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Primary production of epipsammic algal communities in Lake Balaton (Hungary)

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Abstract

Benthic algal communities can play an important role in matter and energy flux of shallow lakes. Their contribution to total primary production of lakes has been largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to estimate the primary production of the epipsammic algal communities at different water depths in Lake Balaton (Hungary) with photosynthetic measurements performed in laboratory. The photosynthesis of the benthic algae of different origin was studied at nine different irradiance levels, in three replicates. The maximum photosynthetic rate (P max) was always higher in samples from the shallow parts than those from the deeper regions of the lake. Along the west–east longitudinal axis of the lake P max decreased in the southern part and increased in the middle of the lake as a consequence of differences in the chlorophyll-a concentrations. Knowing P max, I k, global radiation and extinction coefficient, the primary production (mg C m−2 day−1) of the epipsammic algal community was calculated at different water depths. In the shallow regions at 0.5 and 1 m water depth 75–95% and 60–85% of the production was attributable to the epipsammon. The percentage contribution of epipsammon was at 2 m water depth 20–65%. In the deeper pelagic region (>3 m) more than 85% of the primary production originated from the phytoplankton.

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Acknowledgment

This project was supported by the Hungarian National Office for Research and Technology (3B/022/2004 BALÖKO).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Limnology, University of Pannonia, Egyetem str. 10, 8200, Veszprém, Hungary

    Viktória Üveges & Judit Padisák

  2. Balaton Limnological Research Institute of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Klebelsberg Kuno str. 3, 8237, Tihany, Hungary

    Lajos Vörös & Attila W. Kovács

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  1. Viktória Üveges
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  2. Lajos Vörös
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  3. Judit Padisák
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  4. Attila W. Kovács
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Correspondence to Viktória Üveges.

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Guest editors: T. Blenckner, T. Nöges, L. Tranvik, K. Pettersson, R. Naddafi / European Large Lakes II. Vulnerability of large lake ecosystems – Monitoring, management and measures

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Üveges, V., Vörös, L., Padisák, J. et al. Primary production of epipsammic algal communities in Lake Balaton (Hungary). Hydrobiologia 660, 17–27 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0396-3

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