Biologia 64/1: 88—96, 2009 Section Botany DOI: 10.2478/s11756-009-0006-x

The epiphytic communities of various ecological types of aquatic vegetation of five pastoral ponds

Beata Messyasz1, Natalia Kuczynska-Kippen´ 2 &BarbaraNagengast2

1Department of Hydrobiology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89,PL-61-614 Pozna´n, Poland; e-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Water Protection, Institute of Environmental Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89,PL- 61-614 Pozna´n, Poland; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Five small water bodies located within the agricultural region of Wielkopolska (west Poland) underwent inves- tigation. Periphyton samples were collected from various macrophyte habitats representing rush vegetation (in five water bodies), submerged aquatic (in three) and nymphaeids (in one): Pal˛edzie – demersum, crispus, Typha latifolia; Batorowo – Phragmites australis;Piotrowo–Potamogeton natans, , Ty- pha latifolia; Tarnowo Podgórne – Typha latifolia;D˛abrówka – , Potamogeton pectinatus, Phragmites australis. The main goal of the study was to determine the composition and abundance of the periphytic communities inhabiting various types of rush and water vegetation of five water bodies located within a mid-field landscape area. Diatoms such as Achnanthidium minutissimum, Amphora ovalis, Cocconeis placentula orNavicula cincta revealed signifi- cantly higher densities in the zone of elodeids, while green algae prevailed among nymphaeids. As a result of this study it was found that the epiphytic algae were characterised by much lower diversity in respect to a specific water body, though much greater diversity was observed in its relation to the type of substratum. Two types of habitats were distinguished – the first of simple build (helophytes and nympheids) and the second containing the complicated architecture of stems (elodeids). Key words: aquatic vegetation; diatoms; green algae; periphyton; pastoral pond

Introduction community within a water body. Among these are: the hydromacrophyte habitat which constitutes a vast sub- Small water bodies play an important role in the agri- strate for the growth of periphytic communities, espe- cultural landscape. They support biological diversity cially epiphytic algae (Gons 1979), and which may differ and the local bank of plant and animal genes. They in stand density (stated as the stem length per 1 L of maintain hydrological functioning which influences the water), biomass (dry mass L−1) and volume (infested retention of surface waters, and they serve as a reservoir volume L−1), the percentage of macrophyte cover or the of water for the surrounding areas as well as biogeo- morphological build of particular plant species. The ex- chemical barriers. Ponds are unstable habitats of dif- panding macrophyte density, through the enlargement ferentiated physical-chemical parameters. This is due of the possible substrata surface, may increase the total to their small depth, ecotonal character (the impact of periphyton biomass (Pieczy´nska 1976). water and terrestrial environments) and the patchiness On the other hand, epiphytic communities colonis- of the macrophytes inhabiting them. This habitat vari- ing the submerged parts of macrophytes may negatively ation within a single pond influences the differentiation affect the growth of aquatic vegetation since this can re- of its inhabiting organisms, including periphyton. Thus strict the degree of the light that reaches the plant sur- the aim of the study was to determine the structure and face (Ondok 1978) and may also limit the diffusion of abundance of the periphytic communities of the differ- some nutrients, including carbon (Scheffer 2001). More- entiated kinds of rush and water vegetation of five pas- over, periphyton may be an essential part of the source toral water bodies. The analysis concerned the variation of food for a variety of freshwater organisms inhabiting in the density and biomass of particular groups of phy- the littoral zone of lakes or ponds. The main compo- toplankton as well as of particular species. Macrophytes nent of this layer of organisms, overgrowing underwater also constitute a base for the growth of periphytic com- parts of the substratum, is usually epiphytic (i.e. ses- munities, both plant-associated invertebrates and algae sile, attached) algae, which are often accompanied by (Duggan 2001; Wetzel 2001). There are a number of a number of bacteria and protozoans (Crowder et al. factors that may affect the structure of a periphytic 1998; Degans & De Meester 2002). However, periphy-

c 2009 Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences Epiphytes of various types of hydromacrophytes of ponds 89

Table 1. Location, morphometric features and physical-chemical parameters of each examined station in the investigated water bodies.

