Spatial distribution of picoseston in the Saratov reservoir in summer

Abstract

The structure and spatial distribution of picoseston in the Saratov reservoir in July 2011 and August 2014 are described. On average, the total abundance of cells and particles forming picoseston was 1.87±0.73×106 cells (part.)/mL; and the total biomass of picoseston was 43.8±19.4 µg C/L. During the study period, solitary heterotrophic bacteria and phototrophic picocyanobacteria prevailed in the picoseston of the Saratov reservoir, amounting to 77–100% of its total abundance and biomass. The proportion of picodetrital particles was extremely small (on average, 4.1% of the total biomass of picoseston). The high heterogeneity of picoceston distribution (Cv is 130% and 110% for abundance and biomass, respectively) was found in the Saratov reservoir during the study period. On average, the abundance and biomass of heterotrophic bacterioplaknton and picodetritus at stations of the tributary estuaries were slightly higher than in the riverbed. At the same time, the abundance of picocyanobacteria was higher, and the biomass was lower at the estuarine stations compared to the riverbed ones. The total number of bacterioplankton and autotrophic picoplankton in the Saratov reservoir in 2011 and 2014 corresponded to the mesotrophic level of productivity. Picodetrital particles, in contrast to the Upper Volga and Kama reservoirs, make no significant contribution to the planktonic food webs of the Saratov reservoir, at least during the study period.