Structural composition of protozooplankton communities in relation to environmental factors in shallow lakes and reservoirs of Rīga, Latvia

• Published in: Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B, Natural Sciences Vol. 69; no. 3; pp. 105 - 111
• Main Authors: Buholce, L., University of Latvia, Riga (Latvia). Faculty of Biology, Licite, V., University of Latvia, Salaspils (Latvia). Inst. of Biology, Boikova, E., University of Latvia, Salaspils (Latvia). Inst. of Biology, Botva, U., University of Latvia, Salaspils (Latvia). Inst. of Biology
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: De Gruyter Open 01.08.2015
• Subjects: AGUA; ANALISIS CUALITATIVO; ANALISIS CUANTITATIVO; ANALYSE QUALITATIVE; ANALYSE QUANTITATIVE; ciliated protozoa; EAU; ECHANTILLONNAGE; ECOLOGIA; ECOLOGIE; ECOLOGY; ECOSISTEMA; ECOSYSTEME; ECOSYSTEMS; EMBALSES; ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS; FACTEUR DU MILIEU; FACTORES AMBIENTALES; LAC; LAGOS; LAKES; LATVIA; LETONIA; LETTONIE; MUESTREO; PLANCTON; PLANKTON; PROTOZOA; PROTOZOO; QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS; QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS; RESERVOIR D'EAU; SAMPLING; shallow lake; structural composition; URBAN AREAS; urban ecology; WATER; WATER RESERVOIRS; ZONAS URBANAS; ZONE URBAINE
• ISSN: 1407-009X; 2255-890X; 1407-009X
• DOI: 10.1515/prolas-2015-0015

Protozooplankton are dominant grazers of phytoplankton and an important component of the microbial food web, as a link between pico and nanoplankton to higher trophic levels. Their fast growing rate, relative abundance, biomass and diversity are used as indicators of organic and toxic pollution. The impact of urbanisation on ecosystems and their sustainability and biodiversity have recently been much studied. We studied the protozooplankton ciliate communities during the vegetation period from April to October in two small lakes (Bābelītis, Gaiļezers) and two reservoirs (Bolderāja, Saurieši). The largest peak of biomass (15.7 × 102 mg/l) was found in Gaiļezers Lake in August and of abundance (60.2 × 103 org/l) in Bābelītis Lake in July. The lowest biomass (0.006 mg/l) and abundance (0.12 × 103 org/l) were found in the Saurieši Reservoir station. The most abundant ciliates were from the order Oligotrichida. Ciliāti kā vadošā protozooplanktona grupa ir būtiski mikrobiālās vides komponenti. Pateicoties savai bioloģiskajai organizācijai, ciliāti ir labi zināmi arī kā bioindikatori, jo spēj strauji reaģēt uz apkārtējās vides izmaiņām. Urbānās vides hidroekosistēmas ir relatīvi maz pētītas, tāpēc darba gaitā uzsākti pētījumi četrās Rīgas pilsētas un piepilsētas ūdenstilpēs ar mērķi iegūt informāciju par ciliātu sezonālo sukcesiju, analizējot to bioloģisko daudzveidību, skaitu, biomasu, populāciju izmēra struktūru dinamiku saistībā ar vides abiotiskiem un biotiskiem faktoriem. Rezultāti liecina, ka Gaiļezeru un Bābelīša ezeru var izmantot kā modeļsistēmu urbānā stresa novērtējumam.