Abstract
Measurements of phytoplankton photosynthesis vs. irradiance relationships have been made at 3–7 day intervals in Lake Erken (central Sweden) for three years during summer stratification. Both the rate of light-limited (αB) and light-saturated (PB max) photosynthesis per unit chlorophyll a showed distinct and similar temporal trends in each year. Seasonal trends were especially evident for PB max, which increased in value for several weeks following the onset of thermal stratification, and then declined in the presence of the large colonial blue-green alga, Gloeotrichia echinulata. By late summer, when the biomass of G. echinulata had decreased, PB max again rose to its early summer value. The covariation of biomass-specific photosynthesis with the blooming of G. echinulata was the one clear seasonal (week-month) pattern which emerged in each of 3 years. Over short (day-week) time scales, changes in αB were related to changes in irradiance exposure on the day of sampling. However, the relationship between these two parameters was variable in time, since it was superimposed upon longer term trends controlled by changes in phytoplankton species composition. Increases in G. echinulata biomass corresponded with a deepening of the thermocline, which both increased internal phosphorus loading and the transport of resting G. echinulata colonies into the epilimnion. The timing and magnitude of the yearly G. echinulata bloom was as a result related to the seasonal development of thermal stratification. These results illustrate the importance of seasonal changes in the phytoplankton community as a factor regulating rates of biomass specific photosynthesis, particularly when the successional changes involve species with very different life strategies.
Keywords
- Thermal Stratification
- Particulate Nitrogen
- Soluble Reactive Phosphorus Concentration
- Phytoplankton Size
- Phytoplankton Photosynthesis
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Pierson, D.C., Pettersson, K., Istvanovics, V. (1992). Temporal changes in biomass specific photosynthesis during the summer: regulation by environmental factors and the importance of phytoplankton succession. In: Ilmavirta, V., Jones, R.I. (eds) The Dynamics and Use of Lacustrine Ecosystems. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 79. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2745-5_12
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