Nitrogen regulation of algal biomass, productivity, and composition in shallow mountain lakes, Snowy Range, Wyoming, USA

2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
pp. 1256-1268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koren R Nydick ◽  
Brenda Moraska Lafrancois ◽  
Jill S Baron ◽  
Brett M Johnson

We investigated the effects of increased nitrate (NO3), alone and in combination with phosphorus (P), on phytoplankton, epilithon, and epipelon in shallow lakes of the Snowy Range, Wyoming, using two enclosure experiments during early and late summer. Phytoplankton responded strongly to N and N + P, but not to P, with increased cell density, chlorophyll a, and photosynthesis and shifts in composition from chrysophytes to cyanophytes, chlorophytes, and diatoms. Zooplankton density and biomass were unaltered despite the additional phytoplankton stock, probably as the result of poor food quality. In the late summer, algae on tiles responded to N and N + P additions with greater chlorophyll a and increases in cyanophyte and chlorophyte density. Algae on sediment dominated whole-enclosure algal biomass but were spatially variable and responded insignificantly to nutrients. Consequently, N controlled productivity and community composition of phytoplankton and algae on hard substrates but had less impact on ecosystem algal biomass because of the large pool of nutrient-sufficient sediment algae. Phytoplankton were more photosynthetically efficient than the benthos, however, such that primary productivity did shift more toward the water column.

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 2155-2163 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. M. Gray

Differences between nearshore and offshore phytoplankton biomass and composition were evident in Lake Ontario in 1982. Phytoplankton biomass was characterized by multiple peaks which ranged over three orders of magnitude. Perhaps as a consequence of the three times higher current velocities at the northshore station, phytoplankton biomass ranged from 0.09 to 9.00 g∙m−3 compared with 0.10 to 2.40 g∙m−3 for the midlake station. Bacillariophyceae was the dominant group at the northshore station until September when Cyanophyta contributed most to the biomass (83%). Although Bacillariophyceae was the principal component of the spring phytoplankton community at the midlake station, phytoflagellates (49%) and Chlorophyceae (25%) were responsible for summer biomass, with the Chlorophyceae expanding to 80% in the fall. The seasonal pattern of epilimnetic chlorophyll a correlated with temperature. While chlorophyll a concentrations were similar to values from 1970 and 1972, algal biomass had declined and a number of eutrophic species (Melosira binderana, Stephanodiscus tenuis, S. hantzschii var. pusilla, and S. alpinus) previously found were absent in 1982.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1788
Author(s):  
Thanh-Tri Do ◽  
Binh-Nguyen Ong ◽  
Tuan-Loc Le ◽  
Thanh-Cong Nguyen ◽  
Bich-Huy Tran-Thi ◽  
...  

In the production of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis, the process of growing algal biomass in the vegetative green stage is an indispensable step in both suspended and immobilized cultivations. The green algal biomass is usually cultured in a suspension under a low light intensity. However, for astaxanthin accumulation, the microalgae need to be centrifuged and transferred to a new medium or culture system, a significant difficulty when upscaling astaxanthin production. In this research, a small-scale angled twin-layer porous substrate photobioreactor (TL-PSBR) was used to cultivate green stage biomass of H. pluvialis. Under low light intensities of 20–80 µmol photons m−2·s−1, algae in the biofilm consisted exclusively of non-motile vegetative cells (green palmella cells) after ten days of culturing. The optimal initial biomass density was 6.5 g·m−2, and the dry biomass productivity at a light intensity of 80 µmol photons m−2·s−1 was 6.5 g·m−2·d−1. The green stage biomass of H. pluvialis created in this small-scale angled TL-PSBR can be easily harvested and directly used as the source of material for the inoculation of a pilot-scale TL-PSBR for the production of astaxanthin.


1983 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Prepas

Total dissolved solids (TDS) and chlorophyll a were not related in 25 lakes which were all off the Precambrian Shield. Both on-shield and off-shield lakes were included in the previous reports which showed a significant relationship between TDS and productivity. When data from on-shield and off-shield lakes were analyzed separately, there was no significant positive relationship between TDS and lake biomass or productivity. It was also shown that mean depth ([Formula: see text]) was as good a predictor of fish production as the TDS: [Formula: see text] ratio, the morphoedaphic index.Key words: TDS, biomass, productivity, morphoedaphic index, chlorophyll a, lakes


1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Town ◽  
D. S. Mavinic ◽  
B. Moore

Urban encroachment and intensive agricultural activity within the Serpentine–Nicomekl watershed (near Vancouver, B.C.) have caused a series of fish (salmon) kills on the Serpentine River since 1980. Low dissolved oxygen was responsible for these kills. This field project investigated some of the dynamic chemical and biological relationships within the river, as well as the use of an instream aerator as a temporary, in situ, water quality improvement measure. Weekly sampling for a 6-month period during the latter half of 1985 established a solid data base for deriving and interpreting meaningful interrelationships. A strong correlation between chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen levels before the algae die-off supported the hypothesis that algae blooms dying in the fall could create a serious oxygen demand. Because of these environmental conditions, the river is unable to sustain healthy dissolved oxygen levels during this period. As such, a prototype, 460 m artificial aeration line was designed, installed, and monitored to evaluate its potential for alleviating low dissolved oxygen conditions and improving overall water quality during the critical fall period.The instream aerator ran continuously for over 2 months, starting in September 1985. Despite better-than-expected weather conditions (i.e., cool, wet weather) and relatively high dissolved oxygen levels during the fall of 1985, the data base appeared to support the use of this prototype aeration unit as a means of "upgrading" a stretch of an urban river subject to periodic, low dissolved oxygen levels. As a result, a 2-year follow-up study and river monitoring was initiated. In both 1986 and 1987, late summer and early fall river conditions resulted in the potential for serious salmon kills, due to higher-than-normal river temperatures and very low dissolved oxygen. In both instances, the instream aerator prevented such fish kills in a key stretch of the river. Expansion of the system to include other critical stretches of the Serpentine and other urban river systems, near Vancouver, is being considered. Key words: algae, aerator, chlorophyll a, eutrophic, fish kills, instream aeration, river improvement, urban river.


