Changes in the phytoplankton community and dominance of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Wolosz.) Subba Raju in a temperate lowland river (Ponjavica, Serbia)

• Published in: Hydrobiologia Vol. 711; no. 1; pp. 43 - 60
• Main Authors: KARADZIC, Vesna, SUBAKOV SIMIC, Gordana, NATIC, Dejan, RZANICANIN, Ana, CIRIC, Miloš, GACIC, Zoran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-07-2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aphanizomenon flos-aquae; Biochemical oxygen demand; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Community ecology; Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii; Ecology; Eutrophication; Fresh water ecosystems; Freshwater; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Life Sciences; Microcystis aeruginosa; Phytoplankton; Plankton; Primary Research Paper; Riparian ecology; Rivers; Seasons; Species composition; Synecology; Turbidity; Water levels; Water quality; Zoology; Southern Europe; Serbia; Balkan Peninsula; Europe; Mediterranean Basin; Serbia, Banat; Phytoplankton; Lowland river; “Ponjavica” nature park; Freshwater environment; Aquatic environment; Cylindrospermopsis; Ponjavica nature park; Plant community; Stream; Rivers; Lowland; raciborskii
• ISSN: 0018-8158; 1573-5117
• DOI: 10.1007/s10750-013-1460-6

Species composition and seasonal succession of phytoplankton were analyzed in a lowland river located in South Banat (Ponjavica, Serbia). As a result of human activity, a network of irrigation channels was built on the Ponjavica River’s upper and lower courses. These channels reduce the water level in the river and help to create favorable conditions for accelerated eutrophication processes. Eight phytoplankton divisions with 444 taxa were present. Physical and chemical testing of water, phytoplankton abundance and biomass, as well as chlorophyll
a
concentration showed a high level of eutrophication. Cyanobacterial biomass developed in 2002 with dominance of
Microcystis aeruginosa
and
Aphanizomenon flos
-
aquae
. Changes in phytoplankton composition were observed during 2008, characterized by the appearance and dominance of
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii
when this species accounted for more than 85% of the total phytoplankton biovolume. The change in dominant phytoplankton functional groups was observed: codons H
1
and M characterizing summer in 2002 were replaced by codons S
N
and S
1
in 2008. This study compares the presence of
C. raciborskii
with other phytoplankton species in relation to water quality parameters. High abundance of this species correlated positively with biochemical oxygen demand and turbidity, and negatively with NO
3
-N concentrations during the study period.