Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in diatom assemblages in the profundal sediments of two large oligohumic lakes in eastern Finland

  • Lakes
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sedimentary diatom assemblages in two large oligotrophic clear-water lakes were analysed, to assess their present ecological state and possible eutrophication due to diffuse nutrient loading. The lakes Pyhäjärvi and Puruvesi (Finnish lake district) are proportionally large for their catchment areas which accounts for their long retention times (ca 7 and 11 yr) and oligohumic character. Pyhäjärvi was studied by pairwise comparison of surface sediment diatom assemblages collected in 1985 and 1990 at 12 sites from different parts of the lake. In Puruvesi, the stratigraphy of diatoms was analysed in two short cores from 8 m and 32 m depths.

The diatom assemblages of the two lakes are rather similar, and quite distinct from the assemblages of the mesohumic large lakes of the area. Cyclotella kuetzingiana is the most common planktonic dia- tom, but Aulacoseira ambigua abounds in Pyhäjärvi at sites with local sources of eutrophication. A diverse assemblage of benthic forms, especially Fragilaria and Achnanthes spp. characterizes the shallow bottoms in both lakes.

There was little change within the short-core diatom profiles of Puruvesi, but the floral composition of the 8-m and 32-m sites differed markedly. The 8-m site, with 60–70% of benthic forms, represents illuminated bottom, on which much of the buried algae have lived in situ, while the deeper site is true profundal, dominated by sedimented planktonic algae.

In Pyhäjärvi there was a slight increase in the benthic diatoms from 1985 to 1990, coinciding with increased phosphorus and chlorophyll concentrations as well as Secchi depth lowering. We interprete this observation as a very early step of eutrophication, of which first the sessile algal communities of the illuminated bottom areas have benefited.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahtiainen, M., 1988. Effects of forest clear-cutting and drainage on water quality in the Nurmes-study. In L. Rantajärvi (ed.), Proceedings of the international symposium on the hydrology of wetlands in temperate and cold regions, Joensuu, Finland, 6–8 June 1988. Publications of the Academy of Finland 4/1988: 206–219.

  • Ahtiainen, M., 1992. The effects of forest clear-cutting and scarification on the water quality of small brooks. Hydrobiologia 243/244: 465–473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battarbee, R.W., 1978. Relative composition, concentration, and calculated influx of diatoms from a sediment core from Lough Erne, Northern Ireland. Pol. Arch. Hydrobiol. 25: 9–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battarbee, R. W., 1986. The eutrophication of Lough Erne inferred from changes in the diatom assemblages of 210Pb-and 137Cs-dated sediment cores. Proc. roy. Irish Acad. B 86(B6): 141–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleve-Euler, A., 1951–1955. Die Diatomeen von Schweden und Finnland. Kungl. Svenska Vetensk. Akad. Handl. Ser. 4. 2(1): 3–163; 3(3): 3–153; 4(1): 3–158; 4(5): 3–255; 5(4): 3–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edsall, T.A., E.F. Stoermer & J.P. Kociolek, 1991. Periphyton accumulation at remote reefs and shoals in Lake Superior. J. Great Lakes Res. 17: 412–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engstrom, D.R., E.B. Swain & J.C. Kingston, 1985. A palaeolimnological record of human disturbance from Harvey's Lake, Vermont: geochemistry, pigments and diatoms. Freshwat. Biol. 15: 261–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flower, R. & H. Simola, 1990. Diatoms in a short sediment core from Lake Höytiäinen, Finland: ecological implications of lake level lowering in 1859 AD. In H. Simola (ed.), Proceedings of 10th Diatom Symposium 1988. Koeltz, Königstein: 433–441.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haworth, E.Y., 1988. Distribution of diatom taxa of the old genus Melosira (now mainly Aulacoseira) in Cumbrian waters. In F.E. Round (ed.), Algae and the Aquatic Environment. Biopress ltd, Bristol: 138–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hustedt, F., 1930. Bacillariophyta (Diatomeee). In A. Pascher (ed.), Die Süsswassrflora Mitteleuropas 10: 1–466.

  • Huttunen, P. & J. Meriläinen, 1983. Interpretation of lake quality from contemporary diatom assemblages. Hydrobiologia 103: 91–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kairesalo, T., 1977. On the production ecology of epipelic algae and littoral plankton communities in Lake Pääjärvi, southern Finland. Ann. Bot. Fenn. 14: 82–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kairesalo, T., 1980. Comparison of in situ photosynthetic activity of epiphytic, epipelic and planktonic algal communities in an oligotrophic lake, southern Finland. J. Phycol. 16: 57–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauppi, M., I. Kettunen, J. Kivinen, R. Niinioja & O. Sandman, 1985. Saimaantila ja siihen vaikuttavat tekijät. National Board of Waters, Helsinki, Report 254, 147.

  • Kingston, J., R. Lowe, E. Stoermer & T. Ladewski, 1983: Spatial and temporal distribution of benthic diatoms in northern Lake Michigan. Ecology 64: 1566–1580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krammer, K. & H. Lange-Bertalot, 1986–1991. Bacillariophyceae. G. Fischer. Stuttgart, 4 volumes Süsswasserflovon Mitteleuropa 2(1–4).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meriläinen, J. J., 1992. Niukkaravinteinen, kirkas Puruvesi tuottaa mesotrofisen järven profundaalifaunan. In M. Viljanen & S. Ollikainen (eds), Saimaa symposium 1992, research on Lake Saimaa. University of Joensuu, Publications of Karelian Institute 103: 109–116.

