Forest Die-Back Modified Plankton Recovery from Acidic Stress

We examined long-term data on water chemistry of Lake Rachelsee (Germany) following the changes in acidic depositions in central Europe since 1980s. Despite gradual chemical recovery of Rachelsee, its biological recovery was delayed. In 1999, lake recovery was abruptly reversed by a coincident forest die-back, which resulted in elevated terrestrial export of nitrate and ionic aluminum lasting ~5 years. This re-acidification episode provided unique opportunity to study plankton recovery in the rapidly recovering lake water after the abrupt decline in nitrate leaching from the catchment. There were sudden changes both in lake water chemistry and in plankton biomass structure, such as decreased bacterial filaments, increased phytoplankton biomass, and rotifer abundance. The shift from dominance of heterotrophic to autotrophic organisms suggested their substantial release from severe phosphorus stress. Such a rapid change in plankton structure in a lake recovering from acidity has, to the best of our knowledge, not been previously documented.     

Algae mediate submerged macrophyte response to nutrient and dissolved inorganic carbon loading: A mesocosm study on different species

Nutrient and dissolved inorganic carbon are two important factors that influence the development and species composition of submerged macrophyte communities in shallow lake ecosystems. Yet little is known about their potential interactive effects on the submerged macrophytes and competition outcome of macrophyte–phytoplankton. We performed a mesocosm experiment to investigate the growth and photosynthetic performance of three submerged macrophytes in relation to phytoplankton/epiphyton with nutrient and bicarbonate enrichment. During the experimental period (42 d), increase in nutrient loading in water column resulted in a substantial burst of phytoplankton and epiphyton growth and increased light attenuation. When combined with nutrient loading, bicarbonate enrichment also resulted in a heavily phytoplankton- and epiphyton-dominated state, although bicarbonate enrichment per se does not cause the phytoplankton and epiphyton growth. However, increase in nutrient loading in water column had significant negative impact on individual performances (growth and photosynthesis) of the three submerged macrophytes and bicarbonate enrichment increased the effect of eutrophication on two dissected-leaf macrophytes (M. spicatum and E. nuttallii). Furthermore, our results also suggest that species-specific photosynthetic performances occurred when submerged macrophytes in an environment with high abundance of phytoplankton/epiphyton. This study highlighted that increase in nutrient loading and bicarbonate in water column is likely to interactively impact both abiotic and biotic properties of a freshwater ecosystem. The interactions of these two factors could select macrophyte species that are able to resist the shading from phytoplankton/epiphyton, making these species more dominant in natural freshwater ecosystems.     

Temperature and nutrients are significant drivers of seasonal shift in phytoplankton community from a drinking water reservoir,subtropical China

Reservoirs are an important source of water supply in many densely populated areas in southeast China. Phytoplankton plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of these reservoir ecosystems. Understanding of seasonal succession in phytoplankton communities and its driving factors is essential for effective water quality management in drinking-water reservoirs. In this study, water samples were collected monthly at the surface layers of riverine, transitional, and lacustrine zones from May 2010 to April 2011 in Tingxi Reservoir, southeast China. The phytoplankton showed distinct seasonal shifts in community structure at both taxonomic and functional levels. Cyanophyta was the dominant group in summer, especially species of Raphidiopsis in May and Aphanizomenon in June, and cyanobacterial dominance was promoted by both warmer conditions and excessive nutrients loading. Cyanophyta was gradually replaced by Cryptophyta (e.g., Chroomonas caudata) in abundance and by Bacillariophyta (Fragilaria sp. or Synedra sp. and Melosira sp.) in biomass with decreasing temperature. It appeared that seasonal shifts in phytoplankton composition were closely related to climate, nutrient status, and hydrology in this reservoir. Our partial RDA results clearly showed that water temperature and nutrients (TN and TP) were the most critical factors driving phytoplankton community shift in the abundance and biomass data, respectively. Further, with the global warming, cyanobacterial blooms may increase in distribution, duration, and intensity. In our study, the abundance and biomass of cyanobacteria had significant and positive correlations with temperature and phosphorus. Therefore, a stricter limit on nutrient input should be a priority in watershed management to protect drinking water from the effects of cyanobacterial blooms, especially in high-temperature period.     