Pond area depth location station % of macro- overshading Mineral N Total P Chl a (ha) max (m) phyte coverage [µgL−1][µgL−1]

Piotrowo 0.25 0.5 12 km east of Wronki C.s. 40 A few trees 2083 75 33.57 P.n. 20 2599 56 19.25 T.l. 30 2293 63 4.49

Batorowo 0.30 1.0 20 km west of Pozna´n P.a. 40 Single trees 3071 258 363.60

D˛abrówka 0.40 9 km west of Pozna´n P.a. 40 Surrounded by trees 260 170 3.42 P.p. 30 270 150 3.85 Z.p. 20 250 130 1.92

Pal˛edzie 0.50 1.5 12 km south of Pozna´n P.c. 30 Several trees 1274 203 6.95 C.d. 50 1274 236 35.71 T.l. 10 774 265 32.72

Tarnowo Podgórne 0.65 1.7 20 km west of Pozna´n T.l. 40 Single trees 1520 810 187.42

C.s. – Ceratophyllum submersum,C.d.–,P.n.–Potamogeton natans,P.c.–Potamogeton crispus,P.p.– Potamogeton pectinatus, T.l. – Typha latifolia,P.a.–Phragmites australis,Z.p.–Zannichellia palustris ton may also contain great amounts of detritus which collecting periphyton from the underwater stems of vege- is built up in the periphyton coverage (Van Dijk 1993). tated substratum comprising the known volume unit of lake 3 The main aim of this investigation was to conduct water (0.0125 m ) was applied in order to compare the struc- an analysis of the relationship between different types ture of periphytic communities overgrowing different types of substratum (various types of rush and aquatic veg- of macrophyte habitats that differed in their architecture etation) with the composition and abundance of the both morphologically and spatially. A detailed description of the method for obtaining periphyton from underwater phytoperiphyton communities in five water bodies lo- plant stems can be found in Messyasz & Kuczy´nska-Kippen cated within the mid-field landscape area. A question (2006). was asked as to whether a specific type of microhab- Physical-chemical analyses were made in each habitat itat will affect the epiphytic assemblages or whether and the obtained results were subjected to statistical analy- the specificity of a particular water body will have a ses. The chemical analyses (total nitrogen – N, phosphorus stronger effect. – P and organic carbon – C) of water filling macrophyte stems were conducted according to Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater (1992). Chlorophyll Material and methods a concentration (corrected for pheopigments) from the wa- Five pastoral ponds located within the agricultural region ter of a particular plant station was determined fluoromet- of Wielkopolska underwent examination. They were of sim- rically according to the procedures described by Strickland ilar size and depth, but differed in trophy and vegeta- & Parsons (1972) (Table 1). tion cover. Periphyton samples were collected from vari- Detailed taxonomical diatom investigations were per- ous macrophyte habitats representing rush vegetation, sub- formed according to the Krammer & Lange–Bertalot merged aquatic plants and nymphaeids: Pal˛edzie – Cerato- (1986, 1988, 1991, 1991a), Lange–Bertalot (1993, 2001) phyllum demersum, Potamogeton crispus, Typha latifolia; and H˘akansson (2002) systems. Periphyton algae in sam- Batorowo – Phragmites australis;Piotrowo–Potamogeton ples were counted using the Uterm¨ohl (1958) sedimentation natans, Ceratophyllum submersum, Typha latifolia;Tarnowo method. Cells were the main counted units. For filamentous Podgórne – Typha latifolia;D˛abrówka – Zannichellia palus- blue-greens and greens, a length unit of 100 µmwastaken tris, Potamogeton pectinatus, Phragmites australis. Field ex- for one individual. The dimensions of thirty individuals from amination was made during the summer period (the end of each species were measured according to the shape of a stan- June) of 2004 and periphytic samples were collected once dard geometrical figure. Biovolumes were calculated using from eleven stations in total (Table 1). the formula for the appropriate geometric shape according Even though it is known that epiphytic communities to Rott (1981). The abundance and biomass of periphyton overgrowing submerged parts of macrophytes differ verti- species were related to the volume of water and expressed cally (Albay & Akcaalan 2003), they were not collected as per water volume unit (mg L−1). separate vertical sections from the plant stems, but as one For analysis of the diatom growth-forms, including section (ca. 0.2 m; macrophyte stems were cut out from a slowly moving, moving, and stalked diatoms, particular depth of 0.1–0.3 m) due to the very shallow depths of some species in the examined material were selected according of the examined water bodies. After cutting the plant stems × Kuhn et al. (1981). to a length of 0.2 m each from an area of 0.25 0.25 m, the periphyton was firstly rinsed in distilled water and then The diversity index H was expressed with the Shan- removed manually using a knife and a small brush. The non-Weaver formula (Margalef 1957). periphyton was collected from the known average biomass The similarity of epiphytic communities between the of plant material growing per unit lake area. The obtained Chara and Typha stands was calculated using two differ- results of periphyton biomass adequate to 12.5 L of lake ent methods (Jaccard index; Ward method and Euclidean water were later recalculated into one litre. The method of distance measure). 90 B. Messyasz et al.

