The spring development of phytoplankton in Lake Erken

SUMMARY. In Lake Erken there is a regular phytoplankton peak at ice‐breakup in the spring. Pechlaner (1970) studied the spring outburst of 1960. We carried out a similar study in 1973, when the climatic factors were completely different, with only 10 cm of ice and almost no snow. Thus, due to light penetration, there was a high phytoplankton biomass under the ice as early as March. Stephanodiscus astraea (Ehr.) Grun. and Asterionella formosa Hass. dominated the biomass during the spring development in 1973 instead of the normally dominating S. hantzschii v. pusillus Grun. The nutrient decrease was slower in 1973 than in 1960. A comparison of carbon assimilation and the decrease of nitrate and phosphate indicate sufficient nutrient supply in 1973. In 1960, the population grew logarithmically until the nutrients became limiting. In 1973, the average biomass was greater, but the mean probable primary production was only half that of 1960. From the activity coefficients for the 2 years it is also clear that, in 1960, S. hantzschii v. pusillus was highly productive during its short but intensive growth period. Its minute size and high surface/volume ratio enabled it to take up nutrients rapidly and efficiently. The chlorophyll content of S. astraea in 1973 was only half as much as that of S. hantzschii v. pusillus in 1960. Since the light conditions under the ice in March 1973 were more unfavourable than during the exponential phase of 1960, production was much lower.