Metal Stress on the Phytoplankton Community of the Zhalong Wetland (China)

Abstract The effects of metals on the structure of phytoplankton communities were determined in the Zhalong Wetland of China during one hydrology year. 133 taxa occurring in at least two samples or the percentages over 5% in at least one sample were identified and utilized in statistical analysis, which belonged to 58 genera, 28 families, 17 orders, 9 classes, 7 phyla. Principle component analysis (PCA) based on metal levels displayed two major groups, the light and heavy metals. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) with forward selection and a Monte Carlo permutation test revealed that kalium ion (K) was significant ( P