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 Taxa numbers 30 20 10 0 Pal.Cer. Pal.PoC Pal.TL Bat.Ph Pio.PoN Pio.Cer. Pio.TL TP21TL Dab.Ph Dab.PoP Dab.ZP

Cyano. Bacill. Chloro. Eugleno. others

Fig. 1. Numbers of epiphytic algae species of particular stations (Pal.Cer. – Pal˛edzie Ceratophyllum demersum; Pal.PoC – Pal˛edzie Potamogeton crispus; Pal.TL – Pal˛edzie Typha latifolia;Bat.Ph–BatorowoPhragmites australis; Pio.PoN – Piotrowo Potamogeton natans; Pio.Cer. – Piotrowo Ceratophyllum demersum; Pio.TL – Piotrowo Typha latifolia; TP21TL – Tarnowo Podgórne Typha latifolia;Dab.Ph–D˛abrówka Phragmites australis; Dab.PoP – D˛abrówka Potamogeton pectinatus;Dab.ZP–D˛abrówka Zannichellia palustris; Cyano – Cyanophyta; Bacill. – Bacillariophyceae; Chloro. – Chlorophyta; Eugleno. – Euglenophyta).

The Mann-Whitney U-test was used in order to deter- taxonomically by diatoms and green algae (above all mine the effect of site on the densities or biomass of par- small Chlorococcales). Remaining groups of algae were ticular algae species and groups (n = 30). For statistical represented by small taxa numbers. analysis, only those periphytic species, which had a high Analyses of the abundance of diatom growth- level of frequency in the examined material, were selected. form have shown that slowly moving forms (20–48%) Species of low frequency (below 30%) were not included in predominated with the exception of the station at the analysis in order to avoid the effect of accidentality in the final calculations. D˛abrówka Phragmites australis (8%). Stalked forms constituted from 0 to 44%, with the highest biomass in D˛abrówka Phragmites australis. With the exception of Results stations at D˛abrówka Ceratophyllum demersum (33%) and Batorowo Phragmitetum (11%) the participation of The investigated ponds differed not only in phytoceno- motile forms did not exceed 2%. sis, but also in the extent of their hydromacrophyte The evenness index was higher in elodeids than coverage. Pal˛edzie, Piotrowo and D˛abrówka ponds were in helophytes and nymphaeids. The highest value was dominated by aquatic plants and the zone with pelagic recorded for Zannichellia palustris (D˛abrówka) and water amounted to 10% or less of the total surface of Potamogeton pectinatus (Tarnowo Podgórne), and the each water body. However, in the Batorowo pond and lowest value for Phragmites australis (Batorowo). The the Tarnowo Podgórne pond the aquatic plants covered highest periphyton biomass was stated on this station less than 40% of the surface of the pond. Helophytes and at the same time (Figs 2, 3). nymphaeids were noted only in the Piotrowo pond while The highest periphyton biomass, amounting to elodeids were not observed neither in the Batorowo above 90 mg L−1 (Fig. 3) was observed in the Piot- nor Tarnowo Podgórne ponds. Moreover, pleustophyte rowo pond (Ceratophyllum submersum, Potamogeton patches were stated only in the Piotrowo and Tarnowo natans) and in the Batorowo pond (Phragmites aus- Podgórne ponds. tralis), while the lowest biomass appeared above all The taxonomical structure differed considerably on the Typha latifolia stations (Piotrowo, Tarnowo between the examined ponds and particular habitats. Podgórne, Pal˛edzie), Potamogeton pectinatus (D˛abrów- The richest structure was recorded for D˛abrówka (139 ka) and P. crispus (Pal˛edzie). Large biomass diversity taxa), Pal˛edzie (114) and Piotrowo (112) while the was stated within single ponds, e.g. in the Piotrowo poorest for Tarnowo Podgórne (60) and Batorowo (57). pond (Ceratophyllum demersum – 154 mg L−1, Typha The complete species list of algae from all ponds will be latifolia –4mgL−1). published elsewhere. The highest number of algae taxa Differentiation also concerned dominant algae taxa was obtained from elodeids (62–110), nymphaeids (79) (Table 2). A distinct majority was built by large fila- and the lowest from helophytes (57–68). Similarly, the mentous green algae: Cladophora glomerata (L.) K¨utz. highest densities were among elodeids (Fig. 1). Achnan- and Spirogyra sp. thidium minutissimum (K¨utz.) Czarn., Cyclotella bo- Statistical analysis of biomass and abundance re- danica Grunow, Cymbella lanceolata (Ehr.) Kirchner, vealed differentiation in relation to the habitat type. Di- Navicula elginensis (Greg.) Ralfs in Pritchard and Hip- atoms (Achnanthidium minutissimum, Amphora ovalis podonta capitata var. hungarica (Ehr.) Lange-Bertalot, (K¨utz.) K¨utz., Cocconeis placentula Ehr.,Navicula Metzeltin & Witkowski only appeared among elodeids. cincta (Ehr.) Ralfs) showed the highest participation in The structure of epiphytic communities was dominated elodeids, while green algae dominated in nymphaeids Epiphytes of various types of hydromacrophytes of ponds 91

Evenness index nymphaeids 1 helophytes elodeids 0,9 0,8 0,7 0,6 0,5 0,4 0,3 0,2 0,1 0 L . . L h L T h N r P P r C l.T .P .T 1 .P o e o .Z e o a t io 2 b .P .C .P b P a P P a o b a l.C l.P B T D io i a D a a P P D P P

Fig. 2. Values of the evennes index of periphytic algae species of particular stations (Pal.TL – Pal˛edzie Typha latifolia;Bat.Ph– Batorowo Phragmites australis; Pio.TL – Piotrowo Typha latifolia; TP21TL – Tarnowo Podgórne Typha latifolia;Dab.Ph–D˛abrówka Phragmites australis; Pio.PoN – Piotrowo Potamogeton natans; Pio.Cer. – Piotrowo Ceratophyllum demersum; Dab.PoP – D˛abrówka Potamogeton pectinatus;Dab.ZP–D˛abrówka Zannichellia palustris; Pal.Cer. – Pal˛edzie Ceratophyllum demersum; Pal.PoC – Pal˛edzie Potamogeton crispus).

160

140

120 -1 100

80

60

biomass inbiomass mg l 40

20

0 Pal.Cer. Pal.PoC Pal.TL Bat.Ph Pio.PoN Pio.Cer. Pio.TL TP21TL Dab.Ph Dab.PoP Dab.ZP

Cyano. Bacill. Chloro. Eugleno. others

Fig. 3. Periphyton biomass of particular stations in ponds (Pal.Cer. – Pal˛edzie Ceratophyllum demersum; Pal.PoC – Pal˛edzie Potamoge- ton crispus; Pal.TL – Pal˛edzie Typha latifolia;Bat.Ph–BatorowoPhragmites australis; Pio.PoN – Piotrowo Potamogeton natans; Pio.Cer. – Piotrowo Ceratophyllum demersum; Pio.TL – Piotrowo Typha latifolia; TP21TL – Tarnowo Podgórne Typha latifolia; Dab.Ph – D˛abrówka Phragmites australis; Dab.PoP – D˛abrówka Potamogeton pectinatus;Dab.ZP–D˛abrówka Zannichellia palustris; Cyano – Cyanophyta; Bacill. – Bacillariophyceae; Chloro. – Chlorophyta; Eugleno. – Euglenophyta).

