2. Methodology
2.1. Study area
Mattatall Lake is located on the Cumberland/Colchester County line and is approximately 5-kilometer length (Fig. 1). Mattatall Lake is mainly spring fed with multiple brooks. There is an outlet from the lake draining into the French River, then draining into Northumberland Strait. In 2011 some small blooms were first noticed on the lake by lake residents beginning in late June early July; however, they dissipated by September. Over the past 2 years the algae blooms have gotten gradually worse and late September 2014 the bloom totally expanded, covering the entire lake until December 2014.
2.2. Governing parameters involving in our study
2.2.1. Chemical Parameters
Phosphorus is a nutrient that is vital to
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2002), phosphorus levels in soil within the watershed and in surface water samples will be considered to determine the potential sources of nutrient loading into the lake. Different samples and analyses for Phosphorus concentrations (and hereafter we call Total Phosphorus – TP) in brooks and ponds of the ML watershed gave us a panoramic view of nutrient sources streaming to the lake and how they could disperse and redistribute in the lake waterbody. The term ‘Total Phosphorus’ has to be understood as all forms of Phosphorus which may occur mostly in Phosphates (PO4) and Organic Phosphates.
Nitrogen in the lake is detected under the forms of Ammoniacal Nitrogen, Nitrate, and Nitrite. These three types of Nitrogen formed a parameter named Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN). This factor DIN couples with the organic form of Nitrogen to define Total Nitrogen (TN). Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus are two of the most important micronutrient components for algal development and hence very important parameters to be used for predicting scenarios of algae bloom occurrence and
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Chlorophyll-a is a specific form of Chlorophyll, used in oxygenic photosynthesis. Measurement and determination of this parameter are the basic analysis to evaluate the characteristics of algae blooms in many research works in the world. Unfortunately, Chlorophyll-a represents just the whole quantity of photosynthesis pigment released from all algae and micro-plants present in water, hence it cannot help to distinguish cyanobacteria existence among all living micro plants and algae in the waterbody. To be able to define and confirm the existence of Cyanobacteria species in the composition of aquatic microalgae, another pigment form, Phycocyanin, is used. Phycocyanin is the pigment, which differs cyanobacteria species from another planktonic species, and could give us a real picture of quantity of cyanobacterial genera in the water. Phycocyanin is actually a pigment-protein complex from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family, along with allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin. It is considered as an accessory pigment to
The Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Enrichment on Water Samples from Encanto Lake and the Rio Salado River.
Algae blooms have been an issue in the Chesapeake Bay, especially in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Algae is a natural and critical part of the ecosystem, however in large doses it is harmful to the plants and organisms within the ecosystem. Algae blooms can block out sunlight and kill other plants in the water. Algae depends on various factors such as water, nutrients and carbon dioxide to grow. Eutrophication of the Inner Harbor has lead to algae blooms that have caused large fish kills in the past. When there is an over abundance of certain chemical nutrients eutrophication can occur. Runoff from land and farms is the main cause of excess nutrients into the water. The most common nutrients that are related to algae outbreaks are nitrate nitrogen and phosphate. In addition, a lack of dissolved oxygen can also be an indicator for the process of eutrophication and risk of an algae outbreak. A particular type of algae commonly found in Maryland is known as Prorocentrum minimum. Prorocentrum tends to cause “mahogany tides” causing water to be brown and have an odor. There has been a campaign launched by the Healthy Harbor
Water column phosphorus concentrations have also been shown to increase under anoxic conditions (Webb, K.L. and D'Elia, C.F. 1980). This is because some of the iron oxyhydroxides that
How does the LSC potentially influence the phosphorus cycle of Cayuga Lake? Include in your explanation relevant details of the LSC system and the ecological properties of Cayuga Lake.: Based on some assumptions, the LSC contributes 2.4% of all of the phosphorous that is in the southern lake basin. The monthly max LSC contribution to phosphorous loading is around 6.4% during August. There is no measurable oxygen depletion in the lake and there is no measurable increases in algal growth. Consequently, implementation of LSC will not cause or contribute to growth of these nuisance organisms.
