Abstract
Restoration of shallow lakes degraded by eutrophication has often been protracted as a consequence of the accumulation and subsequent releases of phosphorus in their sediments (internal load). Balaton, the largest shallow lake in Central Europe, underwent rapid eutrophication during the 1960s–1970s, during which a west-east gradient of trophic state developed. Measures to reverse the eutrophication and to restore the lake to its historic quality were initiated in the mid-1980s. The external phosphorus load has been decreased considerably but the responses of the phytoplankton have been slight and sometimes counterintuitive. At the level of total biomass, the erstwhile distinctiveness of the down-lake trophic gradient has weakened. The eukaryotic plankton flora has altered little but floristic changes in the dominant cyanoprokaryota are consistent with environmental changes attributable to the eutrophication and subsequent restoration. The dominant species are shown to have been consistently related to variables including sediment-water interactions, physical disturbances and the specific biotic adaptations of the organisms but the phytoplankton development in given years and in given parts of the lake has fluctuated with the stochasticity of the weather. In some years, hypertrophic conditions have continued to develop, marked by the development of prolific cyanoprokaryote blooms; in other years, phytoplankton biomass scarcely exceeded a mesotrophic level, with a species composition resembling that which obtained prior to the recent eutrophication. The species associations represented are believed to be consistent with the responses of groups of species observed elsewhere, suggesting that the patterns of community assembly in the phytoplankton are potentially predictable.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anagnostidis, K. & J. Komárek, 1985. Modern approach to the classification of cyanophytes. 1. Introduction. Algolog. Stud. 38/39: 291–302.
Anagnostidis, K. & J. Komárek, 1988. Modern approach to the classification of cyanophytes. 3. Oscillatoriales. Algolog. Stud. 50—53: 327–472.
Connell, J. H., 1978. Diversity in tropical rain forests and coral reefs. Science 199: 1302–1310.
Czekanowski, J., 1909. Zur differential Diagnose der Neandertalgruppe. Korrespbl. dt. Ges. Anthrop. 40: 44–47.
Dobolyi, E. & V. Ördög, 1997. A Balaton belsö foszforterhelésének kutatása. [Internal P-loading in Lake Balaton.]. B-7/97 Research Report for Ministry of Agriculture, Middle-Transdanubian Water Authority, Székesfehérvár.
Gorzó, Gy., 1987. Fizikai és kémiai faktorok hatása a Balatonban elöforduló heterocisztás cianobaktériumok spóráinak csírázására [The influence of physical and chemical factors on the germination of spores of heterocystic cyanobacteria in Lake Balaton]. Hidrológiai Közlöny 67: 127–133.
H.-Bartha, Zs., 1974. The occurrence of Aphanizomenon issatschenkoi (Ussaczew) Proschkina-Lavrenko in Lake Balaton. Ann. Biol. Tihany 41: 127–131.
Hegewald, E., N. Jeeji-Bai & M. Hesse, 1975. Taxonomische und floristische Studien an Planktonalgen aus ungarischen Gewässern. Algolog. Stud. 13: 392–432.
Herodek, S., 1984. The eutrophication of Lake Balaton: Measurements, modeling and management. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 22: 1087–1091.
Herodek, S., 1986. Phytoplankton changes during eutrophication and P and N metabolism. In L. Somlyódy & G. van Straaten (eds), Modeling and managing shallow lake eutrophication Springer Verlag, Berlin: 183–204.
Herodek, S. & V. Istvánovics, 1986. Mobility of phosphorous fractions in the sediments of Lake Balaton. Hydrobiologia 135: 149–154.
Hortobágyi, T., 1943a. Elözetes jelentés a Balaton öt boglári biotopjának mikrophytobiocoenosis-vizsgálatáról [Vorläufiger Bericht über dir Untersuchung der Microphytobiocoenises der fünf Boglárer Biotope des Balaton-Sees]. Botanikai Közlemények 40: 243–278.
Hortobágyi, T., 1943b. Adatok a Balaton boglári sestonjában, psammonjában és lasionjában élö moszatok ismeretéhez [Beiträge zur Kenntnis der im Boglárer Seston, Psammon und Lasion lebenden Algen des Balaton-Sees]. Ann. Biol. Tihany 15: 75–127.
