Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of contrasting hydrological scenarios on the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of phytoplankton in a reservoir, vertical chlorophyll and temperature profiles were measured and functional classification of phytoplankton was applied. From April to October 2007, at 1–2 week intervals, seasonal changes in various parameters were studied along the longitudinal axis of the canyon-shaped, eutrophic Římov Reservoir (Czech Republic). At the river inflow, phytoplankton markedly differed from the rest of the reservoir, being dominated by functional groups D and J (pennate diatoms and chlorococcal algae) without a clear seasonal pattern. From April to mid-June, groups Y and P (large cryptophytes and colonial diatoms) prevailed in the whole reservoir. Phytoplankton spatial heterogeneity was the most apparent during the summer reflecting a pronounced gradient of environmental parameters from the river inflow to the dam (e.g., decreasing nutrients, increasing light availability, etc.). A dense cyanobacterial bloom (groups H1 and M) developed in the nutrient-rich transition zone, while functional Group N (desmids) dominated the phytoplankton at the same time at the dam area. In late summer, a sudden flood event considerably disrupted thermal stratification, altered nutrient and light availability, and later even resulted in cyanobacterial dominance in the whole reservoir. Additionally, our study emphasizes the importance of having an intensive phytoplankton monitoring program, which would allow for detecting severe consequences of sudden flood events on phytoplankton spatial and temporal heterogeneity, which significantly affect water quality at the dam area used for drinking water purposes.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to V. Hejzlarová, J. Kroupová, E. Zapomělová, K. Řeháková, J. Nedoma and J. Hejzlar who either participated in field sampling or laboratory analysis. This study was largely supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic under research grants 206/07/P407, 206/08/0015 and AV0Z60170517. We also thank three anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. English language correction was done by Keith Edwards.
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Rychtecký, P., Znachor, P. Spatial heterogeneity and seasonal succession of phytoplankton along the longitudinal gradient in a eutrophic reservoir. Hydrobiologia 663, 175–186 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0571-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0571-6