Equilibrium/steady-state concept in phytoplankton ecology

This paper summarises the outcomes of the 13th Workshop of the International Association of Phytoplankton Taxonomy and Ecology (IAP). The authors mostly addressed their contributions on the following topics: the effect of trophic state on the attainment of a steady-state; the establishment of equilibria in deep and shallow lakes; the role of spatial heterogeneity, disturbance, and stress in the establishment of equilibrium assemblages; the mechanisms leading to the steady state; the frequency and longevity of equilibrium phases, and the role of morphological and physiological plasticity of phytoplankton in maintaining the (apparently) same populations under different environmental conditions. The composition of steady-state assemblages is compared to that of phytoplankton functional groups (coda). Those functional associations recognised as steady-state assemblages appear to be strongly K-determined in many instances.