15th
 anniversary
 of WNP

  

WIGRY NATIONAL PARK

  

 Introduction
 Goals and motives
 for protection
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 and their surroundings
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 Algae
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 Invertebrates
 Vertebrates
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Special issue

of "WIGRY"
quarterly
magazine



Webdesign: 
KAJA
 
2004

  

  

     

Lubosza Wesołowska

   

Algae

  


Stonewort (Chara contraria)
Phot. P. J. Szpygiel

  

  

  

  

Algae are the smallest organisms, numbered among plant life, living in water. Algae can be unicellular or multicellular organisms, they create filaments, colonies or thallus.
They are of various shapes and colours. They have a cytoblast and chloroplasts. They live in all places where there is water, even in vestigial quantities. They can be found in sand, snow or on tree bark. They are an important link in the matter cycle in nature. Many of them are food for animals, e.g. some species of infusorians, turbellarian worms and rotifers feed on algae.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  


Cryptomonas sp. - the most abundant species in the winter
and early spring phytoplankton of the Wigry Lake.
Phot. L. Wesołowska

  

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

During 100 years of irregular, often random research into algae in the area of the Wigry National Park, over 600 taxa of these organisms have been found. Phytoplankton (algae suspended in water) is researched best. The stoneworts are the biggest algae and highest organized in structure. They grow in clean, mesotrophic waters of the Park forming tufts or underwater meadows. They belong to our biggest freshwater algae. Beautiful stonewort meadows are found e.g. in lakes Dlugie and Biale. Mesotrophic basins with underwater stonewort meadows – Charetea are under special habitat protection (Habitat Directive of the UE).

  

Apart from stoneworts, Chlorophyceae can be seen most often with the unaided eye. Some fish feed on Spirogyra filaments.

  

  

  

  

 

  

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