Hortobágyi, T., 1946. 33 eddig ismeretlen moszat a Balaton sestonjából [33 Algae adhue e seston lacus Balaton (Hungaria) ignotae]. Botanikai Közlemények 43: 11–21.
Hortobágyi, T., 1948. Újabb adatok a Balaton mikrovegetációjához [Latest data to the microvegetation of Lake Balaton]. Dunántúli Tudományos Intézet Kiadványai 10: 1–16.
Hortobágyi, T., 1959. Algák a Balatonból [Algen aus dem Balaton]. Ann. Biol. Tihany 26: 329–342.
Hortobágyi, T., 1962. Két vízvirágzás a Balatonon [Zwei Wasserblüten im Balaton-See]. Botanikai Közlemények 49: 233–237.
Istvánffy, Gy., 1897. A Balaton moszatflórája [Algal flora of Lake Balaton]. A Balaton tudományos tanulmányozásának eredményei II. 2/1: 1–141.
Istvánovics, V., 1997. P-uptake and growth strategies of Lake Balaton phytoplankton in relation to inner P-load and its decrease. Reserarch Report for the Office of the Prime Minister.
Istvánovics, V. & S. Herodek, 1995. Estimation of net uptake and leakage rates of orthophosphate from 32P-uptake kinetics by a linear force-flow model. Limnol. Oceanogr. 40: 17–32.
Istvánovics, V., A. Kovács, L. Vörös, S. Herodek & P. Pomogyi, 1997. Phosphorus cycling in a large, reconstructed wetland, the lower Kis-Balaton Reservoir (Hungary). Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 26: 323–329.
Istvánovics, V., K. Pettersson, M. A. Rodrigo, D. Pierson & J. Padisák, 1993. Gloeotrichia echinulata, a colonial cyanobacterium with unique phosphorus uptake and life strategy. J. of Plankton Res. 15: 531–552.
Kiss, K. T. & J. Padisák, 1990. Species succession of Thalassiosiraceae: Quantitative studies in a large, shallow lake (Lake Balaton, Hungary). In H. Simola (ed.), Proceedings of the 10. Internat. Symp. On living and fossile diatoms, Koeltz Scientific Book, Koenigstein 480–490.
Kol, E., 1938. Die Algenvegetation des Balatonsees. Ann. Biol. Tihany 11: 154–160.
Komárek, J. & K. Anagnostidis, 1986. Modern approach to the classification of cyanophytes. 2. Chroococcales. Algolog. Stud. 43: 157–226.
Komárek, J. & K. Anagnostidis, 1989. Modern approach to the classification of cyanophytes. 4. Nostocales. Algolog. Stud. 56: 247–345.
Komárek, J. & B. Fott, 1983. Das Phytoplankton des Süsswassers XIV.7.1. E. Schweitzerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart.
Krammer, K. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1986. Süβwasserflora von Mitteleuropa, Bacillariophyceae 2/1, Naviculaceae. VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena.
Krammer, K. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1988. Süβwasserflora von Mitteleuropa, Bacillariophyceae 2/2, Bacillariaceae, Epithemaceae, Surirellaceae. VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena.
Krammer, K. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1991a. Süβwasserflora von Mitteleuropa, Bacillariophyceae 2/3, Centrales, Fragilariaceae, Eunotiaceae. VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena.
Krammer, K. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1991b. Süβwasserflora von Mitteleuropa, Bacillariophyceae 2/4, Achnanthaceae, Kritische Ergänzungen zu Navicula (Lineolatae) und Gomphonema. VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena.
Németh, J. & L. Vörös, 1986. Koncepció és módszertan felszíni vizek algológiai monitoringjához [Concepts and methodics for algological monitoring of surface water]. In Környezetés természetvédelmi kutatások 5. Országos Környezet-és Természetvédelmi Hivatal, Budapest.
Oláh, J., M. I. ElSamra, M. A. Abdel-Moneim, L. Tóth & L. Vörös, 1981. Nitrogénkötés halhústermelö agroökoszisztémákban [N2-fixation in fish-producing agro-ecosystems]. A Halhústermelés fejlesztése 10, HAKI, Szarvas.
Padisák, J., 1980. Short-term studies on the phytoplankton of Lake Balaton in the summers of 1976, 1977 and 1978. Acta Bot. Acad. Sci. Hung. 26: 397–416.
