<em>Cladophora glomerata</em> is a filamentous green alga that currently forms extensive blooms in nearshore areas of Lake Ontario, eastern Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and isolated locations in Lake Huron. The biomass, areal coverage, algal bed characteristics, and tissue phosphorus concentrations of <em>Cladophora glomerata</em> were measured at 24 nearshore rocky sites along the northern shoreline of Lake Erie?s eastern basin between 1995-2002. Midsummer areal coverage at shallow depths (&le;5m) ranged from 4-100 %, with a median value of 96%. Peak seasonal biomass ranged from <1 to 940 g m^-2 dry mass (DM), with a median value of 171 g m^-2 DM. Tissue phosphorus varied seasonally, with initial high values in early May (0. 15 to 0. 27 % DM; median 0. 23 % DM) to midsummer seasonal low values during peak biomass (0. 03 to 0. 23 % DM; median 0. 06 % DM). A numerical <em>Cladophora</em> growth model (CGM) was revised and field-tested at 5 sites in eastern Lake Erie during 2002. The CGM is useful for: 1) Predicting <em>Cladophora</em> growth, biomass, and tissue phosphorus concentrations under non-point source P loading with no depth restrictions; 2) providing estimates of the timing and magnitude of the midsummer sloughing phenomenon; 3) determining the contribution of <em>Dreissena</em> invasion to the resurgence of <em>Cladophora</em> in eastern Lake Erie; and 4) developing management strategies for <em>Cladophora</em> abatement. The CGM was applied to investigate how the spatial and temporal patterns of <em>Cladophora</em> growth were influenced by the natural variability in environmental parameters in eastern Lake Erie. Seasonal patterns in <em>Cladophora</em> growth were strongly influenced by temperature, and peak depth-integrated biomass was strongly influenced by both available light and phosphorus. The photosynthetic capacity of field collected <em>Cladophora</em> was a poor predictor of the mid-summer sloughing phenomenon. The CGM, however, predicted that self-shading within the dense <em>Cladophora</em> mats would have caused negative growth rates at the base of the dense mats for 14 days prior to the sloughing event. The metabolic imbalances at the base of the <em>Cladophora</em> mats were driven primarily by the availability of light and were exacerbated by intermediate water temperatures (~23??C). The excellent agreement between model simulations and field data illustrates the ability of the CGM to predict tissue P and growth over a range of sites and depths in eastern Lake Erie and suggests potential for the model to be successfully applied in other systems.

A 1-D tidal, salinity and water quality model that analyzes the general effects freshwater diversions have on the water quality of the Pontchartrain Estuary over a 17-year period is presented here. Using the modeled live algae concentrations in conjunction with the algal bloom probability model results produces an accurate prediction of algal bloom occurrences between 1990 and 2006. The model predicts that the addition of freshwater diversions into Maurepas swamp and increases to flow in the Bonnet Carré Spillway may cause more intense and frequent algal blooms to occur around the Pontchartrain Estuary. The model also predicts that high nutrient input events that occur earlier in the year (January/February) will not likely have algal blooms associated with them. When nutrient input events (even small events) occur in the late spring or early summer, algal blooms have a high probability of occurring when the salinity, temperature and light levels are sufficient.

