Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial and seasonal distribution of phytoplankton in an African Rift Valley lake (L. Albert, Uganda, Zaire)

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An account is given of the seasonal succession and spatial distributionof phytoplankton derived from a one-year sampling programme (1961–62)on Lake Albert, a large African rift lake. There is evidence of regulationby both physical and nutrient factors. These are influenced by a markedseasonality of temperature/density stratification (temperature range <3°C) and of water input that induces some polarizationalong the axis of the lake. Prevailing concentrations of soluble reactivephosphorus are high (>100 µg l-1), but those ofinorganic nitrogen are low and, with large depletions of silicate-silicon,may limit algal production. The diatom and cyanophyte components of thephytoplankton show different relationships to the seasonal cycle of limitedstratification and vertical mixing. There are possible relationships, bygrazing, to the described seasonal and spatial abundance of planktonicCladocera. Comparisons are made with other African lakes, especially LakeTurkana which is of similar shape and size and shows end to end polarizationof the aquatic biota.

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

  • Beadle, L. C., 1981. The Inland Waters of Tropical Africa (2nd edn). Longman, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beauchamp, R. S. A., 1956. The electrical conductivity of the headwaters of the White Nile. Nature 178: 616–619.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, C. E. P., 1923. Variations in the levels of the Central African Lakes Victoria and Albert. Geophys. Mem., London. 11: 337–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter, S. R. & J. F. Kitchell (eds), 1993. The Trophic Cascade in Lakes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 385 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. H., 1962. Some new records and forms of algae in Central East Africa. Hydrobiologia 20: 59–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. H., 1972. A modified sedimentation system for counting algae with an inverted microscope. Hydrobiologia 40: 247–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritsch, F. E., 1935 & 1945. The Structure and Reproduction of the Algae. Vols 1 and 2. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse, F., 1986. East African diatoms. Taxonomy, ecological distribution. Bibliotheca Diatomologica 11. Cramer. Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasse. F., J. F. Talling & P. Kilham, 1983. Diatom assemblages in East Africa: classification, distribution and ecology. Revue Hydrobiol. trop. 16: 3–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geitler, L., 1932. Cyanophyceae. In Kryptogamen-flora 14 (ed. L. Rabenhorst). Leipzig.

  • Green, J., 1967a. The distribution and variation of Daphnia lumholtzi (Crwstacea; Cladocera) in relation to fish predation in Lake Albert, East Africa. J. Zool., Lond. 151: 181–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, J., 1967b. Associations of Rotifera in the zooplankton of the lake sources of the White Nile. J. Zool., Lond. 151: 343–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, J., 1971. Associations of Cladocera in the zooplankton of the lake sources of the White Nile. J. Zool., Lond. 165: 373–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grönblad, R., G. A. Prowse & A. M. Scott, 1958. Sudanese Desmids. Acta bot. fenn. 58: 1–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grönblad, R., A. M. Scott & H. Croasdale, 1964. Desmids from Uganda and Lake Victoria collected by Dr Edna M. Lind. Acta bot. fenn. 66: 1–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Håkansson, H. & S. Locker, 1981. StephanodiscusEhrenberg 1846, a revision of the species described by Ehrenberg. Nova Hedwigia 35: 117–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamblyn, E. L., 1966. The food and feeding habits of Nile Perch (Lates niloticus. Pisces: Centropomidae). Revue Zool. Bot. Afr. 74: 1–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harbott, B. J., 1982. Studies on algal dynamics and primary productivity in Lake Turkana. In Hopson, A. J. (ed.) Lake Turkana. A Report on the Findings of the Lake Turkana Project 1972–1975. Overseas Development Administration, London: 109–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, B., 1986. A Check-list of the freshwater, brackish and marine diatoms of the British Isles and adjoining coastal waters. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 66: 531–561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hecky, R. E. & H. J. Kling, 1981. The phytoplankton and protozooplankton of the euphotic zone of Lake Tanganyika: species composition, biomass, chlorophyll content and spatio-temporal distribution. Limnol. Oceanogr. 26: 548–564.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hecky, R. E. & H. J. Kling, 1987. Phytoplankton ecology of the Great Lakes in the rift valleys of Central Africa. In Munawar, M. (ed.), Proceedings of an International Symposium on the Phycology of the Large Lakes of the World. Arch. Hydrobiol. Beih., Ergebn. Limnol. 25: 197–228.

  • Hecky, R. E., P. Campbell & L. L. Hendzel, 1993. The stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in particulate matter of lakes and oceans. Limnol. Oceanogr. 38: 709–724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, M. J., 1963. Report on the fisheries of Lake Albert. Lowestoft, Fisheries Laboratory, 112 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, M. J., 1970. The feeding habits of Alestes baremoseand Hydrocynus forskali(Pisces) in Lake Albert, EastAfrica. J. Zool., Lond. 161: 137–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huber-Pestalozzi, G., 1938–1961. Das Phytoplankton des Süsswassers, Stuttgart: 1–5.

  • Hustedt, F., 1930. Bacillariophyta. Heft 10 in Die Süsswasserflora Mitteleuropas, Jena.

  • Hustedt, F., 1930–1966. Die Kieselalgen. In Kryptogamen-flora von Deutschland, Oesterreichundder Schweiz Bd 7, (ed. L. Rabenhorst), Leipzig.

  • Kilham, S. S. & P. Kilham, 1990. Tropical limnology: Do African lakes violate the ‘first law’ of limnology? Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 24: 68–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kling, H. J., 1992. Valve development in Stephanodiscus hantzschii Grunow. (Bacillariophyceae) and its implications on species identification. Diatom Research 7: 241–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss, B., 1969. Limitation of algal growth in some Central African waters. Limnol. Oceanogr. 14: 591–601.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nygaard, G., 1949. Hydrobiological studies of some Danish ponds and lakes. 2. Kon. danske Vidensk. Selsk. Biol. Skr. 7: 1–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Round, F. E., 1981. The diatom genus Stephanodiscus: an electron microscopic view of the classical species. Arch. Protistenk. 124: 455–470.

    Google Scholar 

  • Round, F. E., 1982a. Some forms of Stephanodiscusspecies. Arch. Protistenk. 125: 357–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Round, F. E., 1982b. Cyclostephanos–a new genus within the Skeletonemataceae. Arch. Protistenk. 125: 323–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talling, I. F., 1963. Origin of stratification in an African Rift lake. Limnol. Oceanogr. 8: 68–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talling, J. F., 1966. The annual cycle of stratification and phytoplankton growth in Lake Victoria (East Africa). Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 51: 545–621.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talling, J. F., 1969. The incidence of vertical mixing, and some biological and chemical consequences, in tropical African lakes. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 17: 998–1012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talling, J. F., 1986. The seasonality of phytoplankton in African lakes. Hydrobiologia 138: 139–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talling, J. F., 1987. The phytoplankton of Lake Victoria (East Africa). Arch. Hydrobiol., Ergebn. Limnol. 25: 229–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Talling, J. F. & I. B. Talling, 1965. The chemical composition of African lake waters. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 50: 421–463.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uherkovitch, G., 1966. Die Scenedesmus-arten Ungarns. Akademiae Kiado, Budapest.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Ben, D., 1959. La végétation des lacs Kivu, Edouard et Albert. Explor. Hydrobiol. lacs Kivu, Edouard et Albert (1952–54), 4. Inst. r. Sci. Nat. Belg., Bruxelles.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verbeke, J., 1957. Recherches écologiques sur la faune des grands lacs de l’est Congo Belge. Explor. Hydrobiol. lacs Kivu, Edouard et Albert (1952–54), 3. Inst. r. Sci. Nat. Belg., Bruxelles.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verbeke, J., 1959. Le régime alimentaire des poissons des lacs Edouard et Albert. Explor. Hydrobiol. lacs Kivu, Edouard et Albert (1952–54), 3: 1–66. Inst. r. Sci. Nat. Belg., Bruxelles.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wayland, E. J., 1925. Geological Survey of Uganda Memoir No. 1, Petroleum in Uganda. Entebbe.

  • West, G. S. & F. E. Fritsch, 1932. A Treatise on the British Freshwater Algae. University Press, Cambridge, 534 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • West, W. & G. S. West, 1904–1911. A Monograph of the British Desmidiaceae. 1–4. r. Soc., London.

  • West, W., G. S. West & N. Carter, 1923. A Monograph of the British Desmidiaceae. 5. r. Soc., London.

  • World Meteorological Organization, 1974. Hydrometeorological Survey of the catchments of Lakes Victoria, Kyoga and Albert. 1: Meteorology and hydrology of the basin. World Meteorological Organization Report. Geneva.

  • Worthington, E. B., 1929. The life of Lake Albert and Lake Kioga. Geogr. J. 74: 109–132.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Romanstones, Beckbottom, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 8LY, England

    J. H. Evans

Authors
  1. J. H. Evans
    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

Evans, J.H. Spatial and seasonal distribution of phytoplankton in an African Rift Valley lake (L. Albert, Uganda, Zaire). Hydrobiologia 354, 1–16 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003026415788

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003026415788

Search

Navigation