Functional classification of phytoplankton in Kardzhali reservoir (Southeast Bulgaria)

Ivan Iliev, Kostadin Dochin

Abstract: The study of phytoplankton diversity was carried out in the aquatory of Kardzhali reservoir between July 2015 and November 2016. The divisions Chlorophyta and Cyanoprokaryota, followed by Ochrophyta had the highest frequency of occurrence. We have applied a functional classification of algae based on the Reynolds theory, according to which the plankton algae were classified into nineteen functional groups. We have identified forty-three dominant phytoplankton taxa in the reservoir. The comparison of dominant functional groups indicates that the most common are codon members F, P, K, H1 and J. At the time of the study Fragilaria crotonensis Kitton and Closterium aciculare T. West of the functional group P; Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Ralfs ex Bornet & Flahault (H1), Ankyra judayi (G.M. Smith) Fott (Х1), Coelastrum microporum Nägeli (J), Oocystis lacustris Chodat (F) and Aphanocapsa planctonica (G.M. Smith) Komárek & Anagnostidis (K) had the highest abundance. The results of the study confirm the applicability of the functional group approach to better understanding the seasonal changes of phytoplankton communities in different water basin.

Keywords: codon; functional classification; functional groups; phytoplankton; reservoir; seasonal changes

Date published: 2019-04-23