Assessing phytoplankton structure and spatio-temporal dynamics in a freshwater ecosystem using a powerful multiway statistical analysis

Phytoplankton dynamics and diversity are particularly difficult to analyze, especially when (i) the scale of the analysis is situated at the species level, (ii) such a diversity is high, (iii) the study covers several seasons, and (iv) sampling has been performed at many stations of the ecosystem. Fortunately, some powerful statistical methods have been developed with which each species identified can be considered in detailed spatio-temporal analyses. The Partial Triadic Analysis, a method issued from the STATIS family, was applied on a dataset corresponding to 6 stations of the largest French reservoir (Reservoir Marne) sampled 22 times over two years (2006–2007) between March and September. Three key sampling periods that were consistent with those exhibited with the Plankton Ecology Group model (i.e. early spring, late spring–early summer, late summer–early autumn) were unambiguously recognized, with some specific species associated with each of them. Furthermore, a potential reference sampling station was identified among all stations investigated, an information very relevant to both scientists and water managers. It remains that 3 other stations could also be monitored, regularly or from time to time, because of specific phytoplankton characteristics.