Phytoplankton Community Structure and Succession

Dear Colleagues,

Phytoplanktons represent a community of aquatic photosynthetic microorganisms characterised by great diversity. As one of the major biological quality elements, it is used as a monitoring tool in the assessment of the ecological status of surface waters required by relevant directives. Supported by morphological and functional phytoplankton analyses, the molecular approach in phytoplankton ecology is increasingly used to explain and predict species distribution along environmental gradients. The study of phytoplankton diversity, community structure and succession patterns is critical to understand the increasing eutrophication, invasive species problems, harmful algal blooms and the overall effects of climate change on inland waters, which can be used to assess water quality and plan restoration efforts.

This proposed Special Issue of Plants addresses the topics of phytoplankton dynamics at seasonal and long-term scales, as well as physical, biological or autogenic drivers that destroy the structure or alter the environment in favour of tolerant taxa.

Dr. Dubravka Špoljarić Maronić
Dr. Filip Stevic
Dr. Tanja Žuna Pfeiffer
Guest Editors

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• phytoplankton diversity
• lake steady states
• biotic indicators
• planktonic food webs
• phytoplankton functional groups
• edna metabarcoding
• invasive species
• cyanobacterial blooms
• water quality assessment
• conservation
• plankton and climate change
• ecosystem functioning
• phytoplankton–periphyton interactions

1. Phytoplankton in deep karst lakes: functional biodiversity and main ecological features

 Nikola Hanžek, Mario Šiljeg & Igor Stanković*

Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institute, Ulica Grada Vukovara 220, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia