| Species composition, abundance and seasonal distribution of the phytoplankton of brackish water ecosystems depend not only on salinity but on several other environmental factors too. In stagnant brackish waters (Lake Veere) the easily established stability of the water masses proved to be an ecological masterfactor in relation to phytoplankton development, equaling salinity in importance. In tidal brackish waters (Westerschelde estuary) turbulence acts as an ecological masterfactor in relation to phytoplankton development, dominating salinity in importance within the chosen salinity ranges. |
