Optimal sampling period for predicting phosphores and chlorophyll concentrations in north-temperate lakes

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1812-1815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. France ◽  
Robert H. Peters ◽  
Robert H. Rishikof

Because total phosphorus and chlorophyll a concentrations vary seasonally within north-temperate lakes, estimates of lake trophic status are usually based on several to many sampling visits. However, because such effort is not always logistically possible, the empirical relationships developed between these trophic status indicators may depend upon seasonal patterns of sampling. Clearly, it is desirable to know if some periods of the year are more likely to produce representative estimates of total phosphorus and chlorophyll a, or, alternatively, if sampling in other periods should be restricted or even avoided. Data from north-temperate lakes are used to examine the degree to which single monthly samples for total phosphorus and chlorophyll a represent seasonal means. Analyses indicate that the least precise and least accurate estimates of the means occur when single-visit synoptic surveys are conducted during April. Not until August to September do single sampling visits provide data that approximate those represented by the means garnered through more frequent sampling.

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Higgins ◽  
M. J. Vander Zanden ◽  
L. N. Joppa ◽  
Y. Vadeboncoeur

We investigated the effects of dreissenid mussel ( Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis ) invasions on the concentrations of chlorophyll a (Chl) and total phosphorus(TP), and the Chl:TP ratio within 27 north-temperate lakes that spanned large gradients in lake size and trophic status, using two approaches: (i) regression analysis and (ii) hierarchical modeling. Overall, Chl declined by 40%–45% after dreissenid invasion and the magnitude of effect was structured by epilimnetic volume within stratified, but not nonstratified (mixed) lakes. Declines in TP over the invasion period were significant only for stratified systems and were smaller (∼16% reduction from pre-invasion values) than for Chl. Across the complete trophic gradient (i.e., among lakes) the regression approach (analysis of covariance) indicated a significant decline in the intercept of the Chl:TP, but not the slope. In contrast, hierarchical modeling indicated a decline in the slope of Chl:TP among lakes between pre- and post-invasion periods. As with Chl, the effect of dreissenids on Chl:TP declined with increases in epilimnetic volume in stratified, but not nonstratified lakes. Dreissenid effects on Chl were prolonged, with no indication of diminishing within 7–10 years of invasion.


2012 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 479-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
LPM. Brandão ◽  
T. Fajardo ◽  
E. Eskinazi-Sant'Anna ◽  
S. Brito ◽  
P. Maia-Barbosa

The fluctuation of the population of Daphnia laevis in Lake Jacaré (Middle River Doce, Minas Gerais) was monitored monthly (at one point in the limnetic region) for six years (2002-2007) as part of the Program of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER/UFMG). The following parameters were also monitored: water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, total phosphorus, phosphate, total nitrogen, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and densities of Chaoborus and ephippia of Daphnia laevis in the sediment. A seasonal pattern was observed in the fluctuation of D. laevis, with higher densities recorded during periods of circulation (May-August). A significant correlation was found between the density of D. laevis and temperature (r = -0.47, p = 0.0001), chlorophyll-a (r = -0.32, p = 0.016) and indicators of the lake's trophic status (total phosphorus, r = 0.32, p = 0.007 and trophic state, r = 0.36, p = 0.003), as well as Chaoborus density (r = 0.43 and p = 0.002). These results indicate that changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of the water related with stratification and circulation of the lake may have a direct (temperature, total phosphorous) or an indirect (food availability, presence of predators, ephippia eclosion) influence on the fluctuation of the D. laevis population.


2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella LUGLIÈ ◽  
Yelda AKTAN ◽  
Paola CASIDDU ◽  
Nicola SECHI

The purpose of this paper was to assess the effect of the diversion of wastewater on the trophic status of Lake Bidighinzu, a hypertrophic man-made lake in Northern Sardinia, used as a drinking water reservoir. There have been problems with potabilization since the early years of the diversion operation, particularly in the summer-autumn period. Data available (August 1978, February 1979 and March 1985) before the reservoir (1987) were compared with those collected during a study carried out in the annual cycle immediately after (1988-1989) and after some years (1994 and 1996-1997). The study examined the dynamics of temperature, main nutrients (total phosphorus, nitrate and ammonia), chlorophyll-a and phytoplanktonic biomass. No particular variation in the water nutrient availability emerged from the comparison between these two situations - especially for total phosphorus, whose annual mean concentrations were similar in the two annual cycles (386 mg P m-3 in 1988-1989 and 305 mg P m-3 in 1996-1997). Chlorophyll-a and biomass were high during each period of study (annual mean values were 17 mg m-3and 3.7 mg l-1 in 1988-1989 and 11 mg m-3and 4.6 mg l-1 in 1996-1997). However, peaks were never higher than values recorded in August 1978 (112 mg m-3and 133 mg l-1) due to an extraordinary bloom of Ceratium hirundinella (O.F. Müller). Species composition of phytoplankton was typical of highly trophic conditions and was frequently characterised by the presence of Cyanophyceae and Bacillariophyceae. Results demonstrated that, ten years after construction of the by-pass, the lake had shown no improvement in its trophic status. This might depend on many factors, among which the most likely might be the non-use or partial use of the diversion system, which allows the sewage to continue to flow into the lake and keep its trophic status almost unchanged.


2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-28
Author(s):  
Roumen Kalchev ◽  
Árpád Berczik ◽  
Michaela Beshkova ◽  
Mária Dinka ◽  
Hristina Kalcheva ◽  
...  

