Phytoplankton response to the summer 2015 heat wave – a case study from prealpine Lake Mondsee, Austria

Abstract

Phytoplankton response to a heat wave in deep prealpine Lake Mondsee, Austria, was minor overall, although temperature significantly affected the epilimnetic phytoplankton assemblage at the deepest site of the lake. We detected no significant effect of nutrients. Using 3 complementary optical methods—light microscopy (Utermöhl technique), FlowCAM, and acoustic flow cytometry (AFC)—we found relatively low horizontal variation in the epilimnion but significant changes in phytoplankton community composition integrated over the 0–20 m water layer at the central station of the lake. These changes were mainly caused by a vertical shift in the Planktothrix rubescens peak from 11 to 16 m during the heat wave. Air temperatures reaching or exceeding 30 °C were measured in the area during 6 consecutive days at the end of June to the beginning of July, the first of 3 heat waves recorded during summer 2015; in-shore surface water temperature exceeded 27 °C. We sampled 9 stations across Lake Mondsee on 4 occasions during the heat wave and analysed temperature, nutrient levels, conductivity, pH, and the phytoplankton community. In addition to reporting the implications of increasing water temperatures for the algal assemblage in a deep stratified lake, we discuss the pros and cons of the different optical methods for phytoplankton identification and counting. For future field campaigns similar to the present study, we recommend using light microscopy to assess large or rare species, such as Ceratium hirundinella, and AFC, FlowCAM, or similar semi-automated devices for abundant small- to medium-sized species.