Eutrophication is when there is too much nutrients in the water, as stated above. Eutrophication can come from farmers fertilizing their fields and some detergents. We tested for phosphates, salts or ester of phosphatidic acid. We also tested for nitrates, salts or ester of nitric acid. The more the phosphates and nitrates, the more eutrophication is present in the stream. We tested for dissolved oxygen, the amount of oxygen in the water, as well. We found found a very low level of phosphates with an average of 0.1 parts per million (ppm). We also found a very low level of nitrates with an average of 0.9 ppm. The dissolved oxygen level was 9.8 ppm. The higher the velocity of the water, the more dissolved oxygen it will contain. All of these measurements are very good and show that there is little or no eutrophication in the
"About Our Great Lakes." National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Great Lakes Environmental Research. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Wyong Shire Council (2015a). Nutrient Pathways in Food Web of Tuggerah Lakes. Retrieved from loveourlivinglakes.com.au website: http://www.loveourlivinglakes.com.au/lakes/science-and-data/nutrient-pathways-in-food-web-of-tuggerah-lakes/
In this paper I will examine multiple perspectives in an attempt to understand the recent eutrophication of the Chesapeake Bay. Our textbook, Cambell Biology defines eutrophication as a process in which nutrients, usually phosphorus and nitrogen, are unusually present in a body of water, leading to algae blooms and accelerated growth. Anoxia is a condition in which areas of water are severely depleted of dissolved oxygen.
This has led to a doubling of phytoplankton biomass and cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. Phosphorus concentrations are three times higher in the south basin than in the north. As well as the nitrogen concentration is slightly higher in the south than the north. The concentrations typically gather at the south end of the lake and decline as it moves north, this is likely the cause of the Red River flowing inward.
Kennedy Lake is a 4.0 ha lake with an average depth of 2.4 meters and a maximum depth of 3.7 m located in south west Tucson. The lake is dyed green to protect from algal blooms, has minimal trees surrounding it, and a decent amount of submersed and emergent vegetation. Sunfish were stocked at the end of March and catfish were stocked the morning of sampling date (April 6, 2016). We detected rainbow trout, redear sunfish, bluegill, threadfin shad, and largemouth bass. Apparently there may also be grass carp (white amur) present to help regulate aquatic plants. Fishing pressure on sampling night seemed to be intense, with lots of people fishing. People were a mix of young and old with some families present as well.
The limiting nutrient in a water source is what controls algal growth, no mater how much other nutrients is present, without that nutrient there will be no growth. In this regard it is imperative to know what the limiting resource is in a drinking water system in order to maintain the health of the system. Since phosphorous is naturally found in small quantities in water, if too much phosphorous is present then algal growth will increase. Having such high levels of algal growth can dramatically affect the lake’s health, and can effect how a municipal government must treat its water. The
The monitoring program includes field and laboratory components to identify sources of materials (nutrients, sediment, microorganisms, and chemicals) to the lake, evaluate in-lake water quality conditions, and examine the interactions between Onondaga Lake and the Seneca River. Onondaga County’s trained technicians collect water quality and biological samples at a number of key locations in the watershed. Streams flowing into Onondaga Lake are monitored to estimate the annual input of water and materials including nutrients, sediment, salts, and bacteria. Samples are collected upstream of the lake to help pinpoint sources of pollution. Accurate estimates of inflows are a critical component of the AMP, since they underlie many of the management
Any conditions that harm such a balanced environment can potentially destroy thousands of organisms that live there. Since phosphates are common pollutants of lakes, in this project I
An abundant amount of phosphorus and nitrogen may cause eutrophication, which has many negative effects on aquatic ecosystems (table 2).
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant life, but when in excess, it can enhance eutrophication of rivers and lakes (Hem, 1985; Muelle and Helsel, 1996). Phosphorus exists in two main forms in water: soluble and particulate. Total phosphorus includes the soluble and particulate forms. Phosphorus can enter a water body through various means including from point sources such as a waste-water discharge and non-point sources such as agricultural runoff or erosion. Phosphorus has the ability to attach to soil particles (Phillips et al. 2012). Thus, when the soil ends up in a water body as sediment it contains additional phosphorus, which ultimately settles. The sediment now has the potential of acting as a ‘sink’ for phosphorus, and holds it until it is disrupted by certain activities.