Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6305265 | Journal of Great Lakes Research | 2014 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
Recurrent, massive cyanobacterial blooms composed mainly of the genus Microcystis indicate a broad-scale re-eutrophication of Lake Erie. In the past, ameliorating eutrophication relied on intentionally decreasing point-source tributary nutrient, especially phosphorus, loads to the lake. However, recent research has shown that tributaries load not only nutrients but also bloom-levels of phytoplankton, including Microcystis. We built on this previous work by sampling earlier in the year and in much smaller tributaries in both the Maumee and Sandusky systems. We found Microcystis wet biomasses in these tributaries averaged 3.16 mg/L (± 0.59 mg/L, one standard error of the mean) in 2009 and 3.42 mg/L (± 0.55 mg/L) in 2010. Importantly, we found Microcystis in small ditches in March, much earlier than previously observed. Microcystis biomass did not directly correspond to measured phosphorus, chlorophyll, or phycocyanin concentrations likely reflecting complexities associated with lagged physiological responses and/or non-linear growth relationships. Consequently, our findings emphasize that Microcystis blooms form a more broad-scale problem than previously documented, occurring far upstream much earlier in the year.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth and Planetary Sciences (General)
Authors
Joseph D. Conroy, Douglas D. Kane, Ruth D. Briland, David A. Culver,