Diatoms 60

50

40 -1

30

Biomass in l mg 20

10

Mediane 25%-75% 0 Min-Max elodeid heloph nymph

Fig. 4. The habitat preference of diatoms towards the elodeids, helophytes and nymphaeids in the examined ponds (elodeid – elodeids; heloph – helophytes; nymph – nymphaeids). 92 B. Messyasz et al.

Green algae 600

500

400 -1 300 ind ml

200

100

Mediane 25%-75% 0 Min-Max elodeid heloph nymph

Fig. 5. The habitat preference of green algae towards the elodeids, helophytes and nymphaeids in the examined ponds (elodeid – elodeids; heloph – helophytes; nymph – nymphaeids).

(Figs 4, 5). The biomass of chlorophytes was posi- Table 2. Dominant periphytic taxa in the particular samples (rel- tively correlated with NH4 (r = 0.6630; p = 0.026; ative biomass %). y . ∗ x = 532.8741 + 12 0588 ). Station Dominant taxon [%] Nymphaeids created the best habitat for eu- PALEDZIE ˛ glenoids (Euglena agilis Klebs, Trachelomonas hispida (Perty) Stein) (Fig. 6). Ceratophyllum demersum Stephanodiscus hantzschii [23] The analysis of the total biomass of periphyton has Cocconeis placentula [21] revealed a lack of similarity in the case of the investi- Potamogeton crispus Cladophora glomerata [27] gated water bodies, however, particular habitats were Cocconeis placentula [13] grouped together. Pairs of habitats of loose underwater Typha latifolia Fragilaria ulna [50] stem structure were defined (Ph. australis – T. latifo- Cladophora glomerata [23] lia; T. latifolia – T. latifolia; Ph. australis – P. natans) BATOROWO and to a lesser extent also the habitats of dense stem structure (C. submersum – Z. palustris) (Fig. 7). Phragmites australis Cladophora glomerata [87] Chlamydomonas reinhardtii [8] Discussion PIOTROWO Ceratophyllum demersum Spirogyra sp. [53] The recognition of particular types of water bodies is Eunotia praerupta [6] still insufficient, especially in the case of small reser- voirs. This is why there is still a lack of information Potamogeton natans Spirogyra sp. [87] Pediastrum biradiatum var. bira- concerning the functioning of these kinds of environ- diatum [2] ments. Small water bodies are natural or are of anthro- pogenic origin. As they are usually small and shallow, Typha latifolia Fragilaria ulna [40] Spirogyra sp. [29] there is no difference in temperature between the sur- face waters and the bottom due to the absence of depth. TP 21 Aquatic vegetation creates a mosaic of habitats, which Typha latifolia Spirogyra sp. [24] is a characteristic feature for ponds (Ozimek & Rybak Fragilaria capucina [2] 1994). D˛ABRÓWKA In the examined ponds, the habitat mosaic was also stated. Individual stations differed in respect to Phragmites australis Gomphonema acuminatum [33] Cladophora glomerata [28] species and plant density and as a consequence, there was a difference in the architecture of the plant fill- Potamogeton pectinatus Lyngbya hieroymusii [52] ing the water column. Elodeids have the most compli- Gomphonema acuminatum [15] cated stem structure of all water plants. Ceratophyl- Zannichellia palustris Gomphonema acuminatum [23] lum demersum and C. submersum have branched stems; Ulotrix zonata [10] their in whorls are doubly forked and divided into bristly serrated segments. Potamogeton crispus has strongly branched stems with lanceolate, wavy leaves while Potamogeton pectinatus has thin, strongly split other elodeids, Zannichellia palustris has narrow and stems with bristly long and narrow leaves. Similar to delicate stems and leaves. Epiphytes of various types of hydromacrophytes of ponds 93

Euglenoids 5

4 -1 3

2 Biomass in l mg

1

Mediane 25%-75% 0 Min-Max elodeid heloph nymph

Fig. 6. The habitat preference of euglenoids towards the elodeids, helophytes and nymphaeids in the examined ponds (elodeid – elodeids; heloph – helophytes; nymph – nymphaeids).

