Hydrobiological Journal

Phytoepiphyton of Macrophytes of Various Ecological Groups of the Kiev Reservoir

ABSTRACT

The performed investigations have shown that in the Kiev Reservoir the species richness and abundance of epiphytic algae occurring on higher aquatic plants of various ecological groups essentially differed. On submerged plants, the number of epiphytic algae species was 1.3 and 2.0 times higher than that on half-submerged and plants with floating leaves, respectively. On submerged plants, the average numbers of phytoepiphyton were one order of magnitude higher than those on half-submerged and plants with floating leaves. In this case, on submerged plants its average biomass was one order of magnitude higher than that on plants with floating leaves and two orders of magnitude higher than that on half-submerged plants. The taxonomic structure and species composition of phytoepiphyton were closely similar on half-submerged and submerged plants and somewhat differed on plants with floating leaves. It is underlined that the peculiarities of the distribution of epiphytic algae on higher aquatic plants of various ecological groups should be taken into account in assessing the ecological state of water bodies by the method of bioindication.