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River-lake system as mosaic
pattern of landscape patches and their transition zones (ecotones) |
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Anna Hillbricht-Ilkowska and Teresa Węgleńska
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Centre for Ecological Research (former Institute of Ecology),
Polish Academy of Sciences, Dziekanów Leśny, 05-092 Łomianki Poland , e-mail:
ahillbricht@post.pl |
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Abstract:
A river-lake system (i.e. a river flowing through the lakes) can be perceived
as a system of lentic (lake) and lotic (river sections) landscape “patches”
and the transitory zones between them. In this system transport and exchange of matter and biological
information take place. Taking the Krutynia river (Masurian Lakeland, Poland)
and its lakes as an example,transport of different biologically active
compounds ( like phosphorus) and non-active substances (like chlorides) was
characterized. Phosphorus retention was estimated in successive “patches” of
the system. The biotic structure and
function of the river-lake-river transitory zones were described. They
are the places where the particles
selection and sedimentation of matter transported in the system take place as
well as they are the sites where the selection and exchange of planktonic
organisms of different size and reproduction strategy occur. |
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Key words: river-lake
system, landscape, ecotone |