Plankton algae studyed for the first time in small rivers of Vilia river basin (Belarus)
Keywords:
small rivers of the Ostrovets district, Grodno region, phytoplankton, taxonomic composition, dominant complexes, quantitative development, species diversity, saprobility indicesAbstract
Objective. The aim of the study is to get a complete picture of the phytoplankton development in small streams of the river Viliya basin.
Material and methods. The studies were carried out in the spring and summer periods of 2009, which most fully reflect the characteristic features of the aquatic ecosystems functioning. To assess the quantitative development of phytoplankton and cyanobacteria, we used traditional hydrobiological methods, in particular, sedimentary method, light microscopy and sample fixation in our modification. The quantitative development of phytoplankton was assessed differentially according to three indicators: the total number of organisms, cells and biomass. Samples were taken from bridges in three replicates: the right bank, the left bank, and the river shaft.
Results. The uniqueness of the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton in the studied rivers during the period of observation is noted. The Viliya River was distinguished by the greatest number (168 species and intraspecific taxa dominated by green and diatoms – 66 and 41, respectively, 22 representatives of cyanobacteria, 19 species of golden algae). In contrast to the large rivers of the republic, during the study period the watercourses demonstrated the abundant development of golden algae (Chrysophyta). Compared to the river Viliya, the phytoplankton biomass in its tributaries was almost 5 times lower. Currently Viliya is a highly eutrophied watercourse, and the investigated tributaries are characterized by good water quality indicators. Most of them belong to the β-mesosaprobic class, and river Gozovka is approaching the border of the oligosaprobic zone.
Conclusion. The studied watercourses differed in species and intraspecific taxa abundance of algal divisions, which indicates the uniqueness of the species composition of the studied rivers. High values of the indices of species diversity (Shannon index) and the communities evenness (Pielou index) indicate a wide variety of phytoplankton communities, their polydominance, and this, in turn, means a fairly high degree of their resistance to external influences.
References
Плюта, М. В. Кумжевые водотоки Беларуси и состояние их нерестово-выростных угодий / М. В. Плюта, В. К. Ризевский, И. В. Новик // Вопросы рыбного хозяйства Беларуси: сб. науч. тр.; под общ. ред. М. М. Радько. – Вып. 23. – С. 186–196.
Михеева, Т. М. Методы количественного учета нанофитопланктона (обзор) / Т. М. Михеева // Гидробиологический журнал. – 1989. – Т. 25, № 4. – С. 3–21.
Бюллетень экологического состояния озер Нарочь, Мястро, Баторино (2014) / Т. В. Жукова [и др.] ; под ред. Т. М. Михеевой. – Минск : БГУ, 2015. – 111 с.
Михеева, Т. М. Альгофлора Беларуси. Таксономический каталог / Т. М. Михеева. – Минск : Издательство БГУ, 1999. – 396 с.
Hilldebrand, H. Biovolume calculation for pelagic and benthic microalgae / H.Hilldebrand [и др.] // J. Phycol., 1999. – С. 403–424.
References
Pliuta M. V., Rizevsky V. K., Novik I. V. Kumzhevyje vodotoki Belarusi i sostojanije ich nerestovo-vyrostnykh ugodij [Trout streams of Belarus and the state of their spawning and growing grounds]. Voprosy rybnogo khozjajstva Belarusi [Fisheries in Belarus], vol. 23, pp. 186–196. (In Russian)
Michejeva T. M. Metody kolitchestvennogo ucheta nanofitoplanktona (obzor) [Methods of quantitative accounting of nanophytoplankton (review)] Gidrobiologicheskiy zhurnal [Hydrobiological journal]. 1989, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 3–21. (In Russian)
Bulleten’ ekologicheskogo sostojanya ozer Naroch, Myastro, Batorino (1999–2019 gg.) [Bulletin of ecological state of Lakes Naroch, Nyastro, Batorino] (2014). T.V. Zhukova [et oth.]; under total ed. Dr. Biol. of science T. M. Mikheyeva. Minsk: BSU, 2015, 111 p. (In Russian)
Mikheyeva T.M. Al`goflora Belarusi. Taksonomicheskij katalog [Algal flora of Belarus. Taxonomic catalogue]. Minsk, BSU. 1999, 396 p. (in Russian and English).
Hilldebrand H., Durselen C.-D., Kirschtel D. Pollingher U., Zohary T. Biovolume calculation for pelagic and benthic microalgae. J. Phycol., 1999, vol. 35, pp. 403–424 (in English).
