Original paper
Ecology of Freshwater Algae of Newborough Warren
S. Biswas,
Nova Hedwigia Band 29 Heft 3-4 (1978), p. 935 - 956
23 references
published: Nov 24, 1978
DOI: 10.1127/nova.hedwigia/29/1978/935
ArtNo. ESP050002903032, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
In order of abundance of freshwater algae of Newborough Warren dune area, Anglesey, North Wales, Great Britain during 1960-1962, the three types of habitats were the springs, lake shore and dune slacks. The richness of the springs could be attributed to their permanent water, favourable temperature, abundant nutrients, buffering agents and sodium chloride as a stimulant derived from the sea. Despite its permanent water rich in many nutrients, the lake shore had a relatively low temperature, buffering agent and stimulant - the latter owing to the distance from the sea. The dune slacks were poor as the algae could flourish neither in summer due to drought and nutrient deficiency nor in winter when water and nutrients were available but the temperature was too low for algal growth. Seasonal abundance started with Tribonema at the lake shore in spring. In summer diatoms such as Achnanthes and Epithemia dominated the springs; among the green algae Cladophora was abundant at the lake shore. The blue-green algae were relatively abundant in autumn being represented by Chroococcus in the dune slacks and Anabaena at the lake shore. The correlation analysis showed a direct influence of temperature on the abundance of all algae. Photosynthesis was highest in the diatoms and green algae. Potassium was found to be important to the green algae probably in the formation of their chlorophyll. Though a minor component, the blue-green algae correlated with a number of physico-chemical factors and thus they were important as indicators of environmental changes. On the whole the freshwaters investigated were rich in chloride, sodium and calcium but poor in orthophosphate, nitrate and potassium. Thus these waters were dysharmonious or idiotrophic which may explain the abundance of diatoms in Newborough Warren unlike the rest of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire.
Keywords
springs • green algae • dune slack • stimulant • drought • chlorophyll • sodium chloride • Newborough Warren dune • Anglesey • North Wales • Great Britain