Original paper
Temperature and growth strategies as the essential factors influencing the occurrence of Stephanodiscus minutulus (Kützing) Cleve & Möller and Palatinus apiculatus (Ehrenberg) Craveiro, Calado, Daugbjerg & Moestrup
Grigorszky, István; Tihamér Kiss, Keve; Pór, Gabriella; Dévai, György; Nagy, Alex Sándor; Somlyai, Imre; Berta, Csaba; Duleba, Mónika; Trábert, Zsuzsa; Ács, Éva
Fundamental and Applied Limnology Volume 189 Nr. 2 (2017), p. 167 - 175
published: Jan 1, 2017
ArtNo. ESP141018902006, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The life cycle of diatoms and dinoflagellates enables them to produce interannually varying dominances. This variability results from life-cycle interactions, physical conditions, and inter-species competition for nutrients and light. In particular, the overall dominant species of the year can be linked to the abundances of resting stages and temperature in spring. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of temperature and life cycle as biotic factors on spring phytoplankton blooms caused by Stephanodiscus minutulus (Kützing) Cleve & Möller and Palatinus apiculatus (Ehrenberg) Craveiro, Calado, Daugbjerg & Moestrup, in a Hungarian shallow backwater. The composition of plankton communities exhibited a marked interannual heterogeneity. Our results suggested that a slight decrease in temperature in spring favours a spring bloom of vegetative dinoflagellates before encystment begins. However, a rapid increase in temperature results in high abundances of dinoflagellate cysts, which, in turn, leads to the dominance of diatoms. In this case, encystment starts before a pronounced dinoflagellate spring bloom is established.
Keywords
stephanodiscus minutulus • encystment • excystment • palatinus apiculatus • spring bloom • life cycle