Environmental factors controlling phytoplankton dynamics in a large floodplain river with emphasis on cyanobacteria

Harmful algal blooms are occurring in large river ecosystems and at the mouth of large rivers with increasing frequency. In lentic systems, the chemical and physical conditions that promote harmful algal blooms are somewhat predictable but tracking prevalence and conditions that promote harmful algal blooms in lotic systems is much more difficult. We captured two of the most extreme discharge years within the last 20 years occurring in the Upper Mississippi River, allowing a natural experiment that evaluated how major shifts in discharge drive environmental variation and associated shifts in phytoplankton. Statistical models describing significant environmental covariates for phytoplankton assemblages and specific taxa were developed and used to identify management‐relevant numeric breakpoints at which environmental variables may promote the growth of specific phytoplankton and/or cyanobacteria. Our analyses supported that potentially toxin‐producing cyanobacteria dominate under high phosphorus concentration, low nitrogen concentration, low nitrogen‐to‐phosphorus ratio, low turbulence, low flushing, adequate light and warm temperatures. Cyanobacteria dominated in 2009 when low discharge and low flushing likely led to optimal growth environments for Dolichospermum, Aphanizomenon and Microcystis. Rarely will a single factor lead to the dominance, but multiple positive factors working in concert can lead to cyanobacteria proliferation in large rivers. Certain isolated backwaters with high phosphorus, low nitrogen, warm water temperatures and low potential for flushing could benefit from increased connection to channel inputs to reduce cyanobacterial dominance. Numerous examples of this type of habitat currently exist in the Upper Mississippi River and could benefit from reconnection to channel habitats.     

A preliminary modeling analysis of water quality in Lake Okeechobee, Florida: Calibration results

To gain understanding of nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in Lake Okeechobee, Florida, we developed and applied a deterministic, mass balance, water quality model at the whole-lake spatial scale. The model was calibrated to a comprehensive set of field data for 1985–1986, and then used to simulate the period 1973–1992. The model represented the mean behavior of in-lake total phosphorus, dissolved available phosphorus, total nitrogen and chlorophyll a concentrations reasonably well during the calibration period. The model did not represent dissolved available nitrogen concentrations very well, nor did it capture much of the observed temporal variability during the calibration period. The model results identified important information needs to improve our understanding of the nitrogen cycle including, sediment-water nitrogen fluxes, denitrification and nitrogen fixation. Results from the 1973–1992 simulation indicated that model assumptions and/or calibration parameters were not uniformly applicable over this period. Total phosphorus concentration results from this model were compared with results from two site-specific, empirical loading models for the lake. None of these models represented annual average concentrations uniformly well over the entire 20-year period, and none captured much of the observed inter-annual variability. External total phosphorus loadings and lake hydrology are not sufficient to fully describe total phosphorus dynamics in Lake Okeechobee. Other important factors are diffusive sediment-water fluxes, wind-induced sediment resuspension, and the spatial heterogeneity in the lake.     

Phytoplankton in a polluted subarctic lake before and after nutrient reduction

Phytoplankton and water chemistry were studied in a eutrophic subarctic Swedish lake before and after nutrient reduction. Pollution started in 1964 and the lake had received about 4.5 tons of phosphorus by the time the treatment plant was built in 1974. After that only 18–20 kg P yr^?1 entered the lake. Before nutrient reduction the phytoplankton consisted principally of three species, Dictyosphaerium pulchellum var. minutum, Chromulina cv. darlecarlica and Cryptomonas cv. ovata. Two years after the P-load was reduced Chlamydomonas spp and Mallomonas akrokomos predominated in the plankton and their dominance has been maintained during the period of study. Seasonal average phytoplankton biomass decreased from 11.2 g m^?3 in 1973 to 2.9 g m^?3 in 1980. Average seasonal total phosphorus concentrations decreased from 168 μgl^?1 in 1973 to 74 μgl^?1 in 1980. Average Secchi depth readings increased from 1.3 m in 1973 to 2.1 m in 1980. Blue-green algae never had any quantitative importance in the lake and no blooms were observed.     

