Determination of Correlationship between Hydrological Residence Time and Phytoplankton Dynamics in Lake Kinneret, Israel

Abstract

The present paper is aimed at an attempt to correlate phytoplankton dynamics to hydrological traits and use the nutrient as a speculative tool for this linkage. The selected parameter from the hydrological trait is Water Residence Time, which is obviously integrated inside the entire water balance frame. Long-term data record of Phytoplankton (Peridinium, Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Diatoms) dynamics in Lake Kinneret was  evaluated  comparatively  with hydrological parameters. The hydrological features were found to be correlated with algal biomass distribution. Consequently, the best representor of the hydrological trait, Residence Time, is suggested to be a key parameter controlling algal dynamics.