2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 1291-1302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helder Cunha Pereira ◽  
Norman Allott ◽  
Catherine Coxon

This paper compares, for the first time, nutrient levels and chlorophyll a measured in a set of seasonal lakes with those reported for permanent lakes in the literature. Twenty-two turloughs (karstic seasonal lakes) in western Ireland were sampled monthly from the onset of flooding (October) until they dried out (6 to 9 months). The turloughs showed similar levels of nutrients and chlorophyll a to those reported for Irish and international lakes. Chlorophyll a peaked between November and February in the majority of turloughs, sometimes with values higher than those measured in mesotrophic lakes in summer. A significant log-linear regression was found between total phosphorus and chlorophyll a, which suggests P limitation of algal biomass in the majority of the turloughs. The regression characteristics were not significantly different than those described in similar studies of permanent lakes. Patterns in seasonal variation of nutrients are also presented, their underlying causes being discussed in relation to their transport within catchments. Our results show that despite being predominantly winter phenomena, turloughs can be as productive as permanent lakes.


1988 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunter J. Carrick ◽  
Rex L. Lowe

The possibility that benthic algae in the nearshore area of Lake Michigan might be growth limited by Si was tested using nutrient-releasing substrata. Nutrient treatments were Si, N + P, Si + N + P, and controls (CONT) and were sampled after 7, 14, and 31 d of exposure. Addition of Si alone had little stimulatory effect on algal biomass, while enrichment with Si + N + P led to the greatest increase in chlorophyll a, particulate Si, total biovolume, and diatom biovolume after 14 d of incubation (P < 0.0001). By day 31, communities on CONT and Si substrata exhibited little change in biomass and remained dominated by diatoms (98% of total biovolume), while algal biomass on both N + P and Si + N + P substrata increased more than eightfold (P < 0.0001) and consisted mainly of Stigeoclonium tenue (Chlorophyta) and Schizothrix calcicolas (Cyanophyta). These results indicate that benthic diatoms in Lake Michigan are not currently limited by Si, but may become Si limited following enrichment with N + P.


1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 416-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. LaBaugh

Algal chlorophyll a is commonly used as a surrogate for algal biomass. Data from three lakes in western Nebraska, five wetlands in north-central North Dakota, and two lakes in north-central Minnesota represented a range in algal biovolume of over four orders of magnitude and a range in chlorophyll a from less than 1 to 380 mg∙m−3. Analysis of these data revealed that there was a linear relation, log10 algal biovolume = 5.99 + 0.09 chlorophyll a (r2 = 0.72), for cases in which median values of chlorophyll a for open-water periods were less than 20 mg∙m−3. There was no linear relation in cases in which median chlorophyll a concentrations were larger than 20 mg∙m−3 for open-water periods, an occurrence found only in shallow prairies lakes and wetlands for years in which light penetration was the least.


1976 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans W. Paerl ◽  
Max M. Tilzer ◽  
Charles R. Goldman

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jéssica Nayara de Carvalho Leite ◽  
Vanessa Becker

Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to analyze the water quality of a tropical, semi-arid reservoir after a reflooding. In terms of impact on water quality after a drought event, it is expected that there will be improvements with the reflooding. Less algal biomass, increased water transparency, decreased turbidity and low nutrient concentration. Methods This study was performed in a tropical, semi-arid man-made lake (Dourado Reservoir), during an extended drought period. This study consisted of a comparison of three distinct periods determined by water accumulation. The limnological variables, including water transparency, turbidity, electrical conductivity, pH, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a were analyzed. A principal component analysis (PCA) was also performed to verify the patterns of the variables in relation to the sample units in the studied periods. Results After water renewal, there was an expressive reduction in chlorophyll-a. Electrical conductivity, pH, and turbidity variables also reduced after the reflooding, indicating an improvement in water quality. There was no reduction in total phosphorus and soluble reactive phosphorus after the reflooding compared to the previous periods. Conclusions The significant reduction in algal biomass after reflooding in Dourado indicates water quality improvement in terms of eutrophication due to the change of the trophic state from eutrophic to mesotrophic.


Author(s):  
Magdalena Bowszys ◽  
Renata Tandyrak ◽  
Iwona Gołaś ◽  
Ewa Paturej

Restoring lakes with hypolimnetic withdrawal can severely threaten water quality and biocenosis downstream. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lake restoration on riverine zooplankton during a period of intense hypolimnion water inflow. Zooplankton density and biomass were determined in water samples. The water samples were also analyzed to determine the following physicochemical parameters: flow rate, dissolved oxygen, hydrogen sulphide, sulphate, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorous, soluble reactive phosphorus, total organic carbon, and temperature. The results of multiple regression indicated that water flow was the most significant variable and was the best predictor of total zooplankton and rotifer density. Soluble reactive phosphorous was the main predictor of copepod biomass and density. Our study showed that hypolimnetic withdrawal disturbed the natural process of planktic community transformation, which was linked to the environmental shift from lacustrine to riverine. During the study, zooplankton density and biomass were low, but not as low as when the pipeline was operating at maximum output. At present, this lake restoration method has become more sustainable, because the adverse effects of hypolimnetic withdrawal on the recipient river have been minimized and limited to several weeks.


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