Phytoplankton communities in ecological assessment of the Southern Bug River upper reaches (Ukraine)

We conducted an environmental assessment for the first time in the upper reaches of the Southern Bug River utilizing data on phytoplankton communities and hydrochemistry. Chlorophyta (40%), Bacillariophyta (19%), and Euglenophyta (18%) were among nine identified divisions of common phytoplankters which included 281 taxa. The results of a statistical comparison of species richness showed that the investigated part of the river can be divided into two parts for follow-up monitoring. Class II-III waters reflect a trophic status equivalent to an oligo- to meso-trophic state. Using algal indicators as well as environmental variables and statistical methods we identified major factors impacting the algal communities, such as phosphate and ammonia.