Phytoplankton and water quality characterization: experiences from the Swedish large lakes Mälaren, Hjälmaren, Vättern and Vänern

Phytoplankton and environmental variables have been monitored in the large Swedish lakes M?laren, Hj?lmaren, V?ttern and V?nern since the 1960s. Measures to reduce phosphorus input and industrial waste products were taken during the 1970s. The phosphorus loading was then reduced by 90-95% resulting in a halving of the phosphorus concentrations in the most affected basins. The phytoplankton community reacted rapidly with decreased biomasses of cyanobacteria in summer as well as decreased biomasses of spring diatoms and cryptophycean flagellates. Other reactions were a contracted period of water-bloom, an increased taxon richness, an increased evenness in the biomass over the growth season, and a change in the species size structure within the phytoplankton community. Furthermore, the species richness in the large lakes is compared in relation to lake characteristics. A presentation of the occurrence of toxic cyanobacteria in the lakes is also given. Maximum-minimum values of 13-0.1 micrograms microcystin L-1 are established in connection with water-blooms in Hj?lmaren and M?laren. The use of phytoplankton as a monitoring variable to detect water-quality changes is outlined and assessment criteria are presented.     

N:P ratios,light limitation,and cyanobacterial dominance in a subtropical lake impacted by non-point source nutrient pollution

A long-term (28-year) data set was used to investigate historical changes in concentrations of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), N:P ratios, and Secchi disk transparency in a shallow subtropical lake (Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA). The aim was to evaluate changes in the risk of N2-fixing cyanobacterial blooms, which have infrequently occurred in the lake's pelagic zone. Predictions regarding bloom risk were based on previously published N:P ratio models. Temporal trends in the biomass of cyanobacteria were evaluated using phytoplankton data collected in 1974, 1989-1992, and 1997-2000. Concentrations of pelagic total P increased from near 50 microg l-1 in the mid-1970s to over 100 microg l-1 in the late 1990s. Coincidentally, the total N:P (mass) ratio decreased from 30:1 to below 15:1, and soluble N:P ratio decreased from 15:1 to near 6:1, in the lake water. Published empirical models predict that current conditions favor cyanobacteria. The observations confirm this prediction: cyanobacteria presently account for 50-80% of total phytoplankton biovolume. The historical decrease in TN:TP ratio in the lake can be attributed to a decreased TN:TP ratio in the inflow water and to a decline in the lake's assimilation of P, relative to N. Coincident with these declines in total and soluble N:P ratios, Secchi disk transparency declined from 0.6 m to near 0.3 m, possibly due to increased mineral turbidity in the lake water. Empirical models predict that under the turbid, low irradiance conditions that prevail in this lake, non-heterocystous cyanobacteria should dominate the phytoplankton. Our observations confirmed this prediction: non-N2-fixing taxa (primarily Oscillatoria and Lyngbya spp.) typically dominated the cyanobacteria community during the last decade. The only exception was a year with very low water levels, when heterocystous N2-fixing Anabaena became dominant. In the near-shore regions of this shallow lake, low N:P ratios potentially favor blooms of N2-fixing cyanobacteria, but their occurrence in the pelagic zone is restricted by low irradiance and lack of stable stratification.     

Eutrophication of freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems a global problem

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Humans now strongly influence almost every major aquatic ecosystem, and their activities have dramatically altered the fluxes of growth-limiting nutrients from the landscape to receiving waters. Unfortunately, these nutrient inputs have had profound negative effects upon the quality of surface waters worldwide. This review examines how eutrophication influences the biomass and species composition of algae in both freshwater and costal marine systems. MAIN FEATURES: An overview of recent advances in algae-related eutrophication research is presented. In freshwater systems, a summary is presented for lakes and reservoirs; streams and rivers; and wetlands. A brief summary is also presented for estuarine and coastal marine ecosystems. RESULTS: Eutrophication causes predictable increases in the biomass of algae in lakes and reservoirs; streams and rivers; wetlands; and coastal marine ecosystems. As in lakes, the response of suspended algae in large rivers to changes in nutrient loading may be hysteretic in some cases. The inhibitory effects of high concentrations of inorganic suspended solids on algal growth, which can be very evident in many reservoirs receiving high inputs of suspended soils, also potentially may occur in turbid rivers. Consistent and predictable eutrophication-caused increases in cyanobacterial dominance of phytoplankton have been reported worldwide for natural lakes, and similar trends are reported here both for phytoplankton in turbid reservoirs, and for suspended algae in a large river CONCLUSIONS: A remarkable unity is evident in the global response of algal biomass to nitrogen and phosphorus availability in lakes and reservoirs; wetlands; streams and rivers; and coastal marine waters. The species composition of algal communities inhabiting the water column appears to respond similarly to nutrient loading, whether in lakes, reservoirs, or rivers. As is true of freshwater ecosystems, the recent literature suggests that coastal marine ecosystems will respond positively to nutrient loading control efforts. RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: Our understanding of freshwater eutrophication and its effects on algal-related water quality is strong and is advancing rapidly. However, our understanding of the effects of eutrophication on estuarine and coastal marine ecosystems is much more limited, and this gap represents an important future research need. Although coastal systems can be hydrologically complex, the biomass of marine phytoplankton nonetheless appears to respond sensitively and predictably to changes in the external supplies of nitrogen and phosphorus. These responses suggest that efforts to manage nutrient inputs to the seas will result in significant improvements in coastal zone water quality. Additional new efforts should be made to develop models that quantitatively link ecosystem-level responses to nutrient loading in both freshwater and marine systems.     

