<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

 The areas of northern Poland are typical examples of recently formed post-glacial landscapes with a very large number of small ponds. Phycology of these ponds has been seldom studied, especially when compared to data collected from lager post-glacial lakes. The aim of our study was to determine the importance of small ponds to the biodiversity of algae.
In 1996-2002 and 2012-13, we carried out phycological studies in 20 small ponds located in fields and forests. During the study period, we recorded the presence of 503 taxa of algae. The flora of algae was unique in each pond. Another important and frequent observation was the total and rapid “rebuilding” of algal flora. 
Statistical analyses revealed some other important facts, including the importance of small ponds to algal biodiversity. The average number of taxa recorded during the studies of individual water reservoirs was 56, thus much less than usually recorded in typical large lakes. But when we take the large number of small ponds into consideration, it appears that they represent more than 97% of the populations of algae and for this reason they are important to the biodiversity of algae.
</abstract>

The areas of northern Poland are typical examples of recently formed post-glacial landscapes with a very large number of small ponds. Phycology of these ponds has been seldom studied, especially when compared to data collected from lager post-glacial lakes. The aim of our study was to determine the importance of small ponds to the biodiversity of algae.
In 1996-2002 and 2012-13, we carried out phycological studies in 20 small ponds located in fields and forests. During the study period, we recorded the presence of 503 taxa of algae. The flora of algae was unique in each pond. Another important and frequent observation was the total and rapid “rebuilding” of algal flora. 
Statistical analyses revealed some other important facts, including the importance of small ponds to algal biodiversity. The average number of taxa recorded during the studies of individual water reservoirs was 56, thus much less than usually recorded in typical large lakes. But when we take the large number of small ponds into consideration, it appears that they represent more than 97% of the populations of algae and for this reason they are important to the biodiversity of algae.

Small water ponds as reservoirs of algae biodiversity

Universityof Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Small water ponds as reservoirs of algae biodiversity"}

The areas of northern Poland are typical examples of recently formed post-glacial landscapes with a very large number of small ponds. Phycology of these ponds...

Small water ponds as reservoirs of algae biodiversity

Published Online: Dec 09, 2015

Page range: 480 - 486

Received: Jul 21, 2015

Accepted: Sep 11, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2015-0045

Keywords
algae, biodiversity, astatic ponds, small ponds

© 2015 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Small water ponds as reservoirs of algae biodiversity

Published Online: Dec 09, 2015

Page range: 480 - 486

Received: Jul 21, 2015

Accepted: Sep 11, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2015-0045

Keywordsalgae, biodiversity, astatic ponds, small ponds

© 2015 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
algae, biodiversity, astatic ponds, small ponds