Study on the phytoplankton and seasonal variation of Lake Simenit (Terme- Samsun, Turkey)

Abstract

The composition and seasonal variations of phytoplankton in Lake Simenit were studied between June 2000 to may 2001. 175 taxa belonging to the Cyanoprokaryota, Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cryptophyta, Dinophyta, Euglenophyta and Xanthophyta divisions were identified. In the phytoplankton species belonging to the genera of Chaetoceros, Cyclotella, Cocconeis, Scenedesmus, Anabaena, Euglena, Trachelomonas caused water blooms in certain months. The Lake water was light alkaline and it was varied between hardness and very hardness water groups. The temperature and nutrient levels affected the composition and seasonal variations of phytoplankton.