[Spatio-temporal Variations in Phytoplankton Community in Shahe Reservoir, Tianmuhu, China]

Monthly investigations of the phytoplankton community and the associated environmental drivers during the past eight years in the Shahe Reservoir, Jiangsu Province, China revealed the spatial and temporal variations of phytoplankton and the associated driving factors in the reservoir. The results show that the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), turbidity (Turb), suspended solids (SS), and chlorophyll-a (CHL) were the highest in the upstream tributaries and the lowest in the downstream-linked reservoir. In contrast, the highest Secchi disk depth (SDD) was recorded in the Shahe Reservoir and that the lowest in the upstream tributaries. Significant differences in water quality indices were recorded among the upstream tributaries, the transition region, and the downstream-linked reservoir area (ANOVA, P<0.05). The biomass of phytoplankton was the highest in the upstream tributaries and the lowest in the reservoir. The highest biomass of phytoplankton was recorded in the summer and the lowest in the winter. Synedra, Cyclotella, Cryptomonas, and Achnanthes were the dominant genera in the spring; Synedra, Cryptomonas, Raphidiopsis, and Phormidium were dominant in the summer; Cryptomonas, Synedra, Raphidiopsis, and Aphanizomenon were dominant in the autumn; and Cryptomonas, Synedra, Achnanthes, and Cyclotella were dominant in the winter. Synedra and Cryptomonas were the dominant genera throughout the year. The correlation analysis shows that TP, water temperature, and SDD were the most important driving factors for the spatial and temporal variations of phytoplankton. Notable spatial differences were recorded for Cryptomonas, while minimal variations were recorded for the remaining species. A smaller number sampling sites and a higher sampling frequency are needed to characterize the phytoplankton community in the Shahe Reservoir.