Using Hplc and Pcr-Dgge for the Assessment of Phytoplankton and Bacterioplankton Communities in Scottish Freshwater Lakes
type: CreativeWork
description: The implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (Directive, 2000) prescribes the use of phytoplankton as a biological quality element for the determination of ecological status in surface waters. This study aimed to evaluate high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a combination of polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) for the assessment of the plankton community in Scottish freshwater lakes. Phytoplankton composition and biomass were determined using microscopy and HPLC, while bacterioplankton density and diversity were assessed using flow cytometry (FC), epifluorescence microscopy (EPM), and PCR-DGGE respectively. HPLC and PCR-DGGE were initially applied to water samples from Loch Rannoch to test the applicability of the techniques during a spatio-temporal assessment of the plankton communities in the lake. The deep oligotrophic lake, which stratified over summer, contained a low phytoplankton biomass that was reflected by both, microscopy and HPLC. The variations in the phytoplankton data were related to changes in light, temperature and nutrients. Spatial heterogeneity in the bacterioplankton community compositions (BCCs) across and down the water column was mainly associated with stratification and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). An assessment of changes in the plankton communities was made fortnightly in mesotrophic Loch Calder, another heavily modified water body, which supplies drinking water to parts of Northern Scotland. Major peaks in cyanobacteria and diatoms occurred in summer 2009 and spring 2010 respectively, with lower phytoplankton biomasses noted over autumn and winter. Aspects of plankton eco-physiology could be assessed by the quantification of pigment degradation products and carotenoids, which showed evidence of photo-protection, grazing and senescence. Bacterioplankton density was positively correlated to phytoplankton biomass and BCC appeared to shift in accordance with transiti…
abstract: The implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (Directive, 2000) prescribes the use of phytoplankton as a biological quality element for the determination of ecological status in surface waters. This study aimed to evaluate high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a combination of polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) for the assessment of the plankton community in Scottish freshwater lakes. Phytoplankton composition and biomass were determined using microscopy and HPLC, while bacterioplankton density and diversity were assessed using flow cytometry (FC), epifluorescence microscopy (EPM), and PCR-DGGE respectively. HPLC and PCR-DGGE were initially applied to water samples from Loch Rannoch to test the applicability of the techniques during a spatio-temporal assessment of the plankton communities in the lake. The deep oligotrophic lake, which stratified over summer, contained a low phytoplankton biomass that was reflected by both, microscopy and HPLC. The variations in the phytoplankton data were related to changes in light, temperature and nutrients. Spatial heterogeneity in the bacterioplankton community compositions (BCCs) across and down the water column was mainly associated with stratification and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). An assessment of changes in the plankton communities was made fortnightly in mesotrophic Loch Calder, another heavily modified water body, which supplies drinking water to parts of Northern Scotland. Major peaks in cyanobacteria and diatoms occurred in summer 2009 and spring 2010 respectively, with lower phytoplankton biomasses noted over autumn and winter. Aspects of plankton eco-physiology could be assessed by the quantification of pigment degradation products and carotenoids, which showed evidence of photo-protection, grazing and senescence. Bacterioplankton density was positively correlated to phytoplankton biomass and BCC appeared to shift in accordance with transiti…
author: Dumur, Danishta
language: eng
date published: 2013-8-9
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:12:04Z
provider: University of the Highlands and Islands
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Edinburgh