A eutrofização de ambientes aquáticos continentais é um processo lento e natural, mas que tem se intensificado sobremaneira devido a influência das atividades antrópicas. Uma das consequências da eutrofização artificial são florações de algas cada vez mais frequentes e intensas. Alguns grupos de algas, como as cianobactérias, podem produzir toxinas que representam um risco para o homem e para a biota aquática e, por isso, sua floração merece atenção especial. O Lago Guaíba é um importante corpo hídrico do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul e o principal manancial do município de Porto Alegre. A sua bacia hidrográfica ocupa cerca de 30% da área do estado e os principais rios - Jacuí, Caí, Sinos e Gravataí - drenam áreas de intenso uso agrícola e industrial. No Lago Guaíba, as florações têm sido frequentes, principalmente na última década e representam um sério desafio ambiental. Neste contexto, o objetivo da presente pesquisa foi avaliar o potencial de identificação dos episódios de floração de algas no Lago Guaíba a partir da integração de dados radiométricos in situ adquiridos simultaneamente a dados limnológicos (clorofila-a, total de sólidos em suspensão, transparência da água, entre outros) e imagens de satélite. Para a obtenção dos espectros de reflectância foi utilizado o espectrorradiômetro portátil FieldSpec® HandHeld, com coleta em 16 pontos amostrais definidos a priori. Os trabalhos de campo ocorreram em março de 2012, maio de 2013 e abril de 2014. Os espectros foram correlacionados com medidas de variáveis limnológicas obtidas simultaneamente. Para a análise espaço-temporal das florações foram selecionadas 10 imagens produzidas pelos satélites Landsat 5 e 7 (sensores TM e ETM+) disponibilizadas pelo Serviço Geológico dos Estados Unidos (USGS), corrigidas para os efeitos da atmosfera e convertidas em reflectância de superfície. Estas imagens foram obtidas nos meses de verão e outono, entre os anos de 2005 e 2012, e coincidiram com as datas das florações identificadas pelo Departamento Municipal de Água e Esgotos (DMAE) do município de Porto Alegre. Três rotinas de processamento foram aplicadas às imagens: 1) o Índice de Vegetação por Diferença Normalizada (NDVI); 2) o Modelo Linear de Mistura Espectral (MLME) e 3) a Análise por Componentes Principais (ACP). Durante a coleta dos espectros em campo não houve florações, mas, ainda assim, estes permitiram identificar padrões de reflectância do lago em diferentes áreas e situações climáticas, bem como a influência da clorofila-a e dos sólidos em suspensão na resposta espectral da água. Os principais resultados do processamento das imagens de satélite foram: a) o NDVI é adequado para o mapeamento da abrangência e intensidade das florações e que resultados superiores a -0,2 indicam áreas de floração; b) o MLME apresentou limitações para o mapeamento das florações relacionadas à dificuldade de obtenção de bons espectros de referência diretamente sobre as imagens, mas permitiu avaliar as variações espaciais das características da água; c) a técnica da ACP ampliou as correlações dos dados das imagens com a Chl-a e as cianobactérias em comparação ao NDVI, e a classificação nãosupervisionada das principais componentes permitiu identificar as áreas (clusters) de floração, assim como áreas onde outros componentes atuavam. Os fatores que contribuíram para o estabelecimento de florações no lago foram: menor velocidade do fluxo da água, menor profundidade da coluna d´água, menor velocidade do vento e menores índices de precipitação pluviométrica, associados à maior disponibilidade de luminosidade e oferta de nutrientes. Concluí-se que as técnicas empregadas foram adequadas para o mapeamento de florações e que análises que utilizam dados de diferentes naturezas podem incrementar as metodologias existentes e abrir novas possibilidades de identificação e monitoramento de algas. / The eutrophication of freshwater ecosystems is a slow and natural process, but that has intensified greatly because of the influence of human activity. One of the consequences of artificial eutrophication are increasingly frequent and intense algae blooms. Some genera groups of algae, and cyanobacteria can produce toxins that pose a risk to humans and aquatic biota and therefore blooms deserve special attention. The Guaiba Lake is an important water body in the State of Rio Grande do Sul and the main source of Porto Alegre city. Its basin covers about 30% of the state area and major rivers - Jacuí, Caí, Sinos and Gravataí - drain areas of intense agricultural and industrial use. In the Guaiba Lake, blooms have been frequent, especially in the last decade and represent a serious environmental challenge. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential for identification of episodes of algal bloom in the Guaiba Lake from the integration of radiometric data in situ simultaneously acquired with limnology data (chlorophyll-a, suspended solids total, water transparency, etc.) and satellite images. To obtain the reflectance spectra a portable spectroradiometer FieldSpec® HandHeld was used, with a collection of 16 sampling points defined a priori. The fieldwork took place in March 2012, May 2013 and April 2014. The spectra were correlated with limnological variables obtained simultaneously. For the spatio-temporal analysis of the blooms 10 images produced by Landsat satellites 5 and 7 (TM and ETM+ sensors) were selected and provided by United States Geological Survey (USGS), adjusted for the effects of the atmosphere and converted to surface reflectance. These images were produced in the months of summer and fall, between the years 2005 and 2012, and coincided with the dates of the blooms identified by the Municipal Department of Water and Sewerage (DMAE) in the city of Porto Alegre. Three processing routines were applied to images: 1) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI); 2) Linear Spectral Mixture Model (LSMM) and 3) the Analysis by Principal Component (ACP). During the collection of spectra in the field no bloom was identified, but even so it was possible to identificaty reflectance standards in different areas and climatic conditions in the Lake as well as the influence of chlorophyll-a and suspended solids in the spectral response of the water. The main results of the satellite images processing were: a) the NDVI is suitable for mapping the scope and intensity of blooms and results greater than -0.2 indicate flowering areas; b) the LSMM presented limitations for mapping the blooms related to the difficulty of obtaining good reference spectra directly on the images but allowed the evaluation of spatial variations of water features; c) the technique of ACP increased correlations of image data with Chl-a and cyanobacteria compared to NDVI, and non-supervised classification of the principal component identified in the flowering cluster areas as well as areas where other components were at play. Factors that contributed to the establishment of blooms in the lake were slower rate of water flow, the less depth of the water column, lower wind speed and lower levels of rainfall, combined with the greater availability of light and nutrient supply. It was concluded that the techniques used were suitable for mapping blooms and the analysis using data from different natures can improve existing methodologies and open new possibilities for identification and monitoring of algae.

Atmospheric nutrient loading and transport though precipitation and dry deposition is one of the least understood yet one of the most important pathways of nutrient transport into many lakes. These nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen, are essential for aquatic life and often play major roles in algae blooms that occur in lakes and reservoirs. Often heavy algal growth intensifies a variety of water quality problems. Utah Lake may be even more susceptible to atmospheric deposition due to its large surface area to volume ratio and proximity to Great Basin dust sources. In this study, eight months of atmospheric deposition data were collected and analyzed from five locations near Utah Lake. Geospatial maps were created to show the temporal distribution of phosphorus and nitrogen. Evaluation of the atmospheric deposition results indicate that between 8 to 350 tons of total phosphorus and 46 to 460 tons of dissolved inorganic nitrogen were deposited onto the surface of Utah Lake over an eight-month period. Both estimates were based on assuming that the deposition decreased exponentially from the sampling station to the middle of the lake. The large difference results from using only samples with no visible particles or insects present to give the low estimate and all samples to give the high estimate. These nutrient loading values are very significant in that it has been estimated that only about 17 tons year-1 of phosphorus and about 200 tons year-1 of nitrogen are needed to support a eutrophic level of algal growth in Utah Lake. Atmospheric deposition was found to be a major contributor in providing a eutrophic nutrient load to Utah Lake. Further, it is likely that the actual deposition loading is much higher than 8 tons per 8 months thus indicating that deposition alone adds a eutrophic phosphorus loading to the lake. Since conditions are similar in much of the Great Basin and other areas of Western United States, this seems to be a very significant finding relative to nutrient evaluation and feasible management scenarios. The results also indicate that one might expect to see more cyanobacteria blooms (Harmful Algal Blooms) in shallow ponds in this area if atmospheric deposition is the main source of nutrients, since N to P ratios are low and thus more situations arise where a shortage of ionic nitrogen favors these nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs, or "red tides") of the brevetoxin-producing dinoflagellate Karenia brevis occur periodically along Florida's Gulf coast. Mass mortalities of marine birds have long been associated with these blooms, yet there are few data documenting the accumulation of brevetoxins (PbTx) in the tissues of birds. Post-mortem evaluations were performed on 185 birds representing 22 species collected from October 2001 through May 2006 during red tide and non-red tide events to quantify their body burdens of brevetoxins. A variety of tissues and organs were selected for brevetoxin analysis including blood, brain, heart, fat, stomach or gut contents, intestinal contents or digestive tract, muscle, lung, liver or viscera, kidney, gonads, gallbladder and spleen. Brevetoxin levels in avian tissues ranged from K. brevis which may amass in various tissues of the body. As a consequence, the birds may exhibit acute brevetoxicosis during red tide events or show chronic accumulation effects during non-red tide events.

Thermal stratification occurs in shallow water bodies because solar energy separates the water column into an upper warm layer, a lower cold layer, and an intermediate layer between the upper and lower layers. In general the intermediate layer exhibits a significant thermal gradient over depth. Because cold water is heavier than warm water, this temperature structure produces a stable stratification, thereby inhibiting circulation from the bottom to the surface. This stable stratification results in a deficit of dissolved oxygen in the lower layer leading to water quality problems. Hence understanding the thermal structure and vertical circulation in shallow water bodies is important for water quality and its management. In this research, a numerical code is developed to examine the three-dimensional flow structure in shallow water bodies. This numerical code is used to solve the governing equations : the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations for three velocities and pressure, the depth-averaged continuity equation for free surface movement, the equations for turbulence closure, the scalar transport equation for temperature, and the international equation of state for density variation due to temperature. These equations are solved simultaneously using a finite difference method. The mathematical equations are transformed into a generalised coordinate system which allows flexibility for irregular boundaries and the allocation of vertical grid points every time step depending on free surface movements. In order to overcome possible numerical instabilities because of the small vertical length scale in shallow water bodies, an implicit method is used in the vertical direction. Several test cases involving free surface movement are used to verify the numerical code, and numerical solutions compare favourably against analytical solutions and measured data. The numerical code has been applied to the Torrens Lake in Adelaide, South Australia, where algal blooms occur frequently in summer due to thermal stratification. Typical thermal structures have been obtained from the model and these are compared with field data. The current code has been developed to improve upon existing commercial models which may not adequately address shallow water flows because of the high computational burden required to resolve free surface movements and consequential difficulties encountered for models with a small vertical length scale. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Mathematical Sciences, 2007.

The Laurentian Great Lake, Lake Erie is an invaluable global resource and its watershed is home to over 11 million people. The pressures placed on the lake because of this high population caused Lake Erie to experience numerous environmental problems, including seasonal hypoxia and harmful algal blooms. While these topics have been widely studied in Lake Erie for over 40 years a more nuanced understanding of the interaction between phytoplankton and nutrient is needed to properly address the problems continuing to face the lake. In this study we combine classical limnological and cell growth experiments with modern molecular biological techniques and microscopy to more completely describe the aquatic microbial ecology of the lake. We used an oxalate rinse technique to examine the surface absorbed P pool of the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa grown under a range of P conditions, as well as the general Lake Erie plankton assemblage. Our results suggest that while Microcystis is plastic in its cellular P needs, the ratio of intracellular to extracellular P remains stable across growth conditions. We describe the effect of the phosphonate herbicide glyphosate on the Lake Erie phytoplankton community using laboratory cell growth studies, field microcosm experiments and PCR amplification of a gene implicated in the breakdown of this compound from the environment. Results from these experiments suggest that the presence of glyphosate can affect community structure in multiple ways and may explain areas of unexplained phytoplankton diversity in coastal areas of Lake Erie. We also show heterotrophic bacteria are likely critical to the breakdown of glyphosate and further illustrate that understanding the context of the larger microbial community is critical to understanding the ecology of the constituent members of the community. Finally, we investigate the activity of the phytoplankton community in winter months with a focus on diatoms abundant in Lake Erie under the ice. We show these diatoms are active and that the winter bloom is a likely source of carbon important to seasonal hypoxia formation. Together, these studies significantly enrich our understanding of how phytoplankton influence important ecological processes in Lake Erie.

