Role of the Planktonic Communities in the Regulation and Indication of Eutrofication Processes in Shallow Mountain Wetlands

Abstract

Protection and restoration of wetlands requires correct evaluation of their ecological and trophic state, i.e. detection and verification of appropriate indicators. The aim of the study is to clarify the role of planktonic communities (phytoplankton and bacterioplankton) in eutrophication processes in shallow landslide-dammed lakes and to apply routine indicators of eutrophication processes for a case study of Dragichevo lake. From May 2001 through September 2002 a bathometric map and map of macrophyte distributions was constructed, changes in the main hydrochemical parameters, phyto- and bacterioplankton were tracked, and the Carson's trophic state index determined. The results suggested that re-suspension processes and active interaction between sediments and water significantly influence both the plankton communities and chemical parameters of these wetlands.