Effects of the triazine herbicide, simetryn, on freshwater plankton communities in experimental ponds

The effects of a triazine herbicide, simetryn, on freshwater phyto- and zooplankton communities and water chemistry were investigated using outdoor experimental ponds. Simetryn was applied at a concentration of 0.1 or 1.0 mg l(-1) 18 days after the start of the experiment. Simetryn treatments reduced pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, chlorophyll a concentration and photosynthetic rate in the pond water, whereas they increased the dissolved nutrient concentration. In the phytoplankton community Volvocales and Cryptophyceae were clearly reduced by the herbicide application. In the 0.1 mg l(-1) simetryn-treated ponds, photosynthetic rate of the phytoplankton community recovered slightly about two weeks after the treatment, which coincided with recovery of centric diatoms and Cryptophyceae, whereas it was completely suppressed until the end of the experiment in the 1.0 mg l(-1) simetryn-treated ponds. The decrease in zooplankton density in the treated ponds was not due to the direct toxic effects of simetryn but to indirect effects resulting from reduced algal productivity which in turn reduced the food supply.     

HPLC pigment analysis of marine phytoplankton during a red tide occurrence in Tolo Harbour,Hong Kong

A red tide was detected in the inner parts of Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong, in November 2000. Water samples were collected from a fixed station at the centre of the red tide patch for microscopic analysis of phytoplankton community composition and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of phytoplankton pigments. At the peak of the red tide on 24 November 2000, phytoplankton was dominated by the dinoflagellate Scrippsiella trochoidea. The red tide began to decline at the end of November and, by 1 December 2000, the phytoplankton was dominated by diatoms. Chlorophylls and carotenoids in water samples were analysed using HPLC pigment separation technique. Dinoflagellates were indicated by the signature pigment peridinin. Significant correlation (r=0.999) was found between the peridinin concentration and dinoflagellate density. A decrease in peridinin and an increase in fucoxanthin, a major carotenoid in diatoms, marked the shift in phytoplankton composition at the end of the red tide. HPLC analysis also revealed the occurrence of minor phytoplankton groups that are difficult to identify by light microscopy. Red tide monitoring and study of red tide dynamics in Hong Kong have been based on cell counting and spectrophotometric or fluorometric measurement of chlorophyll a. HPLC pigment analysis provides an effective alternative for investigating phytoplankton dynamics during red tide and other algal blooms.     

Complex interactions between autotrophs in shallow marine and freshwater ecosystems: implications for community responses to nutrient stress

