Phytoplankton metacommunities are intensely studied for ponds and lakes, less studies are found for riverine landscapes and their hydrological dynamics. Evidently, phytoplankton metacommunities are impacted by hydrological dynamics and local and regional factors. Thus, to gain a deeper insight into the role of mentioned factors driving phytoplankton community composition, its diversity and functioning, we investigated metacommunity patterns of phytoplankton in riverine landscapes. We hypothesized that the exchange of phytoplankton species between hydrologically connected waterbodies is higher than the distribution and diversity patterns formed by local habitat conditions in riverine landscapes. We studied the spatial complexity and the similarity of the communities of phytoplankton with regard to hydrologically connected waterbodies emphasising habitat diversity in the floodplain area according to temporal (seasonal) scale. Twenty-four sites from different water bodies along the Danube River, including floodplain sites and main channel sites, were studied for one year under different hydrological conditions. Plankton samples were collected to define algal species distribution and associated local habitat factors and regional factors related to different connectivity and network properties were included. The result of the study will complement existing ecological models in riverine landscapes applied to species occurrence and distribution.

Primary Presenter: Olena Bilous, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (olena.bilous@boku.ac.at)

Authors:

Olena Bilous, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Inst of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Inst of Hydrobiology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine  (olena.bilous@boku.ac.at)

Elisabeth Bondar-Kunze, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management  (elisabeth.bondar@boku.ac.at)

Andrea Funk, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management  (andrea.funk@boku.ac.at)

Marie-Christine Moser, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management  (marie.moser@boku.ac.at)

Thomas Hein, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management  (thomas.hein@boku.ac.at)