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<p>Algae are primary producers, driving energy transfer and nutrient cycling while serving as indicators of environmental change, with seasonal shifts influenced by temperature, nutrient levels, and light availability. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for monitoring water quality, ecosystem health, and the risk of algal blooms, especially in fluctuating brackish water environments. This study aimed to examine seasonal changes in phytoplankton communities in Kallar Kahar Lake and to identify the key environmental factors shaping their diversity and composition. Algal samples were collected from 10 sites in Kallar Kahar Lake using a stratified random approach in different season. Surface and benthic algae were preserved for taxonomic identification via morphological and microscopic analyses. Water quality parameters, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, Total dissolved solids, turbidity and nutrients were measured. A total of 190 algal taxa were identified, with Cyanobacteria and diatoms exhibiting the highest species richness. Cyanobacteria (<i>Microcystis aeruginosa</i>, <i>Chroococcus minor</i>) dominated in summer and autumn due to high temperatures and nutrient influx, while diatoms (<i>Achnanthes submarina</i>, <i>Nitzschia amphibia</i>) were more prevalent in winter, influenced by cooler temperatures and higher dissolved oxygen levels. Nutrient availability, particularly phosphate and nitrate, strongly shaped community composition, with elevated summer levels promoting Cyanobacterial blooms. Diversity was highest in summer and lowest in spring, reflecting seasonal transitions. <i>Chroococcus minor</i> was consistently present across all seasons, highlighting its adaptability. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients emerged as key drivers of algal succession, emphasizing the need for ecosystem management strategies that account for seasonal variability to mitigate harmful blooms and maintain water quality. The study also offers a foundation for future research on algal dynamics and their environmental drivers in similar ecosystems globally.</p>

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Seasonal shifts in algal communities driven by environmental gradients in Kallar Kahar Lake, Pakistan

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月16日

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  • Mubashrah Munir,
  • Rahmatullah Qureshi,
  • Fahim Arshad,
  • Asma Jabeen,
  • Abeer Hashem,
  • Graciela Dolores Avila-Quezada,
  • Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah,
  • Muhammad Waheed

摘要

Algae are primary producers, driving energy transfer and nutrient cycling while serving as indicators of environmental change, with seasonal shifts influenced by temperature, nutrient levels, and light availability. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for monitoring water quality, ecosystem health, and the risk of algal blooms, especially in fluctuating brackish water environments. This study aimed to examine seasonal changes in phytoplankton communities in Kallar Kahar Lake and to identify the key environmental factors shaping their diversity and composition. Algal samples were collected from 10 sites in Kallar Kahar Lake using a stratified random approach in different season. Surface and benthic algae were preserved for taxonomic identification via morphological and microscopic analyses. Water quality parameters, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, Total dissolved solids, turbidity and nutrients were measured. A total of 190 algal taxa were identified, with Cyanobacteria and diatoms exhibiting the highest species richness. Cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa, Chroococcus minor) dominated in summer and autumn due to high temperatures and nutrient influx, while diatoms (Achnanthes submarina, Nitzschia amphibia) were more prevalent in winter, influenced by cooler temperatures and higher dissolved oxygen levels. Nutrient availability, particularly phosphate and nitrate, strongly shaped community composition, with elevated summer levels promoting Cyanobacterial blooms. Diversity was highest in summer and lowest in spring, reflecting seasonal transitions. Chroococcus minor was consistently present across all seasons, highlighting its adaptability. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients emerged as key drivers of algal succession, emphasizing the need for ecosystem management strategies that account for seasonal variability to mitigate harmful blooms and maintain water quality. The study also offers a foundation for future research on algal dynamics and their environmental drivers in similar ecosystems globally.