The relative biomass of autotrophs (vascular plants, macroalgae, microphytobenthos, phytoplankton) in shallow aquatic ecosystems is thought to be controlled by nutrient inputs and underwater irradiance. Widely accepted conceptual models indicate that this is the case both in marine and freshwater systems. In this paper we examine four case studies and test whether these models generally apply. We also identify other complex interactions among the autotrophs that may influence ecosystem response to cultural eutrophication. The marine case studies focus on macroalgae and its interactions with sediments and vascular plants. The freshwater case studies focus on interactions between phytoplankton, epiphyton, and benthic microalgae. In Waquoit Bay, MA (estuary), controlled experiments documented that blooms of macroalgae were responsible for the loss of eelgrass beds at nutrient-enriched locations. Macroalgae covered eelgrass and reduced irradiance to the extent that the plants could not maintain net growth. In Hog Island Bay, VA (estuary), a dense lawn of macroalgae covered the bottom sediments. There was reduced sediment-water nitrogen exchange when the algae were actively growing and high nitrogen release during algal senescence. In Lakes Brobo (West Africa) and Okeechobee (FL), there were dramatic seasonal changes in the biomass and phosphorus content of planktonic versus attached algae, and these changes were coupled with changes in water level and abiotic turbidity. Deeper water and/or greater turbidity favored dominance by phytoplankton. In Lake Brobo there also was evidence that phytoplankton growth was stimulated following a die-off of vascular plants. The case studies from Waquoit Bay and Lake Okeechobee support conceptual models of succession from vascular plants to benthic algae to phytoplankton along gradients of increasing nutrients and decreasing under-water irradiance. The case studies from Hog Island Bay and Lake Brobo illustrate additional effects (modified sediment-water nutrient fluxes, allelopathy or nutrient release during plant senescence) that could play a role in ecosystem response to nutrient stress.     

Comparison of microbial community between two shallow freshwater lakes in middle Yangtze basin, East China

In order to investigate the role of the microbial community in aquatic ecology and nutrient transformations in the development of eutrophication in large shallow freshwater lakes along Yangtze River, the microbial community in the depth-related sediment in Lake Chaohu and Lake Longganhu were compared. Lake Chaohu is one of the three most polluted lakes in China. However, the neighboring Lake Longganhu, a mesotrophic lake, is relatively pristine. The total phosphorous (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) concentration in water was detected at 0.193 mgl(-1) and 3.035 mgl(-1) for Lake Chaohu, 0.051 mgl(-1) and 0.774 mgl(-1) for Lake Longganhu, respectively. The population of the microorganisms with various ecological nutrient transforming functions (e.g. phosphate solubilizing, denitrifying and cellulose decomposing) and a batch of environmental parameters concerning the nutrient accumulating and transforming (e.g. total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorous concentrations) were assayed in the depth-related sediment samples from several defined points in both lakes. The sediment samples from Lake Chaohu showed higher density of actinomycetes (P<0.05) and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (P<0.001) and less profusion of denitrifying bacteria (P<0.05) and cellulolytic microbes (P<0.001), compared with those of Lake Longganhu. The data suggested that the current microbial community in the sediment of Lake Chaohu is in favor of sustaining or further accelerating the process of the lake eutrophication. A possible positive feedback loop which consists of sustained growth of microorganisms and gradual decline of lake eutrophic status is worth further discussing.     

Fish community responses to pulp and paper mill effluents at the southern Lake Saimaa, Finland.

The fish community in sublittoral and profundal waters, at stony shores, and densities of vendace larvae were studied in the southern Lake Saimaa, Finland. The objective was to investigate the possible recovery of fish populations after modernizations at the pulp and paper mills discharging into the lake. Sublittoral and profundal waters were studied by gill net trial fishings, stony shores by electrofishing, and vendace larvae by beach seine. The research area was divided in a polluted (0.5-4.0% effluent), an intermediate (0.1-0.5%) and a 'clean' reference area. The fish community in sublittoral and profundal waters in the lake was dominated (> 60%) by perch and roach. Relative abundance of fish was highest in the polluted area, and lowest in the reference area. The number of species caught was similar among areas. The abundance of bleak and ruffe was highest in the polluted area, while the abundance of vendace and whitefish was highest in the intermediate and reference area. The fish fauna of stony shores in the lake was dominated by bullhead, stone loach and minnow, densities were lowest at polluted shores and highest in the intermediate area. Minnow, apparently a more sensitive species to pulp mill effluents, were not caught at the most polluted shores. The catch of vendace larvae was similar among areas, larvae were also caught in the vicinity of the mills. Compared with before the modernization at the mills, the relative abundance of perch in the polluted area was increased, ruffe decreased, while populations of whitefish and vendace showed signs of recovery. These changes may be explained by the reduced nutrient load and toxicicity of pulp mill effluents. At present, the fish community in the polluted area can be considered typical for a moderate eutrophication.     

