Seasonal Patterns of Phytoplankton Taxon Richness in Lakes: Effects of Temperature, Turnover and Abundance

Higher water temperatures in lakes promote increased phytoplankton taxon richness, with summer populations dominated by Chlorophyta and specific functional groups. A six-year study across 20 English Lake District lakes and a 33-year dataset from Windermere revealed that seasonal patterns of phytoplankton diversity closely mirrored true ecological trends, peaking in summer or autumn. The research found strong correlations between surface water temperature and both taxon richness and the number of functional groups, suggesting that temperature-driven turnover plays a key role in shaping phytoplankton communities. However, competition may also occur when chlorophyll a concentrations are high, indicating potential trade-offs between abundance and diversity.

Maberly, S. C., Chao, A., & Finlay, B. J. (2022). Seasonal Patterns of Phytoplankton Taxon Richness in Lakes: Effects of Temperature, Turnover and Abundance. Protist, 173(6), 125925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.protis.2022.125925