Morpho-functional traits of phytoplankton functional groups: a review

• Published in: Biológia Vol. 79; no. 7; pp. 1983 - 1998
• Main Authors: Welbara, Demtew Etisa, Gebre-Meskel, Demeke Kifle, Hailu, Tadesse Fetahi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.07.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abiotic factors; Algae; Allelopathy; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotic factors; Cell Biology; Chlorophyll; Cyanobacteria; Ecologists; Ecology; Ecosystem assessment; Environmental conditions; Equilibrium; Freshwater environments; Functional groups; Life Sciences; Macrophytes; Microbiology; Mixing processes; Morphology; Motility; Nutrient deficiency; Physiology; Phytoplankton; Plankton; Plant Sciences; Predator-prey interactions; Review; Vertical migrations; Zoology; Zooplankton; Phytoplankton functional groups; Assemblages; Abiotic factor; Biotic factor
• ISSN: 1336-9563; 0006-3088; 1336-9563
• DOI: 10.1007/s11756-024-01669-7

This paper reviews more than 40 journal articles that describe the traits of phytoplankton functional groups (FGs) and their responses to biotic and abiotic factors in freshwater environments. Scholars have used different approaches with varying assumptions, making it necessary to subject the available information to a modest review. The paper sheds light on the potential responses of phytoplankton assemblages to biotic factors such as allelopathy, vertical migration, prey-predator interactions, macrophytes dominance, zooplankton grazing, and abiotic factors such as nutrient deficiency, turbulence and mixing processes, light, and temperature. It also highlights the status of studies on phytoplankton FGs in Ethiopian water bodies. While FGs have relevant applications in ecosystem assessment and monitoring, the difficulties faced are briefly discussed.