Inflows affect water quality, food web dynamics, and even the incidence of harmful algal blooms. It may be that inflows can be manipulated to create refuge habitat for biota trying to escape poor environmental conditions, such as fish populations in lakes during times of toxic Prymnesium parvum blooms. Water availability sometimes can be an issue, especially in arid climates, which limits this approach to management. Utilizing source water from deeper depths to displace surface waters, however, might effectively mimic inflow events. I test this notion by conducting in-lake mesocosm experiments with natural plankton communities where I manipulate hydraulic flushing. Results show that P. parvum cell density is reduced by 69%, and ambient toxicity completely ameliorates during pre-bloom conditions in the lake. During conditions of bloom development, population density is reduced by 53%, toxicity by 57%, and bloom proportions are never reached. There is minimal effect of these inflows on total phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass, and little effect on water quality. Shifts toward more rapidly growing phytoplankton taxa are observed, as are enhanced copepod nauplii. In other words, while inflows using deep waters suppress P. parvum bloom initiation and development, they are benign to other aspects of the lower food web and environment. The results from using deep lake water to suppress harmful algal blooms indicate this may be a promising management approach and further studies are recommended to test whether this mitigating effect can translate to a large-scale in-lake treatment.

<em>Cladophora glomerata</em> is a filamentous green alga that currently forms extensive blooms in nearshore areas of Lake Ontario, eastern Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, and isolated locations in Lake Huron. The biomass, areal coverage, algal bed characteristics, and tissue phosphorus concentrations of <em>Cladophora glomerata</em> were measured at 24 nearshore rocky sites along the northern shoreline of Lake Erie?s eastern basin between 1995-2002. Midsummer areal coverage at shallow depths (&le;5m) ranged from 4-100 %, with a median value of 96%. Peak seasonal biomass ranged from <1 to 940 g m^-2 dry mass (DM), with a median value of 171 g m^-2 DM. Tissue phosphorus varied seasonally, with initial high values in early May (0. 15 to 0. 27 % DM; median 0. 23 % DM) to midsummer seasonal low values during peak biomass (0. 03 to 0. 23 % DM; median 0. 06 % DM). A numerical <em>Cladophora</em> growth model (CGM) was revised and field-tested at 5 sites in eastern Lake Erie during 2002. The CGM is useful for: 1) Predicting <em>Cladophora</em> growth, biomass, and tissue phosphorus concentrations under non-point source P loading with no depth restrictions; 2) providing estimates of the timing and magnitude of the midsummer sloughing phenomenon; 3) determining the contribution of <em>Dreissena</em> invasion to the resurgence of <em>Cladophora</em> in eastern Lake Erie; and 4) developing management strategies for <em>Cladophora</em> abatement. The CGM was applied to investigate how the spatial and temporal patterns of <em>Cladophora</em> growth were influenced by the natural variability in environmental parameters in eastern Lake Erie. Seasonal patterns in <em>Cladophora</em> growth were strongly influenced by temperature, and peak depth-integrated biomass was strongly influenced by both available light and phosphorus. The photosynthetic capacity of field collected <em>Cladophora</em> was a poor predictor of the mid-summer sloughing phenomenon. The CGM, however, predicted that self-shading within the dense <em>Cladophora</em> mats would have caused negative growth rates at the base of the dense mats for 14 days prior to the sloughing event. The metabolic imbalances at the base of the <em>Cladophora</em> mats were driven primarily by the availability of light and were exacerbated by intermediate water temperatures (~23°C). The excellent agreement between model simulations and field data illustrates the ability of the CGM to predict tissue P and growth over a range of sites and depths in eastern Lake Erie and suggests potential for the model to be successfully applied in other systems.

published_or_final_version / Applied Geosciences / Master / Master of Science