Authors: Ming Su Wei An Jianwei Yu Shenling Pan Min Yang
Publish Date: 2013/11/06
Volume: 724, Issue: 1, Pages: 203-216
Abstract
This study attempted to reveal the effect of solar radiation fluctuation on the dynamics of phytoplankton communities expressed as cell morphology in eutrophic water bodies where the impacts of nutrients could be considered as small Two morphological descriptors were proposed cellular projected area varphi rm p and flattening index f which were able to he cellular lightharvesting potential and energy requirement respectively A model was established to describe the effects of natural light availability on selecting phytoplankton assemblages with underwater field and mixing process in the water column considered Based on the data collected from the eutrophic Yanghe Reservoir the model was derived as V=3792lambdavarphi rm p R2 = 0673 P 001 where V is biovolume λ is a function of solar elevation angle θ and mixing/euphotic depth ratio z mix/z eu in water and varphi rm p Postanalysis of the model results revealed that species with large varphi rm p and f in general have advantages in spring and winter when underwater light availability is low by contrast those with small varphi rm p and f have advantages in summer Larger varphi rm p and f mean that the cells could harvest more light energy and consumed less allowing them to be selected under low light availability and vice versa We thus concluded that the underwater light field probably the most important factor in selecting phytoplankton morphology in eutrophic water bodiesWe greatly thank Peter Baker who assisted us for the algal taxonomy and identification we also thank Per Johan Færøvig to give us very good suggestions and comments which improved the work a lot Finally we are greatly indebted the editor and reviewers’ comments and suggestions on the manuscript This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China 50938007 51221892
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