  • Meriläinen, J., H. Kokko & A. Järvinen, 1987. Periphyton of Lake Pyhäjärvi (Karelia). Finnish Fisheries Res. 8: 20–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of the Environment, 1989. Water Protection Programme to 1995. Decision-in-Principle by the Finnish Council of State. Environmental Protection Department, Helsinki, Series B 14/1989, 20 pp.

  • Minstry of the Environment, 1992. Erityissuojelua vaativat vedet. Environmental Protection Department, Helsinki, Working group Report 63/1992, 176 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mölder, K. & R. Tynni, 1967–73. Über Finnlands rezente and subfossile Diatomeen, I–VII. Bull. Geol. Soc. Finnland 39: 199–217 (1967); 40: 151–170 (1968); 41: 235–251 (1969); 42: 129–144 (1970); 43: 203–220 (1971); 44: 141–149 (1972); 45: 159–179 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • National Board of Waters, 1981. Vesiviranomaisen käyttämät analyysimenetelmät. National Board of Waters, Helsinki, Report 212, 136 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Board of Waters, 1984. Vesiviranomaisen käyttämät näytteenottomenetelmät 2nd edn. Publications of the National Board of Waters 40, 56 pp.

  • Niinioja, R. & M. Ahtiainen, 1987. Water quality of Lake Pyhäjärvi in the 1980s. Finnish Fisheries Res. 8: 13–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niinioja, R., M. Kauppi, I. Kettunen, J. Kivinen, P. Mononen & I. Taipalinen, 1992. Water quality classification of Lake Saimaa in the middle of the 1980s. In Filatov, N. & P. Heinonen (eds), Results of the Finnish-Russian joint study of the lakes Onega, Ladoga, and Saimaa conducted in the summer of 1990. Publications of the Water and Environment Administration, series A. (in press).

  • Nordisk Ministerråd, 1990. Nordiske vassdarg — vern og inngrep. Miljörapport 1990: 11, 144 pp.

  • Ollikainen, M., 1992. Karjalan Pyhäjärven tila 1980 — luvulla sedimentin piilevien ilmentämänä. Publications of the Water and Environment Administration, Series A 87,58 pp.

  • Phillips, G.L., D.F. Eminson & B. Moss, 1978. A mechanism to account for macrophyte decline in progressively eutrophicated freshwaters. Aquat. Bot. 4: 103–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rekolainen, S., 1989. Phosphorus and nitrogen load from forestry and agricultural areas in Finland. Aqua fennica 19: 95–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarvala, J., K. Aulio, H. Mölsä, M. Rajasilta, J. Salo & I. Vuorinen, 1984. Factors behind the exceptionally high fish yield in the Lake Pyhäjärvi, southwestern Finland — hypotheses on the biological regulation on fish production. Aqua fennica 14: 49–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sebetich, M.J. & R. Messaros, 1992. Paleolimnology of Green Pond, a 200-ha glacial lake in the Highlands Province of New Jersey, U.S.A. XXV SIL Congress. Barcelona, Spain, August, 21–27 1992. Abstracts: 567.

  • Seuna, P., 1971. Suomen vesistöalueet. Report of the National Board of Waters, Helsinki, 10, 53 pp.

  • Simola, H. & J. Ronkko, 1988. Diatom assemblages and recent stratigraphic changes in some large lakes in East Finland. In F.E. Round (ed.), Proceedings of 9th International Diatom Symposium 1986. Koeltz, Koenigstein, & Biopress, Bristol: 245–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simola, H., M. Ollikainen, & O. Sandman, 1992. Short-core palaeolimnology of three contrasting basins of Saimaa lake complex in East Finland. Manuscript submitted to Verh. int. Verein. Limnol. 25.

  • Stevenson, R.J., R. Singer, D.A. Roberts & C. W. Boylen, 1985. Patterns of epipelic algal abundance with depth, trophic status, and acidity in poorly buffered New Hampshire Lakes. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci. 42: 1501–1512.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tynni, R., 1975–1980. Über Finnlands rezente and subfossile Diatomeen, VIII–XI. Bull. Geol. Surv. Finland 274: 1–55 (1975); 284: 1–37 (1976); 296: 1–55 (1978); 312: 1–93 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Vierssen, W., M.J.M. Hootsmans & J.E. Vermaat, 1985: Waterplanten: bondgenoten bij bet waterkwaliteitsbeheer? Een visie op de toekomst van het beheer van waterplantenvegetaties. H2O 18: 122–126.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Karelian Institute, Section of Ecology, University of Joensuu, P. O. Box 111, SF-80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Minna Ollikainen & Heikki Simola

  2. Water and Environment District Office of North Karelia, P. O. Box 69, SF-80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Riitta Niinioja

Authors
  1. Minna Ollikainen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Heikki Simola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Riitta Niinioja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ollikainen, M., Simola, H. & Niinioja, R. Changes in diatom assemblages in the profundal sediments of two large oligohumic lakes in eastern Finland. Hydrobiologia 269, 405–413 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028038

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00028038

Key words

Search

Navigation