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Plankton Succession in the Temporary Lake Koronia after Intermittent Dry‐Out
Author(s) -
Michaloudi Evangelia,
MoustakaGouni Maria,
Pantelidakis Kimon,
Katsiapi Matina,
Genitsaris Savvas
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international review of hydrobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 1434-2944
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.201101498
Subject(s) - zooplankton , phytoplankton , ecological succession , plankton , rotifer , biomass (ecology) , ecology , biology , environmental science , oceanography , nutrient , geology
Abstract This study examines the plankton succession in a polluted temporary lake after intermittent dry‐out. The initial stage after flooding was heterotrophic (zooplankton/phytoplankton carbon biomass ratio > 1). Phytoplankton species richness increased exponentially within a few months after inundation. The chlorophyte Koliella cf. longiseta was the pioneer colonist which was replaced by Oocystis sp. reaching 300 340 ind mL –1 . The initial conditions favored rotifer and cladoceran colonists, not previously recorded, to successfully establish populations. The species that finally became dominant hatched from the lake's sedimentary egg bank with Daphnia magna being prominent. Nevertheless, the zooplankton community was unable to control the high biomass of chlorophytes (zooplankton/phytoplankton carbon biomass ratio < 0.4). Plankton succession in this temporary lake was mostly determined by the past phytoplankton – zooplankton species pool rather than by the established new colonists. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)