Title |
Elemental Stoichiometry of Natural Phytoplankton Communities in Reservoirs of the Han River Systems |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.15681/KSWE.2014.30.6.665 |
Keywords |
cyanobacteria; diatoms; elemental stoichiometry; Lake Paldang; Lake Soyang; phytoplankton community |
Abstract |
Elemental cellular stoichiometry of natural phytoplankton communities was examined in six large dam reservoirs in the Han River system. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents of the phytoplankton-dominated seston from Lake Soyang was higher than that from other lakes. Phosphorus (P) content showed slight variations among six lakes in the range of 0.04~0.18 μmol P mg DW-1. The phosphorus concentrations of lake water showed obvious positive relationship with P and C contents of the phytoplankton-dominated seston. In all six lakes, N:P ratios and C:P ratios in the phytoplankton-dominated seston were more than 23 and 133 respectively, indicating the phytoplankton communities in six lakes have been exposed in phosphorus limited condition. The relative abundance of diatoms showed significant negative correlation with C, N, P contents of the phytoplankton-dominated seston and that of cyanobacteria showed significant positive correlation. Elemental stoichiometry of diatoms-dominated seston showed distinctive less content than that of cyanobacteria-dominated seston. The cellular N:P ratios of diatoms- and cyanobacteria-dominated seston indicated that both main classes of phytoplankton in six lakes are in phosphorus deficiency. Elemental stoichiometry of the phytoplankton-dominated seston in this study could be used for the further ecological stoichiometric studies in six lakes. |