Palygorskite-bearing claystones and mudstones were deposited in a salt lake in the middle and lower parts of the Neogene Baiyanghe Formation in the Yangtaiwatan Basin, China. The petrological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the sediments were investigated to determine the factors controlling palygorskite formation. The palygorskite claystones and mudstones have distinctly varying mineral compositions. The claystones are composed of detrital minerals, palygorskite and illite, whereas the mudstones consist mainly of mixed-layer illite/smectite and illite. The palygorskite crystals were intact with sharp edges and interwoven with other minerals, indicating an authigenic origin. The chemical characteristics indicate that the palygorskite claystones in the middle part of the Baiyanghe Formation were deposited in a salt lake environment in an arid and hot climate. As the salinity of the lake gradually increased, the detrital minerals such as quartz, feldspar, dolomite and detrital clay minerals dissolved in the alkaline medium, thus providing Si4+, Mg2+ and Al3+ for the crystallization of palygorskite. The palygorskite coexists with certain amounts of detrital quartz and feldspar with limited roundness and sorting, indicating that the shallow lake of the basin under an oxidation environment may represent a favourable environment for the crystallization of palygorskite.

Diel dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements can be used to estimate water metabolism of aquatic systems, in particular, lakes, lagoons and streams in terms of gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Reco) and net ecosystem production (NEP). One of the main assumptions in the calculation of lake metabolism is that Reco is the same for daytime (Rdaytime) and nighttime (Rdarkhr). This study aimed at testing the equal Rdaytime and Rdarkhr assumption to estimate GPP, Reco and NEP in a littoral zone of a temperate shallow lake (Lake Yeniçağa) in northwestern Turkey with and without the assumption. Based on the equal Rdarkhr and Rdaytime assumption, values calculated for GPP and Rdaytime were different than those based on the different Rdarkhr and Rdaytime assumption (P<0.001). GPP was lower by 7.5% in July, 49.6% in September and 14.9% in October, while Reco was lower by 5.9% in July and 55.8% in September. GPP was higher by 8.9% in August and 55% in November, while Reco was higher by 7.8% in August and 23.9% in November.

Seasonal dynamics of zooplankton were investigated in three different habitats of the shallow and temperate Kačležský pond (Czech Republic) during 2003–2004. The studied habitats included the limnetic zone and two littoral zones, each dominated by a different type of emergent macrophyte, reed grass (Glyceria maxima) and common reed (Phragmites australis). Species richness (calculated as number of taxa) was higher in both littoral zones than in the limnetic zone. The seasonal development of limnetic and littoral zooplankton communities differed. In contrast to the two littoral zones, close correlation with chlorophyll-a concentration was found for rotifers and cladocerans in the limnetic zone. Moreover, cladocerans inhabiting littoral areas (mainly Bosmina longirostris) reached annual maxima during spring when chlorophyll-a concentrations were low.

Performance of the prescribed gear of the European Standard (i.e. 1.5 m deep Nordic gillnet) was compared with gillnets deep enough to cover the whole water column (WWCG) for characterizing fish assemblages in a large and shallow lake (Lake Balaton, Hungary). Differences in species number, relative abundance and biomass, and length distribution of fish were examined in both inshore and offshore habitats of the lake. Nordic gillnet samples provided comparable information to that of WWCG for both species richness and abundance and biomass of benthic species. However, substantial differences were found between the two net types in the representation of pelagic fish species (i.e. bleak, razor fish and asp). Overall, the WWCG provided different information with more precise (less variable) data on fish assemblage structure than the Nordic gillnet. Results suggest that identification of neither horizontal nor vertical gradients in within lake fish assemblage structure can be guaranteed with the Nordic gillnet alone even in such shallow lakes, like Lake Balaton. It was concluded that benthic Nordic gillnet samples should be complemented with information on fish occurring in the upper water layers (i.e. pelagic species) even in very shallow lakes either by using pelagic or floating gillnets or by whole water column gillnetting.

The distribution and overall fish abundance, and biomass of fish populations in the open water of meso-eutrophic Lake Balatonwere studied in 2003-2007 using hydroacoustics and gill nets. Gillnet catches revealed that bleak (53-76 %) common bream (8-42%), white bream and razor fish (2-18 %) dominated in the open water of the lake. Comparisons of target strength distribution fromhydroacoustics and length distribution from the gillnets showed that the fishing gear did not quantitatively catch the smallest andlargest size groups of fish. Mean acoustic fish abundance and biomass fluctuated significantly between both basins and years. Thebiomass of fish populations reflects the trophic gradient along the longitudinal axis of the lake (min-max.: 89-181 kg ha-1) showinga decreasing trend with years. The mean acoustic fish biomass was significantly higher in the eutrophic western basin, comparedwith mesotrophic eastern and middle ones.

A limnological study was performed out, over 8 years from 1979 to 1986, in a shallow recently created sand-pit lake,Lake Créteil (Paris suburb, France). The lake is mainly supplied by phreatic waters. Typical of shallow waters, thermal stratification which occurred from May to October was intermittently broken by wind, leading to high seasonal fluctuations and allowing a reoxygenation of the total water column. The interannual development of the lake was characterized by a regular increase in transparency (from 1 m in 1979 to 2.7 m in 1985) which was partly due to not only stabilization of the bottom sediment and the banks, but also to a reduction of the biological component. A decrease in chlorophyll a concentrations resulted from nutrient diversion of domestic inputs collected through the rainwater pipe cominginto the lake. The rapid restoration of water quality shows that this small artificial lake is very sensitive to human interventions.