6 Assay of Some Common Hydrobiological
Techniques
Above, we have agreed that the final goal of the hydrobiological study of a
water basin or its definite site is the characterization and quantification of the
basic structural and functional parameters of its ecosystem, to be able evaluate its present state, its potential biological productivity, and its capacity for
self-purification. The complex of research problems and directions involved
in its successful resolution include radioisotopic methods, needed mostly for
quantification of dynamics, and also chemical methods used for characterization of the environment, nutrient supply, etc., as well as methods of chorology
and hydro biology required to study the ecosystem's structural parameters.
Success in the use of radioisotopes for the realization of the above common
goal will depend, in this case, upon the proper selection of methods used
in the neighboring fields of hydrobiology, especially those applied for the
quantification of the density of various groups of organisms and their spatial
distribution. In this connection, the reliability of some common non isotopic
hydrobiological techniques is discussed below, and helpful advice is given,
based mainly on personal experience, on their use.
6.1 Techniques for the Quantification Density of
Microplankton Populations
In holistic hydro biological studies, the main groups of microplankton should
be subjected to the obligatory quantification: phytoplankton (including its
nano- and pi co fractions), bacterioplankton, planktonic ciliates (including
their nanofraction), nanoheterotrophs (zooflagellates + colorless dinoflagellates), and multicellular microzooplankton (basically rotifers + larvaceans).
Because some of the groups listed above have a rather large size scale, their
quantification can be done using a combination of complementary methods.
6.1.1 Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton populations are represented by a great variety of micro- nanoand picoorganisms with very varied cell structures, and varying durability
against mechanical impact or chemical fixatives. The size scale of cells within
Techniques
Above, we have agreed that the final goal of the hydrobiological study of a
water basin or its definite site is the characterization and quantification of the
basic structural and functional parameters of its ecosystem, to be able evaluate its present state, its potential biological productivity, and its capacity for
self-purification. The complex of research problems and directions involved
in its successful resolution include radioisotopic methods, needed mostly for
quantification of dynamics, and also chemical methods used for characterization of the environment, nutrient supply, etc., as well as methods of chorology
and hydro biology required to study the ecosystem's structural parameters.
Success in the use of radioisotopes for the realization of the above common
goal will depend, in this case, upon the proper selection of methods used
in the neighboring fields of hydrobiology, especially those applied for the
quantification of the density of various groups of organisms and their spatial
distribution. In this connection, the reliability of some common non isotopic
hydrobiological techniques is discussed below, and helpful advice is given,
based mainly on personal experience, on their use.
6.1 Techniques for the Quantification Density of
Microplankton Populations
In holistic hydro biological studies, the main groups of microplankton should
be subjected to the obligatory quantification: phytoplankton (including its
nano- and pi co fractions), bacterioplankton, planktonic ciliates (including
their nanofraction), nanoheterotrophs (zooflagellates + colorless dinoflagellates), and multicellular microzooplankton (basically rotifers + larvaceans).
Because some of the groups listed above have a rather large size scale, their
quantification can be done using a combination of complementary methods.
6.1.1 Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton populations are represented by a great variety of micro- nanoand picoorganisms with very varied cell structures, and varying durability
against mechanical impact or chemical fixatives. The size scale of cells within