Padisák, J., 1992. Seasonal succession of phytoplankton in a large shallow lake (Balaton, Hungary) — a dynamic approach to ecologica memory, its possible role and mechanisms. J. Ecol. 80: 217–230.
Padisák, J., 1993. The influence of different timescale disturbances on the species richness, diversity and equitablity of phytoplankton in shallow lakes. Hydrobiologia 249: 135–156.
Padisák, J., 1994. Relationships between short-term and long-term responses of phytoplankton to eutrophication of the largest shallow lake in Central Europe (Balaton, Hungary). In H. Sund, H.-H. Geller, W. Xiaogan, Y. Kechang & S. Fengnind (eds), Environmental Protection and Lake Ecosystem. Science and Technol. Press, Beijing: 419–437.
Padisák, J., 1997a. A fitoplankton diverzitása és különbözö csoportjainak szezonális változása a Balatonban. [Diversity and seasonal succession of phytoplankton in Lake Balaton]. Research Report for the Balaton Office of the Prime Minister, Balaton Limnological Institute, Tihany.
Padisák, J., 1997b. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenayya et Subba Raju, an expanding, highly adaptive cyanobacterium: worldwide distribution and a review of its ecology. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 107, Monogr. Stud.: 563–593.
Padisák, J., 1998. A fitoplankton diverzitása és különbözö csoportjainak szezonális változása a Balatonban. [Diversity and seasonal succession of phytoplankton in Lake Balaton]. Research Report for the Balaton Office of the Prime Minister, Balaton Limnological Institute, Tihany.
Padisák, J., in press. Sudden and gradual responses of phytoplankton to global climate change: case studies from two large, shallow lakes (Balaton, Hungary; Neusiedlersee Austria/ Hungary). In D. G. George, J. G. Jones, P. Puncochar & C. S. Reynolds (eds), Management of lakes and reservoirs during global change. Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Prague. Kluwer, Dordrecht.
Padisák, J., É. Ács, K. Buczkó, I. Grigorszky & É. Vízkelety, 1998. A fitoplankton diverzitása és különbözö csoportjainak szezonális változása a Balatonban. [Diversity and seasonal succession of phytoplankton in Lake Balaton]. In J. Salánki & J. Padisák (eds), A Balatonkutatás 1997–es eredményei. VEAB, Veszprém, in press.
Padisák, J. & M. Dokulil, 1994. Meroplankton dynamics in a saline, turbid, shallow lake (Neusiedlersee Austria/Hungary). Hydrobiologia 289: 23–42.
Padisák, J. & L. G.-Tóth, 1991. Some aspects of the ecology of the subdominant green algae in a large nutrient limited shallow lake (Balaton, Hungary). Arch. Protistenkunde 139: 225–242.
Padisák, J., L. G.-Tóth & M. Rajczy, 1988. The role of storms in the summer succession of phytoplankton in a shallow lake (Lake Balaton, Hungary). J. of Plankton Res. 10: 249–265.
Padisák, J., L. G.-Tóth & M. Rajczy, 1990. Stir-up effect of wind on a more-or-less stratified shallow lake phytoplankton community, Lake Balaton, Hungary. Hydrobiologia 191: 249–254.
Padisák, J. & V. Istvánovics, 1997. Differential response of blue-green algal groups to phosphorus load reduction in a large shallow lake: Balaton, Hungary. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 26: 574–580.
Padisák, J. & A. Kovács, 1997. Anabaena compacta (Nygaard) Hickel — új kékalga faj a Balaton üledékében és planktonjában [Anabaena compacta (Nygaard) Hickel — a new blue-green algal species in the sediments and plankton of lake Balaton]. Hidrológiai Közlöny 77: 29–32.
Paerl, H. W., 1988. Growth and reproductive strategies of freswater blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria). In C. G. Sandgren (ed.), Growth and Reproductive Strategies of Freshwater Phytoplaankton: 261–315. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge.
Pantocsek, J., 1902. A Balaton kovamoszatai. A Balaton tudományos tanulmányozásának eredményei II. 2/2: 1–144.
Podani, J., 1988. Syn-Tax III. User's manual. Abstr. Bot. 12: 1–183.
Présing, M., S. Herodek, L. Vörös & I. Kóbor, 1996. Nitrogen fixation, ammonium and nitrate uptake during a bloom of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in Lake Balaton. Arch. Hydrobiol. 136: 553–562.
