The structure of
the food web has a decisive influence on water quality. Quality is especially
determined by availability of plant nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus
compounds), since these control the growth of harmful phytoplanktons (usually
single celled algae and cyanobacteria). Phytoplanktons can considerable
reduce the quality of untreated water (smell, taste, toxic algae) and can
greatly impede the treatment of water in reservoirs. Phytoplankton is the
primary producer of basic nutrients for zooplankters, which is eaten by
other consumers (fish, predators on zooplanktons). The food cycle through
the levels of organism is closed by bacteria which mineralise the biomass
into nutrients (Figure)
WILLMITZER, H., 1995: Biomanipulation zur Sanierung von Seen und Talsperren.
In: Wasserwirtschaft, Wassertechnik 3/95, Berlin, 20-22.
© | Dipl.-Biol.
Hartmut Willmitzer | 31.07. 2000 | Copyright
