ISSN:
1573-5117
Keywords:
phytoplankton
;
acidic mining lakes
;
autecology
;
nanoflagellates
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Most of the flooded, open-cast lignite mining lakes of Lusatia (Germany) impacted by the oxidation of iron sulphides (pyrite and marcasite) are extremely acidic. Of 32 lakes regularly studied from 1995 to 1998, 14 have a pH 〈3 (median pH 2.3–2.9). These lakes are typically buffered by high concentrations of Fe (III) and have high conductivity (1000–5000 μS cm−1). Concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and phosphorus are typically extremely low. These factors result in a very different environment for algae than found in neutral and acid-rain impacted lakes. The planktonic algal flora is generally dominated by flagellates belonging to genera of Chlorophyta (Chlamydomonas), Heterokontophyta of the class Chrysophyceae (Ochromonas, Chromulina), Cryptophyta (Cyathomonas) and Euglenophyta (Lepocinclis, Euglena mutabilis). Near-spherical non-motile Chlorophyta (Nanochlorum sp.), Heterokontophyta of the class Bacillariophyceae (Eunotia exigua, Nitzschia), Dinophyta (Gymnodinium, Peridinium umbonatum), other Chlorophyta (Scourfieldia cordiformis) and Cryptophyta (Rhodomonas minuta) are also found.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1004018722898
