TY - JOUR N2 - In water systems, both biologically and chemically synthesized molecules may reduce environmental quality and influence essential ecosystems structure and function. These substances include aldehydes from various sources, also those relates to the activities of primary producers. The focus of the study was vertical distribution of several aliphatic aldehydes and phytoplankton biomass in an urban lake in Poznań (Wielkopolska Lakeland, Poland) under human pressure. Water samples were collected from surface lake to bottom, every 2 m. Plankton was analyzed under inverted and epifluorescence microscopes. The biomass was estimated from microscopic measurements and cell volume of each species. Thirteen aldehydes and acetone were analyzed using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector after derivatization and extraction processes. Aldehydes concentrations varied between 32.7 and 346.2 μg L-1. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and propanal were characterized by the highest concentration both at low and high phytoplankton biomass. Phytoplankton biomass included prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and ranged between 0.25 and 2.94 mg L-1. Cryptophytes and diatoms were often the most important components of phytoplankton communities, although in some cases the haptophytes and dinophytes comprised a much higher proportion. Total aldehyde concentration was significantly correlated with total phytoplankton biomass (r=0.705, p <0.05), and even higher correlation was observed between acetone and phytoplankton biomass (r=0.917). This indicates phytoplankton as an important source of carbonyl compounds in surface waters. Thus, the knowledge of different aspects of their origin and distribution in the lake is important both in ecological research and in water management. L1 - http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/118698/PDF/Archives%20vol%2046%20no%204pp95-103.pdf L2 - http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/118698 PY - 2020 IS - No 4 EP - 103 DO - 10.24425/aep.2020.135768 KW - aldehydes KW - phytoplankton biomass KW - allelochemicals KW - diatoms KW - cryptophytes A1 - Szeląg-Wasielewska, Elżbieta A1 - Dąbrowska, Agata PB - Polish Academy of Sciences VL - vol. 46 DA - 2020.12.15 T1 - Vertical distribution of aldehydes and phytoplankton structure: a case study of urban lake SP - 95 UR - http://www.czasopisma.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/118698 T2 - Archives of Environmental Protection ER -