Total algae biomass

Pa-Cerat D-Zpal Pa-Pcris Pa-Typha D-Phragm Pi-Typha TP-Typha D-Ppect B-Phragm Pi-Pnatans Pi-Cerat

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 Distance measure

Fig. 7. The average value of the epiphytic algal community similarity in the examined ponds resulting from the Ward method and Euclidean distance measure (Pa – Pal˛edzie; D – D˛abrówka; Pi – Piotrowo; TP – Tarnowo Podgórne; B – Batorowo; Cerat – Ceratophyllum demersum;Zpal–Zannichellia palustris;Pcris–Potamogeton crispus; Phragm – Phragmites australis; Ppect – Potamogeton pectinatus; Pnatans – Potamogeton natans).

The immersed parts of helophytes differ depend- A multiplicity of papers has drawn attention to ing on particular macrophyte species. Phragmites aus- the qualitative and quantitative diversity of epiphytic tralis has a nonbranched stem, smooth and round in di- algae communities colonising different types of substra- ameter, while Typha latifolia has a straight cylindrical tum (Kitner & Pouličková 2003; Pouličková et al. 2004). stem. The only representative of nymphaeids – Pota- The macrophyte species stated in examined ponds dif- mogeton natans – has a cylindrical stem with narrow, fered in respect to their morphology and therefore dif- submerged, long, lamellar-free leaves and the highest ferent epiphytic communities were found in different floating leaves around an oval blade (Klosowski & plants. The structure of the periphytic communities of Klosowski 2001; Rutkowski 2004; Szafer et al. 1986). all ponds was dominated taxonomically mainly by di- These features of macrophyte morphology indicate that atoms and green-algae, while remaining groups of al- elodeids, compared to helophytes and nymphaeids, are gae were represented by a small number of taxa. The characterised by a much higher density within the wa- ponds demonstrated their resemblance to the struc- ter column, which in turn provides a greater surface for ture of epiphytic communities found in shallow lakes in periphyton development, supporting also greater diver- the Wielkopolska area (Kuczy´nska-Kippen et al. 2005; sity. Messyasz & Kuczy´nska-Kippen 2006). Moreover, the 94 B. Messyasz et al. rate of the evenness index was also distributed simi- (Wolowski 1998). Its preference towards nymphaeids is larly to that of lakes assuming the highest values within probably connected with stronger waving and better elodeids and clearly lower amongst helophytes. oxygen conditions within this macrophyte bed of loose In macrophyte-dominated ponds in which large stem structure. elodeids and helophyte patches were observed, a dis- Based on the total biomass of the periphytic com- tinct dominance of diatoms with a smaller participation munity the only similarities were found among par- of green algae was noted in the rush zone, which is char- ticular habitats with the strongest relationship among acterised by simple architecture. This phenomenon was helophytes of relatively simple spatial architecture: Ph. characteristic of the ponds at Pal˛edzie, Piotrowo and australis – T. latifolia and T. latifolia – T. latifolia D˛abrówka. In the case of the Batorowo and Tarnowo and weaker relationship among elodeids of dense stem Podgórne ponds, where only the rush zone infesting structure (C. submersum – Z. palustris). The similarity a small bottom area was observed, filamentous green- among helophytes, irrespective of pond, was also con- algae clearly dominated. In both of these ponds a high nected with the co-dominance of diatoms (most often participation of slowly moving forms in the structure of Fragilaria)withCladophora glomerata or Spirogyra sp. diatom communities was stated. The highest values of biomass were connected with a The macrophyte-dominated pond D˛abrówka was high participation of filamentous chlorophytes. Large characterized by a small surface area of pelagic wa- forms of these algae, even of small densities, create ter and was shaded by a line of trees which may have a large biomass compared to smaller forms of algae, caused the dominance of stalked forms among diatoms which can build a high biomass too, but only in the (Roos 1983; Zimba & Hopson 1997). Results obtained case of a very abundant community. This