Spatial and temporal dynamics of the steady-state phytoplankton assemblages in a temperate shallow hypertrophic lake (Lake Manyas, Turkey)

Spatial and temporal dynamics of phytoplankton biomass and species composition in the shallow hypertrophic Lake Manyas, Turkey, were studied biweekly from January 2003 to December 2004 to determine steady-state phases in phytoplankton assemblages. Steady-state phases were defined when one, two or three coexisting species contributed to at least 80% of the standing biomass for at least 2 weeks and during that time the total biomass did not change significantly. Ten steady-state phases were identified throughout the study peiod. During those periods, Achnanthes microcephala (Kützing) Cleve twice dominated the phytoplankton biomass alone and contributed to more than 50% of the total biomass in seven phases. Microcystis aeruginosa (Kützing) Kützing, Anabaena spiroides Klebahn, Cyclotella stylorum Brightwell, Pediastrum boryanum (Turpin) Meneghini and Phacus pusillus Lemmermann were also represented once in steady-state phytoplankton assemblages. A. microcephala was dominant usually during cold periods of the year, while M. aeruginosa and A. spiroides were usually dominant in warm seasons. The total number of species showed a clear decrease during steady-state phases at all stations. All stations were significantly different in terms of the measured physical and chemical parameters (P < 0.05) and phytoplankton biomass (F = 117, P < 0.05).