Phytoplankton patchiness in two shallow waterbodies

Abstract

The hydrodynamic behaviour in lentic ecosystems is closely related with the spatial and temporal evolution of their physical, chemical and biological characteristics. Because of this, and in order to improve our present knowledge on the limnological dynamics of such ecosystems, a coupled analysis on the relationship between the biological patterns and the governing hydrodynamics mechanisms it is necessary. This paper uses both field analysis and numerical simulation to describe the links between the water movements and the phytoplankton spatial distribution on two shallow waterbodies in the South of Spain: Alhama de Granada Reservoir (Granada) and Laguna Nueva de la Albufera de Adra (Almería). In both systems the observed phytoplankton spatial distribution exhibited dynamic patterns forced by hydrodynamical transport processes. The knowledge of this physical-biological coupling could be useful to outline the basic guidelines for water quality management. © Asociación Española de Limnología.