Response of chlorophytes to environmental variables in field vs. forest ponds
Our study demonstrated that human-originated transformation in the catchment area surrounding a small water body may influence the water conditions in terms of physical, chemical, and biological parameters as well as the ecological state of the aquatic environment in respect to green algae communities.
Chlorophytes inhabiting field ponds were more abundant compared with the forest ponds. This shows that field ponds, due to the higher values of TRP and water conductivity, created favorable conditions for chlorophyte development. The high concentrations of TRP and conductivity in aquatic environments are characteristic in the case of agricultural catchments exposed to anthropogenic pressure because of the inflow from the surrounding fertilized fields42. In this type of pond, we also observed significantly higher water temperatures and pH due to the lack of trees around them compared to the forest ponds, two factors which also positively influenced the growth of chlorophytes. Both the higher light intensity and the smaller size of the field ponds cause earlier warming up than the forest ponds and give an advantage to high light tolerant species. Moreover, it is well known that an increase in temperature stimulates the release of phosphorus from the bottom sediments, so this could be another reason for the higher levels of TRP in the field ponds. Our CCA analysis showed that TRP and conductivity were the strongest determinants of the distribution of chlorophyte species in the examined water bodies. We found a large group of dominant species indicated high values of TRP (e.g. Ankistrodesmus falcatus, A. arcuatus, Monoraphidium griffithii, Pseudopediastrum boryanum, Pediastrum duplex, Scenedesmus obtusus, Scenedesmus arcuatus var. gracilis, Desmodesmus communis, Coelastrum microporum), and another group of species (e.g. Kirchneriella irregularis var. spiralis, Tetraedron minimum, Scenedesmus ecornis) that preferred high levels of conductivity.
In the field ponds generally higher mean abundances of filtrators and Rotifera were observed. This could be another important factor stimulating the growth of chlorophytes and increasing their abundances by the resupply of nutrients through excretion43,44. On the other hand, the high densities of algae could be the factor that caused better zooplankton development, and therefore its abundance in field ponds was greater. Filtrating cladocerans and Rotifera also had a significant influence on the distribution of chlorophyte dominating species. However, even though the total abundance of both chlorophytes and filtering zooplankton was greater in the field ponds, CCA analysis revealed a negative relationship existing between filtrators and most dominant species of chlorophytes (e.g. Pandorina morum, Willea rectangularis, Desmodesmus armatus, Nephrochlamys willeana, Cosmarium trilobulatum). Only two chlorophyte species—Lemmermannnia tetrapedia and Tetraedron triangulare—co-occurred with cladoceran zooplankton. These latter species are very small compared to the species above and can therefore be overlooked by filtrators, which have a choice of larger and perhaps more nutritiously satisfying algae of the genus Pandorina, Crucigeniella, Cosmarium or Nephrochlamys, but still of a size suitable for zooplankton. It can also be interpreted in such a way that Crucigenia and Tetraedron are among the r-strategists that reproduce very quickly, so grazing pressure by zooplankton can stimulate their rapid development45 and thus they remain at a stable level.
Specific environmental conditions prevailing in the field ponds resulted in a high number of exclusive taxa44, found only in this type of water body. Moreover, a greater diversity of the representatives of different functional groups were found here, compared to the forest ponds.
Analyzing the distribution of chlorophytes in terms of phytoplankton functional groups39,40, we found that group W1 was represented by only one species, Gonium pectorale. This was especially noted in the field water bodies. This group is known to prefer small water bodies rich in organic matter from husbandry or sewage40, which suggests that the field catchment in our study migh be a supplier of these substances. It also proves that field surroundings are far more human impacted. In the field ponds we observed a higher abundance of chlorophytes belonging to the groups G (Eudorina elegans, Pandorina morum, Pandorina smithii and Volvox aureus), J (e.g. representatives of the genus Actinastrum, Chlorotetraedron, Coelastrum, Crucigenia, Desmodesmus/Scenedesmus, Golenkinia, Pediastrum, Tetraedron, Tetrastrum, Westella, Willea/Crucigeniella), W0 (genera Chlamydomonas, Chlorangiopsis, Chlamydomonadopsis, Planktococcomyxa/Coccomyxa) and X3 (Chlorella sp.), typical for shallow nutrient-rich waters (G and J), ponds with extremely high organic contents (W0), and for shallow well-mixed layers (X3), according to classification given by Padisak et al.40. Considering that nitrogen compounds had a similar level in both types of ponds it can be stated that the representatives of the above mentioned functional groups of chlorophytes associated with the field ponds were presumably dependent on higher concentrations of TRP and conductivity and not that much on nitrogen concentrations.
