Barbara Kawecka

Biology of the freshwater diatom Didymosphenia: a review

Features of the colonial diatom Didymosphenia are reviewed, especially D. geminata. Although there is a long record of its occurrence in north temperate regions, mass growths have been reported much more widely in recent years. Contrary to some statements in the literature, there are also reliable older records for the southern hemisphere, though the first report of mass growth was in New Zealand in 2004. The annual cycle of morphological changes in D. geminata in northern England, and probably elsewhere, includes a winter period when motile cells are attached to the substratum followed by spring when stalks start to develop. These raise cells into the water column and provide a site for phosphatase activity. Environmental factors associated with success include absence of extreme floods, high light, pH above neutral and nutrient chemistry. D. geminata often, but not always, occurs in waters where the N:P ratio is high for much of the year, but the key factor is the ratio of organic to inorganic phosphate. D. geminata thrives where organic P is predominant and the overall P concentration is low enough for organic P to be an important P source. It is unknown whether organic N can be used. Environmental changes increasing the relative importance of organic P are likely to favour D. geminata. Likely examples are increased N:P due to atmospheric N deposition and changes in form and seasonality of P release from organic-rich soils due to climatic warming. The nutrient chemistry of deep water released from dams to rivers also needs investigation. To what extent are genetic changes occurring in response to environmental changes and are new ecotypes spreading round the world? In spite of many adverse reports about D. geminata, such as detached mats blocking water pipes, there is still doubt about the extent to which it causes problems, particularly for fish. There have been few adverse effects on migratory salmonids in Europe and North America, but at least one report of harm to a brown trout population in USA. In New Zealand, it has caused serious problems for water sports, although it remains open to question how much adverse effect it has had on fish populations. If the presence of microcystins in or associated with D. geminata, as indicated recently for two populations, proves to be widespread and at sufficiently high concentration, their possible accumulation in fish requires study. Where control is required, this could be achieved by enhancing the ratio of inorganic to organic phosphate in the water early in the growth season. Practical ways to achieve this are suggested.

Effects of experimental floods on periphyton and stream metabolism below a high dam in the Swiss Alps (River Spöl)

We investigated the effects of an experimental flood regime on periphyton and stream metabolism downstream of a large reservoir. Three floods took place in summer of 2000 and 2001 and two floods in summer of 2002. Residual flow in the River Spöl was <2.5 m3s–1. The experimental floods lasted 9 to 11 hours with peak flows ranging from 12 to 55 m3s–1. Periphyton was collected in the River Spöl (impact site) and in a reference stream in 1999 (pre-flood) and before and after each flood from 2000 to 2002. We measured ecosystem metabolism with the single station diel oxygen method a few days before and after floods in the River Spöl. Floods temporarily reduced periphyton biomass, but the disturbance impact and recovery patterns were not uniform among floods, thus resulting in high inter-annual variation in seasonal biomass patterns. The average periphyton biomass in the River Spöl even increased after a transient reduction in 2000. A principal component analysis indicated a persistent shift in the structure of the diatom community at the impact site. The floods reduced gross primary production and to minor extent ecosystem respiration, resulting in a transient decline in the P/R ratio. However, ecosystem metabolism recovered relatively fast. The new flow regime increased ecosystem dynamics, but it may take several years until the autotrophic energy base becomes adapted to the new and more dynamic flow regime.

Didymosphenia geminata in running waters of southern Poland - symptoms of change in water quality?

The diatom Didymosphenia geminata has been reported in literature as a species of cold and oligotrophic waters. In the 1960s it was found in small quantities in southern Poland in oligotrophic, submontane and mountane waters, but was not found there in the years immediately afterwards. However, in the 1990s it unexpectedly appeared in the Carpathian tributaries of the River Vistula, which are mostly mesotrophic in character. In the River San it formed masses below the Solina and Myczkowce reservoirs, where changes in the trophic state had been observed for some years. It is concluded that D. geminata has a wider capacity for adaptation than has previously been assumed. Either the material in the R. San is a different ecotype or the underlying factors favouring the species are rather different from those assumed previously.

Ecology of deepwater rice-fields in Bangladesh 3. Associated algae and macrophytes

Abstract(i)Aquatic macrophytes formed dense beds in fallow areas during the four and a half months of the flood season in all but one deepwater rice-growing location in Bangladesh; these included several types of life-form, but the fine-leaved species, Myriophyllum sp., Najas indica, Utricularia stellaris were often especially abundant. The same species grew inside deepwater rice fields, but at much lower densities. A similar contrast occurred for the algae, although deepwater rice often developed dense masses of epiphytes on aquatic roots, stems and leaf sheaths, when plants were growing in isolated, well-illuminated situations.(ii)Two widespread algae, Aulosira fertilissima and Scytonema mirabile, were equally successful on soil in the period prior to the arrival of floodwaters and floating on the surface of the water during the flood season. Other species common during the flood season differed from those common on soil.(iii)Most blue-green algae inside deepwater rice fields were heterocystous; the only species not so, but forming distinct colonies, was Aphanothece stagnina. However only non-heterocystous forms were found at one location in south Bangladesh (Phaltita) and a change from heterocystous to non-heterocystous forms was noted at the main research site (near Sonargaon) during late September in at least one year. The water column at the former was almost entirely anoxic, while the change at the latter occurred at a time when the water sometimes became anoxic during the night. It is suggested that differences in ability to tolerate anoxic periods may be a key factor in determining the success of the algal and vascular plant species in the different micro-habitats within these DWR-growing areas.(iv)Although diatoms were quantitatively only a minor component of the algal biomass, they became more frequent later in the season when the water became microaerobic or anoxic for part of the day. Navicula confervacea was overall the most abundant species at the two main research locations.