Effects of seasonal succession and water pollution on the protozoan community structure in an eutrophic lake

The purpose of the research is to study the seasonal succession of protozoa community and the effect of water quality on the protozoa community to characterize biochemical processes occurring at a eutrophic Lake Donghu, a large shallow lake in Wuhan City, China. Samples of protozoa communities were obtained monthly at three stations by PFU (polyurethane foam unit) method over a year. Synchronously, water samples also were taken from the stations for the water chemical quality analysis. Six major variables were examined in a principal component analysis (PCA), which indicate the fast changes of water quality in this station I and less within-year variation and a comparatively stable water quality in stations II and III. The community data were analyzed using multivariate techniques, and we show that clusters are rather mixed and poorly separated, suggesting that the community structure is changing gradually, giving a slight merging of clusters form the summer to the autumn and the autumn to the winter. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to infer the relationship between water quality variables and phytoplankton community structure, which changed substantially over the survey period. From the analysis of cluster and CCA, coupled by community pollution value (CPV), it is concluded that the key factors driving the change in protozoa community composition in Lake Donghu was water qualities rather than seasons.     

Reconstruction of centuries-old Daphnia communities in a lake recovering from acidification and metal contamination

Paleolimnological and molecular genetic techniques were combined to reconstruct the long-term patterns in Daphnia community composition in Hannah Lake--a lake recovering from industrial acidification, metal contamination and faunal extirpation. Like many zooplankters, Daphnia produce diapausing eggs that can remain viable for decades and even over a century. Yet, the appearance of D. mendotae in Hannah Lake during the last two decades is likely the outcome of dispersal from other nearby lakes, not by colonization from the sediment egg-bank. Our genetic tests using PCR, SSCP and sequencing indicate that D. mendotae diapausing eggs are absent within the sediment record of the previous 250 years and that, prior to metal smelting operations in the region, the community was dominated by D. pulicaria. This species shift following the lake's chemical restoration is consistent with earlier historical changes in lake acidity. Environmental fluctuations may have governed community composition throughout Hannah Lake's more ancient past. Extending this molecular-paleolimnological approach to other lakes should help develop more accurate formulations of the biological recovery process.     

Changes in primary productivity associated with liming and reacidification of an Adirondack lake

The addition of calcium carbonate to a clearwater acidic lake had a significant effect on phytoplankton abundance and on the biomass-specific rate of production. Chlorophyll concentrations and productivity: biomass ratios were strongly correlated with changes in lake acidity associated with liming and reacidification (r2=0.89 and 0.73, respectively). Summer mean chlorophyll increased by 0.9 mg m(-3) for each unit increase in lake pH, whereas productivity:biomass ratios decreased from > 2 to < 1 with an increase in pH from 5.5 to 7.0. Higher phytoplankton standing crops after liming were attributed to lower grazing rates following the decline of the dominant zooplankton taxa. A model relating biomass-specific productivity to incident light levels was found to be useful in interpreting treatment effects on productivity. Incident light and biomass (based on chlorophyll) accounted for 81% of the variability in productivity at the treated site. Comparisons of photosynthesis-irradiance curves indicated that the maximum photosynthetic capacity was higher following the watershed liming, compared to data collected after lake liming and during reacidification.     

Phytoplankton can bypass nutrient reductions in eutrophic coastal water bodies

The EU-water framework directive aims at nutrient reductions, since anthropogenically induced eutrophication is a major threat for coastal waters. However, phytoplankton biomass in southern Baltic Sea coastal water bodies (CWB) remains high and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Therefore, a CWB data set was analysed regarding changes in phytoplankton biomass and nutrient concentration of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from 2000 to 2014. It was expected to find imbalances between produced phytoplankton biomass and total nutrient concentrations. Inner CWB were cyanobacteria-dominated and showed up to five times higher chlorophyll a-concentrations compared to outer CWB with similar total phosphorus-concentrations. Phytoplankton tended to be P-limited during spring and N-limited during summer. Phytoplankton biomass and nutrient concentrations were even higher during very humid years, which indicated a close coupling of the CWB with their catchment areas. This study suggests that re-mesotrophication efforts need to consider the importance of changed phytoplankton composition and nutrient availabilities.     