In the forest ponds significantly higher values of water saturation were recorded compared to the field ponds. Moreover, the lack of inflow of fertilizers from the catchment area resulted in lower TRP concentrations, which along with lower water temperatures, pH and conductivity in the forest ponds may have contributed to the reduced abundance of chlorophytes compared to the field water bodies. RDA analysis showed that some dominant chlorophyte species (e.g. Closterium moniliferum, Closterium tumidulum, Cosmarium trilobulatum and Mougeotia sp.) were associated with this type of small water body. At the same time the abundance of these species was smaller in the field ponds. We also found that chlorophyte diversity (Shannon–Weaver index) was greater in the forest ponds. This suggests that water bodies located within the forested area, usually more natural ponds being less exposed to anthropogenic pressure, are characterized by greater biodiversity. Moreover, in this type of water body we found many exclusive species39, not reported from the field ponds. Interestingly, about the half of these taxa belonged to desmids, which prefer lower pH and conductivity46, conditions typical for forest ponds. This could be also a reason for the dominance of desmid species with the highest abundance/frequency, associated with forest ponds.
Taking into consideration the phytoplankton functional groups39,40 our study showed that the chlorophytes associated with forest ponds prefer mesotrophic waters (from the group TD: Cladophora glomerata, Geminella turfosa, Geminella planctonica, Microspora sp., Netrium digitus, Oedogonium sp., Oocystidium ovale, Spirogyra sp. Zygnema sp. and those belonging to the group N: mainly genera Closterium, Cosmarium, Euastrum, Micrasterias, Staurastrum, Staurodesmus, Xanthidium). This explains their greater share in the less fertile forest ponds. Another group associated with the forest ponds – T (Mougeotia sp., Binuclearia lauterbornii) contains species tolerant to light deficiency, so they were able to develop well in the more shaded water bodies located in the forest catchment.
Chlorophyte community structure in two types of habitats (open water vs. macrophyte-dominated zone)
In our study, the type of habitat (open water and macrophyte-dominated zones) also had a significant structuring effect on chlorophytes. There were a group of species linked to the open water zone (Pandorina morum, Nephrochlamys willeana, Oocystis lacustris, Scenedesmus armatus, Scenedesmus intermedius and Desmodesmus communis), being negatively related to vegetated stations at the same time. Generally, we found here a higher mean abundance of chlorophytes compared to the macrophyte-dominated zones, possibly due to the higher values of nutrients such as NH4 and TRP, the conditions favouring the development of many algae species. The results of the CCA analysis with habitats confirmed the high importance of both nutritional factors in structuring the distribution of chlorophyte species. There was a group of species associated with a rise in the concentration of ammonium (e.g. Scenedesmus arcuatus var. gracilis, Pediastrum duplex, Closterium moniliferum, Closterium tumidulum, Cosmarium trilobulatum, Willea rectangularis) as well as with phosphates (Monoraphidium tortile, Scenedesmus ecornis, Tetradesmus lagerheimii and Tetraedron minimum). Generally, high abundance of chlorophytes in the open water area was accompanied by a small-sized fraction of zooplankton–rotifers. Therefore, rotifers had a lower impact on the distribution of chlorophytes than filtrators. The increasing numbers of cladocerans contributed to the lowering abundance of some chlorophytes, such as Monoraphidium tortile, Scenedesmus ecornis, Tetradesmus lagerheimii or Tetraedron minimum. This shows that filtrators, whose densities were significantly higher among macrophytes, were able to control the development of some chlorophyte species much more efficiently than small-bodied rotifers.
The effect of habitat was also visible in the case of phytoplankton functional groups39,40. We found that representatives of the group N (e.g. Closterium, Cosmarium, Euastrum, Micrasterias, Staurastrum) had a significantly higher mean abundance in the open water zones compared to the macrophyte-dominated zones. Interestingly, according to Padisak et al.40 group N prefers less fertile (mesotrophic) conditions, which is inconsistent with our results. However, we think that their association with the open water sites could be connected rather with the place/level where they live in the water column, rather than with the trophic state of water. The above mentioned chlorophytes taxonomically belong to desmids, which are mostly benthic organisms. Their greater quantitative share in the samples from the open water areas could be an effect of the intensive water mixing in the shallow ponds due to the lack of macrophytes. Neustupa et al.47 confirm that desmids are able to form tychoplanktonic communities due to water movements. In the samples collected from the macrophyte-dominated stations the mean abundance of desmids was generally lower, probably because of the macrophyte stabilizing effect. Aquatic plants are known to reduce turbidity and stabilize bottom sediments48, so they can prevent any intensive water mixing in ponds. In the examined open water stations, we also found a higher mean abundance of chlorophytes typical for shallow nutrient-rich waters (group G: Eudorina, Pandorina, Volvox and group K: Radiococcus) and/or for ponds with extremely high organic contents (group W0: e.g. Chlamydomonas), which proves that the sites lacking macrophytes were more fertile. Additionally, clearly more representatives from the codon J and X1 (typical for waters with high trophic levels) and a greater diversity of the representatives of different functional groups were recorded in the open water area compared to the macrophyte-dominated zones.
