ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Hydrological and Physicochemical
Factors on Phytoplankton Communities
in Floodplain Lakes
Magdalena Grabowska1, Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk2, Krystian Obolewski3,
Paweł Burandt2, Szymon Kobus2, Julita Dunalska4, Roman Kujawa5,
Anna Goździejewska6, Andrzej Skrzypczak6
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1Department of Hydrobiology, Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, Świerkowa 20B, 15-950 Białystok, Poland
2Department of Land Reclamation and Management, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
Plac Łódzki 2, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
3Department of Ecology, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Arciszewskiego 22 b, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland
4Department of Water Protection Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
Prawochenskiego 1, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
5Department of Lake and River Fisheries, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland
6Department of Applied Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
M. Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2014;23(3):713-725
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The fate of phytoplankton communities in different hydrological and hydrochemical conditions was
studied in the middle basin of the Biebrza River (NE Poland). Our results showed that hydrological connectivity
significantly influenced phytoplankton abundance in floodplain lakes: minimal abundance was stated in
lotic and maximal in lentic waterbodies. Phytoplankton diversity and species richness were related to changes
in water levels. During the low-water phase, phytoplankton biodiversity was the lowest in lentic and the highest
in lotic lakes. High water levels promoted exchanges in species among waterbodies and the river, which
increased biodiversity indices. We concluded that the isolation of any floodplain lake from the river channel
deteriorates its trophic conditions. Thus, the decrease in phytoplankton biodiversity in floodplain lakes should
be regarded as an indirect feedback of the hydrobionts on the hydrological factors.