Effects of a carbamate insecticide, carbaryl, on the summer phyto- and zooplankton communities in ponds

A carbamate insecticide, carbaryl (1-naphthyl-N-methylcarbamate), was applied in concrete ponds and the effects on plankton communities were studied. In a control pond, Cladocera declined following the increase in the density of inedible algae after a cladoceran peak. Once the density of Cladocera became low, Chaoborus larvae suppressed the increase of Cladocera and consequently supported the rotifer dominance in the zooplankton community by their selective predation on cladocerans. In a treated pond, the plankton community and its succession were similar to those in the control pond until the chemical application. 1 ppm of carbaryl killed all zooplankton and Chaoborus larvae. Cladocera reappeared soon and increased rapidly due to the absence of Chaoborus larvae. Consequently, rotifer populations were suppressed. Thus, the chemical application altered the dominance of rotifers to that of cladocerans. The same phenomenon was observed again after the second chemical application 12 days after. Although apparent direct effects of the chemical application on phytoplankton were not found, the phytoplankton community structure changed following the changes in the zooplankton density.     

Modelling the phytoplankton dynamics in a nutrient-rich solar saltern pond: predicting the impact of restoration and climate change

An ecological model for the solar saltern of Sfax (Tunisia) was established and validated by comparing simulation results to observed data relative to horizontal distributions of temperature, nutrients and phytoplankton biomass. Sensitivity analysis was performed in order to assess the influence of the main ecological model parameters. First applied at the saltern’s pond A1, the model was calibrated with field data measured over 4 years of study (from 2000 to 2003), which allowed an evaluation of parameters such as maximum growth rate of phytoplankton, optimal growth temperature and constant of half saturation for P/N assimilation by phytoplankton. Simulation results showed that the model allowed us to predict realistic phytoplankton variations of the study area, though we were unable to accurately reproduce the nutrient variation. The model was then applied to simulations of the impact of changes in phytoplankton biomass through scenarios such as hypothetic climate changes and saltern restoration.     

Phytoplankton succession during acidification with and without increasing aluminum levels

An in situ mesocosm experiment was performed to investigate the role of aluminum in controlling phytoplankton community succession during lake acidification. Large (2000 liter) mesocosms were suspended in mesotrophic East Twin Lake, Ohio, USA. Duplicates were either untreated controls (pH 8.8), acidified to pH 4.5 over 23 days, or acidified and spiked with 200 microg/liter Al in incremental additions. Filamentous blue greens, diatoms and other chrysophytes became extinct in both acid treatments, but declined most rapidly where Al levels were also increased. The large desmid Closterium and the filamentous chlorophyte Mougoetia became dominant in the Acid treatment. In the Acid + Al treatment, these algae also became dominant, but the species with greatest biomass was the dinoflagellate Peridinium inconspicuum. Acidification (with or without added Al) also resulted in a significant shift in the algal size spectrum to larger (> 20 microm) cells.     

Characterization of phytoplankton community in a river ecosystem using pigment composition: a feasibility study

CHEMTAX is a mathematical software for phytoplankton composition evaluation using pigment composition. Although this method has been previously applied in the ocean environment, we firstly utilized the combination of matrix factorization program CHEMTAX and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to characterize the phytoplankton community from a river system (western part of Weihe River Basin). The obtained results were compared with those from microscopic examination. Based on the comparison, it is suggested that after increasing the ratio of characteristic pigment to chlorophyll a of diatoms and euglena, the diatoms calculated by the CHEMTAX method accounted for 80% of the total biomass, and the results were consistent with microscopic examination, but diatoms obtained from F2, C1 and W5 sample sites were significantly overestimated 33%~60%. The comparison also showed that the model always underestimated cyanobacteria (sample sites F2, C1 were underestimated 25%) and euglena were overestimated (sample sites W3, Q1 were respectively overestimated 33%, 23%), but for chlorophytes, both overestimation and underestimation could occur. When the relevant results from previous applications in the ocean phytoplankton community evaluation were taken into consideration, it can be concluded that CHEMTAX-HPLC method was not accurate enough to characterize the phytoplankton communities in the freshwater (river/lake) ecosystem.

     

The use of benthic mesocosms for the assessment of sediment contamination.

The diagnostic capability of changes in the benthic macroinvertebrate community composition to determine the cause in contaminated sediments were addressed using box core mesocosms subjected to cadmium, atrazine and nutrient enrichment. Intact cores of lake sediment were collected from Lake Erie at four occasions during 1996 and were returned to laboratory where they were maintained and manipulated. The benthic community composition of the artificially polluted mesocosms was compared with field data, collected at the same time as the intact cores, and to untreated control boxes. Community composition was related to the measured environmental variables using multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) and principle axis correlation (PCC). Community responses to different treatments were both different and consistent, suggesting that the community structure of these mesocosms could be used to identify the primary source of impact.