The macrophyte-dominated stations had more abundant communities of filtrators, as aquatic plants are known to provide a profitable shelter for zooplankton49. Cladoceran predominance among macrophytes may have been a force reducing green algae numbers. The chlorophytes of the investigated ponds were mostly small- or medium-size species. Their size distribution makes them a high quality food for zooplankton, particularly for cladoceran filtrators. According to RDA analysis apart from pond size, the presence of filtrators significanly reduced the abundance of several chlorophyte dominating species. The lower algae abundance among macrophytes compared to the open water zone could also be explained by competition between algae and macrophytes for light and nutrients37,50 and/or with the secretion of allelopathic substances e.g. by Ceratophyllum demersum51 inhibiting algal development. Our studies demonstrated that among chemical factors which clearly differentiated the two types of analysed habitat, TRP and NH4 significantly influenced the distribution of chlorophyte dominating species. The lower levels of these parameters in macrophyte-dominated zones suggest that the nutrient uptake by aquatic plants in the investigated water bodies was high. There are many reports on the decrease of nutrient concentrations by macrophytes30,37,52, which are consistent with our observations. Despite lower, compared to the open water zone, chlorophyte densities within the macrophyte-dominated zones there was a group of species (e.g. Mougeotia sp., Pediastrum tetras, Scenedesmus obtusus, Monoraphidium contortum) that selectively chose vegetated stands. Furthermore, we found a great number29 of exclusive chlorophyte species for macrophyte-dominated zones. Half of these taxa belong to desmids, which are often periphytic organisms associated with aquatic macrophytes53,54.
Preference towards macrophyte-dominated stations was also documented for two phytoplankton functional groups (T: Mougeotia sp. and Binuclearia lauterbornii and TD: e.g., Spirogyra sp., Zygnema sp., Cladophora glomerata, Oedogonium sp.) and one group which occurred exlusively among vegetated sites (MP—Ulothrix). Interestingly, all the representatives of these groups had a similar filamentous morphological form, which suggests that many of them are of epithytic origin, coexisting within aquatic plants. Two more groups—X2 (Pseudodidymocystis/Didymocystis, Pteromonas) and W1 (Gonium pectorale) were clearly affected by the presence of macrophytes. According to Padisak et al.40, codons TD and X2 indicate mesoeutrophic conditions and their higher abundances in the macrophyte-dominated zones also proves that plants contribute to lowering the trophic levels in the examined ponds. On the other hand, the relatively high abundance of the representative of the group W1 in these habitats suggests that macrophytes could enrich ponds with organic matter during the process of their decomposition.
Concluding, our results prove that different types of catchment area (field and forest) as well as different types of habitats (open water zone and macrophyte-dominated zone) create distinct, specific conditions (dependent on some physical–chemical and biological variables) for the occurrence of chlorophytes in small water bodies. We conclude that cosmopolitan chlorophytes undoubtedly respond to the level of habitat heterogeneity, contributing to the ecological assessment of small water bodies. Chlorophytes in particularl react to the level of human transformation in the ponds’ vicinities. This is why we suggest using them for water quality evaluation in ponds. This interdisciplinary research significantly broadens the knowledge, not only about the response of chlorophytes to physical–chemical parameters of water, but also about the food preferences of zooplankton for which green algae are the basic food, and vice versa about the impact of zooplankton on microalgae communities. The analyses provide valuable information on chlorophytes-zooplankton interactions and also about the relationships between chlorophytes and macrophytes. Received data emphasize the high value of field ponds, underestimated habitats particularly vulnerable to destruction in the agricultural landscape. The research will help to better understand the functioning of poorly studied small water bodies, which will contribute to the preservation of their biodiversity and protection against degradation. They will also be useful in the management of small water bodies based on the specificity of chlorophyte occurrence in various habitats and catchment type ponds. Moreover, these results are important in a broader context, as the interactions between the studied organisms and the physico-chemical parameters of water in small bodies of water are to some extent universal, so the analyses will broaden the knowledge about the functioning of larger bodies of water.
Source: Ecology - nature.com
