SEASONAL-VARIATION IN COMPOSITION AND PRODUCTION OF PLANKTONIC COMMUNITIES IN THE LOWER RIVER RHINE

1. The composition and activity of phytoplankton, zooplankton and bact erioplankton in the lower River Rhine were measured in 1990 as part of an international biological inventory of the river. A seasonal study was carried out on two stations: one in the river mouth (km 1019) and one at the German/Dutch border (km 863). 2. High densities of phytopla nkton (with up to 140 mug chlorophyll a l-1) and occasional depletion of dissolved silicate were observed at the upstream station. Phosphate concentrations were also lowered during blooms. 3. Phytoplankton bloo ms, dominated by a few species of centric diatoms, declined one order of magnitude during downstream transport. During non-bloom conditions (low) algal densities were maintained during transport, or increased s lightly, indicating the suitability of the river reach for algal growt h. 4. Bacterial cell number and production (measured by the H-3-thymid ine method) showed a broad summer maximum with activity peaks (0.5 nm thymidine h-1) coincident with declining phytoplankton blooms. Winter values of bacterial production (0.02 - 0.05 nm h-1) were substantial, probably as a result of allochthonous input of organic matter. 5. Roti fers and crustaceans made up the greater part of the zooplankton biovo lume, but at the upstream station the contribution of Dreissena larvae and rhizopods was also substantial. High zooplankton biovolumes, of o ver 500 x 10(6) mum3 l-1, were observed only during the phytoplankton spring bloom. 6. Quantitative relationships between the high phytoplan kton production (2.1 - 3.4 g C m-2 day-1), the high bacterial substrat e uptake (0.5 -1 g C m-2 day-1), and grazing were analysed for the gro wing season 1990. Algal grazing by metazoan herbivores was substantial only during spring, while the role of phagotrophic microplankton and cell lysis were indicated as major factors responsible for the downstr eam decline of phytoplankton blooms in the lower Rhine.