Algal composition and biomass in the tropical soda lake Chitu with focus on seasonal variability of Arthrospira fusiformis (Cyanophyta)
Tadesse Ogato A C , Demeke Kifle B and Brook Lemma B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Biology, Debre Berhan University, PO Box 445, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
B Department of Zoological Sciences, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
C Corresponding author. Email: tadesseogato@gmail.com
Marine and Freshwater Research 67(4) 483-491 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF14426
Submitted: 29 December 2014 Accepted: 25 March 2015 Published: 21 July 2015
Abstract
The vital ecological functions of the East African soda lakes are much dependent on Arthrospira, which forms a natural nearly monoalgal populations and serves as the main diet for the huge flocks of flamingos in the present study lake Chitu (Ethiopia). This study investigated algal taxonomic composition and biomass, and the seasonal variability in the abundance of Arthrospira fusiformis in response to some environmental drivers (e.g. rainfall, salinity and nutrients) using samples collected over an annual cycle. The algal community was composed of a few taxa (15 species), with exclusive dominance of A. fusiformis. Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and dry weight, and abundance of A. fusiformis were notably high and exhibited seasonal variations, with significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of Chl-a and dry weight during the rainy season. The observed strong correlations of algal abundance and biomass with rainfall (positively) and alkalinity-salinity (negatively), probably suggest that hydrological control of the salinity is the major driving force for the seasonal variability of A. fusiformis in the lake. Further hydrological modifications that enhance salinisation may greatly affect A. fusiformis thereby causing instability of the flamingos with eventual impairment of the ecosystem values of the lake.
Additional keywords: anoxic, crater lake, flamingo, phytoplankton, salinity, Spirulina.
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