Croatian Journal of Fisheries (Jun 1996)
PHYTOPLANKTON OF VRANSKO LAKE ON THE ISLAND CRES
Abstract
As a special nature phenomenon, Vransko Lake with its ackreage of 5.7 km2 and cubic capacity of 220 million m3 fresh-water of extraordinary quality has been unsufficiently biologically examined. Ichthyological, physical, chemical and bacteriological examination were conducted in 1989 (June, September and December) and 1990 (April), Special attention was given to the examination of phytoplankton structure as an indicator of water quality. In addition to collecting phytoplankton specimen, the temperature and transparency of water were measured at 5 different places (Picture 1). The phytoplankton specimen Were taken at the depths of 0.5 m, 10 m, 20 m and 40 m. The results of medium values of measured water temperature and lake transparency are showed on the Picture 2. The water temperature s was mostly under the influence of surrounding air temperature. The thermic stratification in summer and the manifestation of isotherm in the colder period of year were observed. In the qualitative composition of phytoplankton there were stated sixty plankton algae which belonged to the following system groups: Cyanophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Dinophyceae, Chryslophyceae and Chlorophyceae (Table 1). While representatives of Bacillariophyceae outnumbered other groups, the species Cera- tium hirundinella which belongs to the Dinophyceae group and the indicator of olighosaprobnog degree dominated in all phytoplankton specimen of Vransko Lake. Besides that group, the significant role in the phytoplankton structure had the species Cyclotella comta, the indicator of olighosaprobnog degree and Dinobryon divergens, the indicator of bethamesosaprobnog degree. On the basis of qualitative analysis of phytoplankton, the representatives of olighosaprobnog degree dominated in Vransko Lake what implies good water quality and the quantitative analysis show the olighothrophic lake character. According to representation of particular phytoplankton species at the time of examination, the dominant phytoplankton group in the lake belonged to the type Cyclotella-Dinobryon-Ceratium.
