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Observations and experiments on the phytoplankton of Blelham Tarn, English Lake District
Author(s) -
LACK T. J.,
LUND J. W. G.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1974.tb00105.x
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , shore , environmental science , water column , hydrology (agriculture) , water quality , algae , tube (container) , abundance (ecology) , oceanography , plankton , ecology , geology , biology , nutrient , geotechnical engineering , materials science , composite material
Summary Tubes composed of butyl rubber have been placed in a small English lake in an area where the water is 11‐12 m deep. Each tube, when fully distended, contains over 18 000 m 3 of water. The tubes are anchored to the shore and lake bottom. A boat can be rowed into them over a specially strengthened portion ofthe margin. The first was installed and its water isolated from that in the lake by the end of July 1970 and the second tube at the beginning of October 1970. The installation, maintenance, and performance of the tubes are described; as are suggested improvements. The temperature regime in the tubes closely follows that in the lake. If the chemical conditions are favourable, the seasonal cycle of Melosira in a tube is similar to that n i the lake. Contamination of the water in the tubes by that in the lake is slight and has a negligible effect on chemical conditions within them. Water can be lost from the tubes under certain conditions. The reverse does not happen. The phytoplankton communities in the tubes are similar in quality to those ofthe lake, even after 2‐5 years of separation. The evidence suggests that the tubes are suitable for investigations on certain factors determining the abundance and seasonal cycles of algae in lakes and for other limnological studies.