Lake Chrissie represents a shallow, brackish, inland water body which can be described as a
lake on the basis of its size and permanent character.
A relatively small amount of algological sutdies have been done on inland water bodies of
Southern Africa. The present study, therefore, contributes to our knowledge regarding the
occurrence and distribution of algal species in South African waters.
Algal communities in the littoral zone of Lake Chrissie (represented primarily by brackish
water conditions) as well as in inflowing streams and springs were regularly sampled over a
period of two years. The different algal species in each sample were identified and studied
in the laboratory with the aid of the light microscope. Counts of the various identified
species were made, the results of which were used to estimate the percent composition of
the communities. Superficial observations were also made on some environmental
conditions.
The study resulted in the identification of some 1 100 algal species in the Lake Chrissie
water complex (comprising fresh, brackish and so-called mixed water environments).
Representatives of the following taxa were found at the various sampling stations. The number
of species per taxon is represented in brackets. : Cyanophyceae (253), Euglenophyceae (169),
Pyrrophyceae (28), Chrysophyceae (9), Xanthophyceae (10) and Chlorophyceae (665).
According to the literature, about 50, 20, 2, 1, 4 and 240 respectively, have been known to
occur in South Africa. Two new Cyanophyceae species, one variaty, three new Chlorophyceae
species and two new Chlorphyceae variaties are being described. Representatives of the Cyanophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Pyrrophyceae, and
Chrysophyceae were found in brackish water environments. The composition of the algal
communities varied according to the location of the littoral area (northern or southern banks)
and the season. Short term freshening of the littoral water at some sampling stations
resulted in an increase in the number of algal species present. Fewer algal species (46)
occurred in the southern littoral area than in the northern littoral area (1 07). The
brackish water communities were dominated by benthic Stigeoclonium species. The northern
littoral area was dominated by S. tenue, the eastern and western littoral areas by S. /ubricum,
while the southern littoral area was dominated by S. aestivale.
The fresh water environments are diverse in algal species and were represented by Cyanophyceae,
Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Pyrrophyceae, Chrysophyceae, and Xanthophyceae. The
dominant algal populations consisted of filamentous species, namely Mougeotia/Oebarya sp.,
Oedogonium hirni and Staurastrum orbiculare var. depressum.
At a few sampling stations, which originally were thought to be brackish in nature, fresh
water conditions existed, for apparently long enough periods during the rainy season
resulting in algal communities sometimes dominated by fresh water species and sometimes
dominated by brackish water species. Observations based on these communities made it
possible to conclude that the Xanthophyceae and certain Desmidiaceae representatives could
be regarded as indicators of freshwater conditions.
Superficial observations on environmental conditions indicated that pH and temperature
played an important role in changes and differences in the composition of the algal
communities of the Lake Chrissie water complex.
Chrissiesmeer verteenwoordig 'n vlak brakwater binnelandse watermasse wat vanwee sy grootte
en standhoudendheid as 'n meer beskryf kan word.
Betreklik min algologiese studies is tot dusver op binnelandse watermasses van Suidelike
Afrika gedoen sodat hierdie studie 'n bydrae tot kennis aangaande die voorkoms en verspreiding
van algsoorte in Suid-Afrikaanse waters maak.
Alggemeenskappe van die oewersone van Chrissiesmeer self (verteenwoordig hoofsaaklik brakwatertoestande)
sowel as van inlope en fonteine is oor 'n periode van twee jaar gereeld
versamel. Verskillende algsoorte van elke versameling is in die laboratorium met behulp van
die ligmikroskoop gei'dentifiseer en bestudeer. Tellings is van die verskiilende gei'dentifiseerde
soorte gemaak, die resultate waarvan vir die berekening van die persentasie samestelling van
die gemeenskappe gebruik is. Redelik beperkte waarnemings is ook op sommige omgewingstoestande
wat by die verskillende versamelpunte geheers het, gemaak.
Die studie het aan die lig gebring dat daar ongeveer 1 100 algsoorte in die water van die
Chrissiesmeerwaterkompleks (bestaande uit vars- brak- en sogenaamde gemengde wateromgewings)
voorgekom het.
Verteenwoordigers van die volgende taksons is by die verskillende versamelpunte aangetref (die
getal tussen hakies verteenwoordig die aantal spesies wat tot die betrokke takson behoort).
Cyanophyceae (253), Euglenophyceae (169), Pyrrophyceae (28), Chrysophyceae (9),
Xanthophyceae (10), en Chlorophyceae (665). In dieselfde volgorde is slegs ongeveer 50, 20,
2, 1, 4 en 240 soorte reeds voorheen volgens die literatuur wat nagegaan is in Suid-Afrika
aangetref. Twee nuwe Cyanophyceae-spesies en een varieteit, drie nuwe Chlorophyceae spesies
is gevind en beskryf terwyl twee nuwe Chlorophyceae varieteite ook beskryf is. Verteenwoordigers van die Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Pyrrophyceae en
Chrysophyceae is in brakwateromgewings aangetref. Die samestelling van die alggemeenskappe
het volgens oewer (byvoorbeeld noordelik en suidelik) van seisoen tot seisoen gewissel. Kortstondige
vervarsing van die oewerwater by sommige versamelpunte het 'n vermeerdering van
die teenwoordige algsoorte tot gevolg gehad. Die suidelike oewer was armer aan algsoorte
(46) as die noordelike oewer ( 140). Die brakwatergemeenskappe is deur bentiese
Stigeoclonium-soorte oorheers. Die noordelike oewer is deur Stigeoclonium tenne oorheers,
terwyl die oostelike en westelike oewers deur S. lubricum en die suidelike ower deur
S. aestivate oorheers is.
Die varswateromgewings is baie ryk aan algsoorte wat deur Cyanophyceae-, Chlorophyceae-,
Euglenophyceae-, Pyrrophyceae-, Chrysophyceae- en Xanthophyceae-spesies verteenwoordig is.
Die dominante algbevolkings is deur die filamentvormige soorte, naamlik Mougeotia/Debarya sp.,
Oedogonium hirni en Staurastrum orbiculare van depressum, uitgemaak.
By enkele versamelpunte wat vanwee hulle posisie aanvanklik as brakwaterpunte beskou is, het
varswatertoestande gepaardgaande met die reenseisoen klaarblyklik vir 'n lang genoeg periode
geheers sodat die alggemeenskap soms oorwegend uit brakwatersoorte en soms oorwegend uit
varswatersoorte bestaan het. Op grond van waarnemings wat op hierdie gemeenskappe gemaak
is, is afgelei dat Xanthophyceae- en sommige Desmidiaceae-verteenwoordigers as aanwysers van
varswatertoestande beskou kan word.
Die oppervlakkige waarnemings wat op omgewingstoestande gemaak is dui daarop dat pH- en
temperatuurtoestande 'n belangrike rol by veranderings en verskille in die algbevolkingsamestelling
van die Chrissiesmeerwaterkompleks speel.
