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Cyanobacteria are a worldwide group of photosynthetic prokaryotes that can cause nuisance blooms in eutrophic waters. It is generally accepted that their resting cells, akinetes, play an important role in the dispersal, recruitment, initiation of blooms and survival under unfavourable conditions, therefore in- formation on the germination, distribution and abundance of akinetes in natural sediments is essential for understanding the ecology and bloom dynamics of N2-fixing cyanobacteria. The present study describes the effect of irradiance on the germination and subsequent growth of N2-fixing filamentous cyanobacteria devel- oped from natural akinete stock in sediment of Lake Balaton (Hungary) with varying phosphorous supply. The research focuses on the invasive Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae the most abundant species of this lake. In the experiments, the germination of ten filamentous N2-fixing cyanobacteria species was observed. The species assemblages of the germinated cyanobacteria populations showed strong light and phosphorus dependence. Anabaena and Anabaenopsis species became dominant in phosphorous-rich conditions, while in phosphorus-deficient environments Aphanizomenon species and C. raciborskii dominated. Among the germinated filaments we have detected Anabaenopsis cunningtonii and Anabaena compacta, which have not been observed in Lake Balaton previously. Our results suggest that among the filamentous hetero- cytic cyanobacteria of this shallow lake the invasive C. raciborskii was the best competitor when phosphorus supply and irradiance were low.

The biomass and composition of the phytoplankton was studied at seven sampling stations located at different water bodies (open water, inner pond and canal) of a large, shallow turbid lake (Lake Fertő, Neusiedlersee). The open water was characterized by picocyanobacteria and meroplanktonic diatoms, the artificial canal by epiphytic diatoms, cryptophytes and chlorophytes. The inner ponds, based on the phytoplankton composition, were positioned between these water bodies. High picoplankton abundance (>10 6 cells.mL −1 ) and predominance (up to 80% contribution to the total phytoplankton biomass) were detected in the open water and the inner ponds, which was hypothesized to be the result of the turbid environment by the suppression of the top down control and by light-limitation. Information on the diversity of the picoplankton in the open water of the lake has been presented first time in this study. Based on molecular analysis (16S rRNA gene and cpcBA -IGS region) the dominant group of picocyanobacteria belonged to the Cyanobium gracile cluster (group A) of the picophytoplankton clade in April. Members of two other picocyanobacterial groups (group B and C) were also detected.

La croissance et la composition cellulaire de C. meneghiniana soumis a des concentrations limitantes en P, N et Si en culture continue a des taux de dilution differents sont discutes. Le contenu cellulaire en carbone, azote et phosphore par cellule ou par unite de volume augmente avec le taux de croissance dans toutes les conditions precitees. Le taux maximum de croissance depend du type de nutriment limitant. Ces valeurs sont tres proches de celles calculees a partir des modeles de Droop, Caperon, Goldman et Monod. Dans le Danube, les concentrations en N et P sont beaucoup plus elevees que les besoins pour la croissance et 1' assimilation de C. meneghiniana. Cela indique que ni N ni P ne sont limitants pour la croissance de C. meneghiniana en milieu naturel.

A strain of Cyclotella meneghiniana was isolated from the River Danube. The optimum irradiance and temperature for growth were determined in batch cultures. The optimum temperature for growth was 25 °C. The estimated saturated irradiance was near 125 µE m-2 s-1. The calculated Ik for growth and photosynthesis were 30 ± 3 and 44 ± 6 µE m-2 s-1 respectively. A continuous culture technique was used to test the growth and cell composition at the transition state between batch, nutrient sufficiency, and a low rate of nutrient supply. Algal response was characterized by high intracellular N and C with negative growth rate. At a low dilution rate (0.06 d-1), the continuous culture theory was not followed. This critical rate is characterized by low chlorophyll-a content per cell and may depend on the mode of nutrition.