is the reason by Mosisch et al. (1999) indicate that the growth of for the high similarity of the total biomass of epiphytes diatoms is generally inhibited by levels of irradiance. at the majority of the stations among helophytes. Berry Therefore these authors have suggested that the algal & Lembi (2000) reported that wide filamentous forms of community is dominated by diatoms only in the shaded Spirogyra sp. grew in late spring or early summer. More- parts of streams. They also reported that the propor- over, narrow filaments of this species were more numer- tion of green algae and in the periphyton ous in colder waters than larger filaments. The great- biomass increased together with improvement in light est quantities of Spirogyra biomass were present in the conditions. Overshading and stability within the water pastoral ponds in June. Ponds, which are very shallow column in the D˛abrówka pond created highly suitable water bodies, get warm quite easily and therefore en- conditions for the development of stalked forms of di- able the development of Spirogyra sp. with filaments of atoms in periphyton. large width (70–100 µm). As a consequence of this pro- The analysis of the habitat preferences has revealed cess the biomass of green algae was considerable in the that diatoms were strongly associated with elodeids periphytic community. It also seems that large green al- of the most dense stem structure and most weakly gae prefer plants of complicated morphology. The only with nymphaeids of much looser stem architecture. exception was the Batorowo pond, where Cladophora In the case of elodeids mainly diatoms dominated, glomerata dominated among helophytes, however, no while among helophytes, diatoms co-dominated with other macrophytes occurred in this water body. chlorophytes. There was no single diatom taxon in the Cladophora glomerata also dominated in the stand taxonomical structure of periphyton that was char- of Potamogeton crispus (Pond Pal˛edzie). A numerous acteristic for floating leaved plants, while Achnanthi- population of this species on Typha latifolia,whichwas dium minutissimum was strongly attached to the sub- possibly detached from a cattail substratum, may have merged vegetation. This diatom species prefers alkaline supplied the periphytic community on Potamogeton waters and is very abundant in periphytic communi- crispus through loose wrapping along its stalks. Spi- ties (Lange – Bertalot & Krammer 1989; Krammer & rogyra sp. domination was also recorded in the elodeids Lange-Bertalot 1991; Van Dam et al 1994). of the Piotrowo Pond (Ceratophyllum demersum). This Nymphaeids, created by weakly compact Pota- filamentous green alga also demonstrates a tendency for mogeton natans whose narrow floating leaves give a movement (Berry & Lembi 2000) and the morphologi- weak overshading effect, were characterised by a dom- cal structure of the stand creates an im- inance of filamentous green algae (Spirogyra sp.). Eu- pediment for these algae at the surface of macrophytes. glenoids and Ankistrodesmus gracilis (Reinsch) Korš., Therefore, Spirogyra is easily able to create filamentous a species of green algae which occurs in stagnant wa- mats. ters, both in periphyton and plankton also preferred The results of the analysis of the correlations be- nymphaeids. Since the examined water bodies were tween periphytic structure and chemical variables of shallow and rich in organic matter relating to leaf lit- each habitat have shown only one relationship, which ter and overshading does not play an important role was found in the case of the abundance of green algae in the development of euglenoids (they are mixotrophic and a concentration of NH4. Such a correlation confirms forms), the availability of organic matter particles in the indicative role of small Chlorococcales, which are the water appears to be essential (Kawecka & Eloranta characteristic for eutrophic water bodies, rich in nitro- 1994; Wolowski 1998; Wolowski & Hindák 2005). The gen compounds (Barica 1994; Messyasz 2006; Reynolds Trachelomonas genus prefers well-oxygenated waters 1984). Epiphytes of various types of hydromacrophytes of ponds 95

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