Benthic diatoms of an Alpine stream/lake network in Switzerland

We compared the benthic diatom composition of lakes, and lake inlet and outlet streams in a high elevation catchment (∼2600 m a.s.l.) in the Swiss Alps. The catchment consisted of a southern basin mostly fed by glacial-melt water and a northern basin fed by snowmelt and groundwater. Streams in both basins flowed through a series of small lakes before converging into a lake with a primary outlet channel. The south basin had on average 4°C cooler water temperatures and 2× higher nitrate-N levels (up to 300 μg/L) than the north basin. In contrast, the north basin had higher levels (2–4×) of particulate-P, particulate-N, and particulate organic matter than the south basin. A total of 109 and 143 diatom species was identified in lakes and streams, respectively, with a similar number of species found in each basin. Aulacoseira alpigena and Achnanthidium minutissimum were common benthic algae in north basin lakes, whereas Achnanthes subatomoides, Achnanthes marginulata, Pinnularia microstauron, and Psammothidium helveticum were most common in south basin lakes. One disconnected lake in the north basin had an assemblage dominated by Tabellaria flocculosa (66%) and Eunotia tenella (14%). Principal components analysis showed a clear separation between the north and south basins in lotic diatoms. Of the 10 most common species, streams in the south basin had greater abundances of Psammothidium helveticum, Achnanthes helvetica var. minor, Achnanthes marginulata, Achnanthes subatomoides, and Diatoma mesodon than the north basin, whereas north basin streams had higher abundances of Achnanthidium minutissimum, Aulacoseira alpigena, and Luticola goeppertiana. Lake outlet assemblages were similar to respective downstream lake inlet assemblages, and assemblages changed in composition along each basins longitudinal flow path. However, Aulacoseira alpigena had higher average abundances in north basin outlets than inlets, and Achnanthidium minutissimum, Psammothidium helveticum, and Achnanthes helvetica var. minor had higher average abundances in south basin outlets than inlets. In contrast, Diatoma mesodon, Fragilaria capucina, and Gomphonema parvulum had higher average abundances in south basin inlets than outlets. The spatial patterns in species composition reflected the hierarchical interaction of landscape features (geology, hydrology) on longitudinal gradients (lake position) in the stream/lake network.

Diatom communities in the Vanishing and Ornithologist Creek, King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica

In the diatom communities of the Vanishing and Ornithologist Creek 74 taxa were found. Most of the taxa have a cosmopolitan range and are resistant to various environmental stresses. For example, Achnanthes lanceolata var. lanceolata, is found in all types of waters and in several ecological conditions. Achnanthes delicatula ssp. delicatula,Nitzschia frustulum, N. capitellata, Navicula mutica, and N. gregaria develop both in fresh and brackish waters. Some of the organisms also settle in terrestrial environments. Navicula atomus, N. mutica,Pinnularia borealis, and Hantzschia amphioxys are common soil algae. Navicula digitulus,N. contenta, N. cohnii and Achnanthes coarctata also live in an aerial environment. Navicula atomus is well developed in eutrophic waters and Nitzschia capitellata can tolerate a high level of pollution, while Nitzschia gracilis, Fragilaria capucina, and F. alpestris appear both in oligotrophic, and enriched waters. Stenotopic ecological features are shown by Achnanthes marginulata and Navicula digitulus — known from the Alps and the North, and Navicula muticopsis characteristic for Antarctic and Subantarctic.

Diatom communities in small water bodies at H. Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station (King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica)

Abstract An investigation of ponds, puddles and slow-flowing waters situated in the area of the Polish Antarctic Station distinguished two groups of diatom communities. The first group characterized waters poor in nutrients and brackish. The number of taxa, abundance of species and diatom biomass index were all low. Nitzschia homburgiensis, Achnanthes laevis var. quadratarea and A. delicatula prevailed. The second group characterized water richer in nutrients and brackish. The number of species was also low, but the diatom biomass index was higher. Nitzschia gracilis, Navicula gregaria and Navicula wiesneri formed large populations.

Diatom communities of lake/stream networks in the Tatra Mountains, Poland, and the Swiss Alps

Diatom communities of lake/stream networks in the Tatra Mountains, Poland, and the Swiss Alps Diatom communities in alpine-zone streams of the Tatra National Park and the Swiss National Park were heterogeneous with respect to species richness, abundance, Shannon diversity index, and ecological preference. Two groups of diatoms were distinguished. Group 1, inhabited streams in the upper Gąsienicowa Valley (Tatra Mts) and Macun Lakes region (Alps), and had high species richness and Shannon diversities (especially in the Tatra Mts streams) but low abundances. The most abundant and common diatoms were Psammothidium helveticum, Diatoma mesodon, Aulacoseira alpigena, Achnanthidium minutissimum, Psammothidium subatomoides, Psammothidium marginulatum, and Gomphonema parvulum. Group 2 inhabited Tatra Mts streams in the Five Polish Lakes Valley and lower Gąsienicowa Valley. Diatoms were highly abundant but species richness and Shannon diversities were relatively low. The most abundant were Achnanthidium minutissimum, Diatoma mesodon, Fragilaria capucina gracilis group and Tabellaria flocculosa. There was no clear difference between the diatom communities of the outlet streams of upper lakes and the inlet streams of adjacent downstream lakes. The high abundance of diatoms in the streams of the Tatra Mts suggests recent ecosystem changes related to lake eutrophication and partly by weather anomalies resulting from climate change.