The causes of change in the diversity and stability of phytoplankton communities in small lakes

SUMMARY. 1. A study of the diversity and stability of phytoplankton communities during one vegetation period (February-October 1984) was carried out in four small lakes in the Pfynwald region of Canton Valais, Switzerland: Kaminsee I, Kaminsee II, Grossee and Rosensee. The diversity was calculated according to Shannon & Weaver (1949). The change in diversity ΔH; and SIMI (similarity index according to Stander. 1970) were used as measures of stability. 2. On average, the diversity was highest in the oligotrophic Rosensee (annual mean 3.19) and least in the hypereutrophic Kaminsee I (annual mean 1.34). In Kaminsee I and Grossee, the diversity corresponded in the main to the relative frequency of Cryptomonas erosa Ehrenberg: i.e. the diversity was low when the relative frequency of C. erosa was high and vice versa (Kaminsee I: max. diversity 2.74; min. 0.13. Grossee: max. 3.62; min. 0.28; annual mean 2.21). Kaminsee II and Rosensee exhibited only slight variations in their phytoplankton community structure (Kaminsee II: max. diversity 2.83; min. 1.26; annual mean 2.10. Rosensee: max. 3.79; min. 2.81). High values of diversity, or increases in diversity, were a result of low nutrient availability and grazing pressure. Lower diversity values. or decreases in diversity, were a result of a plentiful nutrient supply, low grazing pressure and grazer selectivity with respect to food organisms. 3. Because values of the diversity index vary by different amounts during the course of a year depending on the water body, the characterization of a phytoplankton community on the basis of one value alone is unsatisfactory. It is suggested that the mean and either standard deviation or range of the diversity be cited in order to overcome this drawback at least partially. 4. No generally accepted measure exists for the calculation of stability. According to the measure of stability employed, a community may appear to be more or less stable. A statement concerning the stability of a community without mentioning the measure employed is therefore worthless. The factors determining the stability of a phytoplankton community do not have the same effect on all measures of stability. 5. The change in diversity ΔH’was influenced in the main by alterations