Competion relationships among dominant species of phytoplankton in the

Project No 206/06/0462, GA ČR, 2006 - 2008. 

Suitable light and temperature conditions coupled with high nutrient concentrations in water lead to a mass development of cyanobacterial bloom in our reservoirs. Cyanobacterial blooms cause serious problems and their presences markedly impair water quality, produce broad range of toxins, which pose a relevant health risk in recreational and drinking water reservoirs. Although high attention is paid to this problem recently, the decisive mechanisms affected species compositions of particular bloom remain still unclear. Our knowledge about the competition and competitiveness of cyanobacterial and algal dominants is still unsatisfactory.

The proposed project is focused on the study of ecological demands of water bloom dominants and their growth optima, on competition mechanisms among single dominant species of phytoplankton in the reservoirs and particular factors which favor the development of certain species in summer phytoplankton blooms in the laboratory and natural conditions.