Changes in phytoplankton composition in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon in the Cullera Estany (Comunitat Valenciana,Spain)

The Cullera Estany is a coastal lagoon located in a highly intensified agriculture and tourist area in Valencia. This coastal lagoon has connections with the sea that produce marine intrusion and generate a freshwater interface. Four sampling campaigns were carried out during 2010 in order to analyse the phytoplankton composition and its relation to nutrient content through a Redundancy Analysis. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrite and salinity are the main factors controlling the dynamics of phytoplankton community. During July and October, there is water column stratification; meanwhile in March, there is a well‐mixed water column. In addition, in May and July campaigns, hypoxia/anoxia conditions are detected at the bottom. The most abundant phytoplankton groups are Diatoms and Cryptophyceae. Diatoms and Cyanophyceae respond positively to temperature while Cryptophyceae, Prasinophyceae and Dinophyceae respond to high salinity and dissolved oxygen values. Furthermore, picoplankton is correlated inversely with nutrient concentrations.     

The effects of run‐of‐river dam spill on Columbia River microplankton

Dams, increasingly common in riverine systems worldwide, are particularly prevalent on the Columbia River (CR) in the United States. Hydroelectric projects, including both storage and run‐of‐river (i.e., minimal storage) structures, on the mainstem CR highly manage water flow, often by releasing water over (rather than through) dams as “spill.” To test the effects of run‐of‐river dam spill on microplankton abundance and composition, we sampled above and below two dams in the lower CR before and during spill conditions in spring 2016 and during and after spill conditions in late summer 2007. We tested the effects of location (i.e., above vs. below dams), spill condition (i.e., before, during, and after spill), and their interaction on microplankton abundance. Generally, diatoms were most abundant during springtime, whereas cyanobacteria were most abundant in late summer. Most taxa were not significantly different in abundance above and below dams, regardless of spill status; although cyanobacteria abundance was marginally higher below dams in summer 2007 (p = .04). Abundances of all taxa were significantly different between pre‐spill and spill periods in spring 2016, whereas only diatom and flagellate abundances were significantly different between spill and post‐spill periods in summer 2007. We conclude that spill conditions may influence microplankton abundance, but are not likely to affect microplankton communities on either side of run‐of‐river dams on the CR. This is important information for dam managers concerned about ecosystem impacts of spill.     

New data‐driven method from 3D confocal microscopy for calculating phytoplankton cell biovolume

Confocal laser scanner microscopy coupled with an image analysis system was used to directly determine the shape and calculate the biovolume of phytoplankton organisms by constructing 3D models of cells. The study was performed on Biceratium furca (Ehrenberg) Vanhoeffen, which is one of the most complex‐shaped phytoplankton. Traditionally, biovolume is obtained from a standardized set of geometric models based on linear dimensions measured by light microscopy. However, especially in the case of complex‐shaped cells, biovolume is affected by very large errors associated with the numerous manual measurements that this entails. We evaluate the accuracy of these traditional methods by comparing the results obtained using geometric models with direct biovolume measurement by image analysis. Our results show cell biovolume measurement based on decomposition into simple geometrical shapes can be highly inaccurate. Although we assume that the most accurate cell shape is obtained by 3D direct biovolume measurement, which is based on voxel counting, the intrinsic uncertainty of this method is explored and assessed. Finally, we implement a data‐driven formula‐based approach to the calculation of biovolume of this complex‐shaped organism. On one hand, the model is obtained from 3D direct calculation. On the other hand, it is based on just two linear dimensions which can easily be measured by hand. This approach has already been used for investigating the complexities of morphology and for determining the 3D structure of cells. It could also represent a novel way to generalize scaling laws for biovolume calculation.     

