosmarium tenue Arch. and Synedra sp. In winter and in spring the phytoplankton assemblage was dominated by Cosmarium tenue and high contribution of Synedra sp. was observed during the summer and autumn. Results suggest that concentrations of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus were critical in regulating phytoplankton biomass and species dominance.

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Acknowledgments

We would specially like to thank Professor M. Mrakovčić, who initiated the study of Lake Vrana. We, are also we are grateful to the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, and the Hungarian Scholarship Board for financial support. Special gratitude goes to the reviewers whose comments helped us improve this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biology, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Marija Gligora, Anđelka Plenković-Moraj & Koraljka Kralj

  2. Botanical Department, Debrecen University, P.O. Box 14, Debrecen, 4010, Hungary

    István Grigorszky

  3. Public Health Institute Zadar, Kolovare 2, Zadar, Croatia

    Danijela Peroš-Pucar

Authors
  1. Marija Gligora
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  2. Anđelka Plenković-Moraj
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  3. Koraljka Kralj
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  4. István Grigorszky
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  5. Danijela Peroš-Pucar
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Correspondence to Marija Gligora.

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Gligora, M., Plenković-Moraj, A., Kralj, K. et al. The relationship between phytoplankton species dominance and environmental variables in a shallow lake (Lake Vrana, Croatia). Hydrobiologia 584, 337–346 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-0590-0

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