Rajczy, M. & J. Padisák, 1983. DIVDROP analysis — a new method for the interpretation of species importance in diversity changes. Ann. Hist.-nat. Mus. Nat. Hung. 75: 97–105.
Reynolds, C. S., 1992. Eutrophication and management of planktonic algae: what Vollenweider couldn't tell us. In D.W. Sutcliffe & J. G. Jones (eds), Eutrophication: Research and Application to Water Supply: 4–29. Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, Cumbria.
Reynolds, C. S., 1994. The long, the short and the stalled: on attributes of phytoplankton selected by physical mixing in lakes and rivers. Hydrobiologia 289: 9–21.
Reynolds, C. S., 1996. The plant life of the pelagic. Verh. int. Ver. theor. angew. Limnol. 26: 97–113.
Reynolds, C. S., J. Padisák & I. Kóbor, 1993. A localized bloom of Dinobryon sociale in Lake Balaton: Some implications for the perception of patchiness and the maintenance of species richness. Abstracta Botanica 17: 251–260.
Reynolds, C. S. & A. E. Walsby, 1975. Water blooms. Biol. Rev. 50: 437–481.
Sas, H. 1989. Lake Restoration by Reduction of Nutrient Loading: Expectations, Experiences, Extrapolations. Academia Verlag Richarz, St. Augustin.
Somlyódy, L. & G. Jolánkai, 1986. Nutrient loads. In L. Somlyódy & G. van Straaten (eds), Modeling and managing shallow lake eutrophication, Springer Verlag, Berlin: 125–156.
Sommer, U., U. Gaedke & A. Schweizer, 1993. The first decade of oligotrophication of Lake Constance II. The response of phytoplankton taxonomic composition. Oecologia 93: 276–284.
Sommer, U., J. Padisák, C. S. Reynolds & P. Juhász-Nagy, 1993. Hutchinson's heritage: the diversity-disturbance relationship in phytoplankton. Hydrobiologia 249: 1–8.
Szemes, G., 1957. A Balaton kovamoszatai. Ann. Biol. Tihany 24: 193–270.
Tamás, G., 1954. Mennyiségi planktontanulmányok a Balatonon IV. A negyvenes évek fitoplanktonjáról [Quantitative plankton studies on Lake Balaton IV. Phytoplankton for the years 1944–1951]. Ann. Biol. Tihany 22: 95–110.
Tamás, G., 1959. Algenflora des Balatonsees, 1938–1958. Ann. Biol. Tihany 24: 193–270.
Tamás, G., 1963. Kieselalgen des Balaton-Sees, 1938–1958. Ann. Biol. Tihany 30: 167–218.
Tamás, G., 1964. Die Algenflora des Balaton-Sees (Zusammengestellt nach Angaben aus den Jahren 1959–1963). Ann. Biol. Tihany 31: 245–253.
Tamás, G., 1974. The occurrence of Rhaphidiopsis mediterranea Skuja in the plankton of Lake Balaton. Ann. Biol. Tihany 41: 317–321.
Uherkovich, G. & T. Lantos, 1987. Angaben zur Kenntnis der Algenvegetation auf der Sedimentoberfläche im Balaton (Plattensee), Ungarn. Limnologica (Berlin) 18: 29–67.
V.-Balogh, K. E. Koncz & L. V“00F6”rös, 1997. Huminanyagok hatása a bakterioplanktonra a Kis-Balatonban és a Balatonban [Effect of humic substances on bacterioplankton in Kis-Balaton Reservoir and in Lake Balaton]. Hidrológiai Közlöny 77: 46–47.
Vollenweider, R., 1968. Scientific fundamentals of the eutrophication of lakes and flowing waters with particular reference to nitrogen and phosphorus as factors in eutrophication. OECD, Paris.
Vörös, L., 1995. A kékalgák elszaporodását befolyásoló tényezök és toxicitásuk kutatása [Factors affecting growth and toxicity of cyanobacteria]. Ministry for Environment and Regional Affairs, Budapest, Research Report, pp. 204.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Padisák, J., Reynolds, C.S. Selection of phytoplankton associations in Lake Balaton, Hungary, in response to eutrophication and restoration measures, with special reference to the cyanoprokaryotes. Hydrobiologia 384, 41–53 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003255529403
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003255529403