Abstract The phytoplankton limitation conditions in a few Bulgarian and Hungarian wetlands and in two more sampling sites, one for each Danube stretch, were investigated by means of trophic state index of Carlson (1977) for phytoplankton chlorophyll-a (CHL), Secchi disk depths (SD), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations. Phytoplankton of both river sites was not limited by non-algal turbidity, nor was they phosphorus and nitrogen limited. In summer months the studied wetlands were predominantly nitrogen limited, while in spring and autumn limitation by non-algal turbidity prevailed.


1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 1013-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Agbeti ◽  
M. Dickman

Based on the composition of surface sediment diatom assemblages of 30 lakes a classification index for lake trophic status was developed. The lakes were selected to represent a continuum ranging from oligotrophic to eutrophic lake types. A trophic index quotient was derived. The log diatom inferred trophic index (D.I.T.I.) was regressed against the trophic status of the lakes as determined by the log total phosphorus (r = 0.84) and log chlorophyll-a (r = 0.91). Multiple regression analyses showed significant correlations between log D.I.T.I. and the log percentage abundances of oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic species (r = 0.89). The abundance of the trophic indicator diatom species depends not only on total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a, but possibly on the interaction of these with other factors. Using this approach, past trophic changes were inferred for oligotrophic Barbara Lake and eutrophic Chemung Lake. The study suggested that Barbara Lake had retained its present day oligotrophic condition over the last 200 yr, whereas major trophic changes have occurred in Chemung Lake.


1975 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1519-1531 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Dillon ◽  
F. H. Rigler

A general technique is presented for calculating the capacity of a lake for development based on quantifiable relationships between nutrient inputs and water quality parameters reflecting lake trophic status. Use of the technique for southern Ontario lakes is described. From the land use and geological formations prevalent in a lake’s drainage basin, the phosphorus exported to the lake in runoff water can be calculated, which, when combined with the input directly to the lake’s surface in precipitation and dry fallout, gives a measure of the natural total phosphorus load. From the population around the lake, the maximum artificial phosphorus load to the lake can be calculated and, if necessary, modified according to sewage disposal facilities used. The sum of the natural and artificial loads can be combined with a measure of the lake’s morphometry expressed as the mean depth, the lake’s water budget expressed as the lake’s flushing rate, and the phosphorus retention coefficient of the lake, a parameter dependent on both the lake’s morphometry and water budget, to predict springtime total phosphorus concentration in the lake. Long-term average runoff per unit of land area, precipitation, and lake evaporation data for Ontario provide a means of calculating the necessary water budget parameters without expensive and time-consuming field measurements. The predicted spring total phosphorus concentration can be used to predict the average chlorophyll a concentration in the lake in the summer, and this, in turn, can be used to estimate the Secchi disc transparency. Thus, the effects of an increase in development on a lake’s water quality can be predicted. Conversely, by setting limits for the "permissible" summer average chlorophyll a concentration or Secchi disc transparency, the "permissible" total phosphorus concentration at spring overturn can be calculated. This can be translated into "permissible" artificial load, which can then be expressed as total allowable development. This figure can be compared to the current quantity of development and recommendations made concerning the desirability of further development on the lake.


1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 775-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Ostrofsky ◽  
F. H. Rigler

Concentrations of total phosphorus and chlorophyll a were measured weekly in 49 lakes in the vicinity of Yellowknife, N.W.T., Canada, from May to September 1977. The relationship between [TPspr] and [Chl asu] was significantly different from the Dillon–Rigler model, but similar to relationships developed for lakes in Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory. Empirical relationships were developed between [TPspr] and maximum chlorophyll a concentrations and the probability of exceeding critical concentrations of chlorophyll a. These models may be potentially more useful than models which predict only a mean summer chlorophyll concentration.


1981 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 960-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Watson ◽  
Jaap Kalff

The hypotheses that with increasing eutrophication (1) nannoplankton biomass increases and (2) the relative proportion (percent) of nannoplankton biomass decreases were tested with data from Lake Memphremagog, a lake exhibiting a nutrient gradient, and on a more general scale using published data from a number of lakes. Both hypotheses were supported within and among lakes if trophic status was defined by total algal biomass. This was also generally true if total phosphorus (TP) was used as an alternative measure of trophy, although percent nannoplankton biomass showed no relationship to TP among lakes. Empirical relationships that allow a first prediction of total nannoplankton biomass from total algal biomass or TP were calculated. The data suggest that among lakes, net plankton will show a more variable relationship with TP than nannoplankton.Key words: nannoplankton, net plankton, trophic status, total biomass, total phosphorus


2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon A. Townsend

Manton River Reservoir (MRR) and Darwin River Reservoir (DRR) are two small impoundments in the Australian wet/dry tropics. Over an eight-year period, chlorophyll a concentrations in the mixed layer averaged 3.6 µg L−1 in DRR, and 7.1 µg L−1 in MRR. The seasonal pattern of chlorophyll a at MRR was influenced by wet season wash-out (February average 4.8 µg L−1 ), and dry season destratification and nutrient enrichment of the surface waters (July average 8.4 mg L−1 ). In contrast, DRR exhibited near uniform chlorophyll a concentrations over the year. The seasonal patterns of DRR and MRR chlorophyll a are typical of tropical water bodies which tend to have a smaller annual range than temperate lakes, though this can be modified by significant wash-out. Empirical evidence suggests that the phytoplankton biomass of each reservoir is phosphorus limited, relative to the potential provided by other nutrients and light energy. This conclusion is based on a regression of total phosphorus and chlorophyll a concentrations of pooled DRR and MRR data (P < 0.001; r2 = 0.90), and the high total-nitrogen to total-phosphorus concentration ratios (by weight) of 50 and 37 in DRR and MRR, respectively. Annual chlorophyll a and total phosphorus concentrations for both reservoirs are in accord with the OECD regression for temperate lakes and reservoirs.


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