A comparison of phytoplankton size-fractions in Mondsee, an alpine lake in Austria: distribution, pigment composition and primary production rates

Abstract

Production rates, abundance, chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations and pigment composition were measured for three size classes ( 11 μm) of phytoplankton from May to December 2000 in deep, mesotrophic, alpine lake Mondsee in Austria. The study focuses on differences among phytoplankton size fractions characterised by their surface area to volume ratio ([mm2 l−1: mm3l−1]), pigment distribution patterns and photosynthetic rates. Particular attention was paid to autotrophic picophytoplankton (APP, fraction <2 μm) since this size fraction differed significantly from the two larger size fractions. Among the three fractions, APP showed the highest surface area to volume ratios and a high persistence in the pattern of lipophilic pigments between temporarily and spatially successive samples (about 80% similarity of pigment composition between samples over seasons and depths). The epilimnetic abundance of APP varied seasonally with an annual maximum of 180 × 103 cells ml−1 in June (at 4–9 m). The minimum (October at 12 m) was more than an order of magnitude lower (4.9 × 103 ml−1). APP peaked during autumn and contributed between 24% and 42% to the total area-integrated Chl a (10–23 mg m−2) and between 16% and 58% to total area-integrated production (5–64 mg m−2 h−1) throughout seasons.