Characterization of a small eutrophic Antarctic lake (Otero Lake, Cierva Point) on the basis of algal assemblages and water chemistry.

MATALONI, G.; TESOLÍN, G.; TELL, G.

POLAR BIOLOGY

Springer

Lugar: Stuttgart; Año: 1998 vol. 19 p. 107 - 114

0722-4060

Abstract Otero Lake is the main water body of Cierva Point, Danco Coast (SSSI No. 15). During the 1992/ 1993 and 1994/1995 seasons, abiotic parameters and the structure and dynamics of the phytoplankton were studied. Algal assemblages from the phytoplankton, from algal clumps encased in the lake ice and from the benthic algal felt were compared. Low Jaccard similarity indices between these three assemblages suggest di€erent survival strategies. The higher species richness of phytoplankton when studied during the whole summer also suggests that external propagule inputs can heavily in fluence the structure of this community. High levels of phosphate, nitrate and ammonium throughout the study periods indicate that they do not limit summer growth of the phytoplankton community. Blooms of Chlamydomonas subcaudata Wille are apparently characteristic. This group of features define Otero Lake as a highly eutrophic water body, in which outflow seems to be the main cause of phytoplankton loss during summer.Otero Lake is the main water body of Cierva Point, Danco Coast (SSSI No. 15). During the 1992/ 1993 and 1994/1995 seasons, abiotic parameters and the structure and dynamics of the phytoplankton were studied. Algal assemblages from the phytoplankton, from algal clumps encased in the lake ice and from the benthic algal felt were compared. Low Jaccard similarity indices between these three assemblages suggest di€erent survival strategies. The higher species richness of phytoplankton when studied during the whole summer also suggests that external propagule inputs can heavily in fluence the structure of this community. High levels of phosphate, nitrate and ammonium throughout the study periods indicate that they do not limit summer growth of the phytoplankton community. Blooms of Chlamydomonas subcaudata Wille are apparently characteristic. This group of features define Otero Lake as a highly eutrophic water body, in which outflow seems to be the main cause of phytoplankton loss during summer.