CARBON FROM PERIPHYTON SUPPORTS FISH BIOMASS IN WATERHOLES OF A WET–DRY TROPICAL RIVER

The identification of the dominant sources of carbon supporting consumer biomass in aquatic food webs is often difficult but essential to understanding the limits to aquatic secondary production. Stable isotope analysis (SIA) is a powerful tool to estimate the contribution of different sources to consumers, but most food web studies using this approach limit analyses to a few key consumer taxa rather than measuring biomass‐weighted contribution of sources to the entire community. Here we combined stable isotope analysis with standardized measurements of abundance and biomass of fishes and invertebrates in seven waterholes of a wet–dry tropical river sampled early and late in the dry season. We showed that periphyton (as opposed to phytoplankton and terrestrial C3 plant detritus) was responsible for most standing fish biomass (range 42%–97%), whereas benthic invertebrates were reliant on a mixture of the three sources (range 26%–100%). Furthermore, larger, older fishes at high trophic levels (catfish Neoarius spp., sleepy cod Oxyeleotris lineaolatus and barramundi Lates calcarifer) were supported almost exclusively by periphyton. Phytoplankton and detritus supported a considerable biomass of benthic and pelagic invertebrates, but only in taxa that occupied low trophic levels (e.g. snails). These measurements provide further evidence that although periphyton is relatively inconspicuous relative to other sources, it contributes disproportionately to metazoan biomass in wet–dry tropical rivers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Retrieval of phytoplankton size from bio-optical measurements: theory and applications

The absorption coefficient of a substance distributed as discrete particles in suspension is less than that of the same material dissolved uniformly in a medium—a phenomenon commonly referred to as the flattening effect. The decrease in the absorption coefficient owing to flattening effect depends on the concentration of the absorbing pigment inside the particle, the specific absorption coefficient of the pigment within the particle, and on the diameter of the particle, if the particles are assumed to be spherical. For phytoplankton cells in the ocean, with diameters ranging from less than 1 µm to more than 100 µm, the flattening effect is variable, and sometimes pronounced, as has been well documented in the literature. Here, we demonstrate how the in vivo absorption coefficient of phytoplankton cells per unit concentration of its major pigment, chlorophyll a, can be used to determine the average cell size of the phytoplankton population. Sensitivity analyses are carried out to evaluate the errors in the estimated diameter owing to potential errors in the model assumptions. Cell sizes computed for field samples using the model are compared qualitatively with indirect estimates of size classes derived from high performance liquid chromatography data. Also, the results are compared quantitatively against measurements of cell size in laboratory cultures. The method developed is easy-to-apply as an operational tool for in situ observations, and has the potential for application to remote sensing of ocean colour data.     

浮游植物活体三维荧光光谱特征提取

测量了6种东海常见的浮游植物在两个温度(20℃,15℃)、三个光照(7000Lux,4100Lux,1100Lux)下的不同生长期的三维激发／发射荧光光谱,研究了光谱特征提取方法。对去除散射干扰后的三维光谱进行了奇异值分解,得到的相应于激发光谱的第一主成分具有区分藻种的能力,可作为三维光谱的特征光谱。分析结果表明,实验条件下,等鞭金藻(Isochrysis galbana)、岛国大扁藻(Platymonas helgolanidica)和中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatuma)的特征光谱相似度高,塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)、东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum dentatum)和尖刺拟菱形藻(Pseudo—nitzschia pungens)光谱相似度稍差。     

长江中下游干流浮游藻类空间分布特征初探

为更全面了解长江中下游干流浮游藻类资源现状,于2014年夏季对长江中下游武汉—河口江段的浮游藻类空间分布特征进行调查,共设置了19个调查断面。本次调查共检出浮游藻类6门66种,其中硅藻24种,绿藻23种,优势种属共检出3门6种;浮游藻类平均细胞丰度为(13.43±5.34)×10⁴ cell/L,其中武汉上游最高,为23.18×10⁴ cell/L,上海河口最低,为5.19×10⁴ cell/L;浮游藻类多样性指数均值为3.37±0.35,其中南京下游最高,为4.1,上海上游最低,为2.7;调查样点根据浮游藻类细胞丰度大致可聚为3类:芜湖—南通段、武汉下游—大通段、武汉上游和上海上游。调查结果表明,长江中下游干流浮游藻类数量与空间分布可能受到水文条件的影响,而非受到营养盐的限制。