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DO PHYSICAL FACTORS REGULATE PHYTOPLANKTON DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS IN LARGE, SHALLOW LAKES?
Author(s) -
Carrick H.J.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1046/j.1529-8817.1999.00001-30.x
Subject(s) - phytoplankton , tributary , oceanography , algal bloom , water column , chlorophyll a , environmental science , turbidity , biomass (ecology) , nutrient , algae , sediment , biology , ecology , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , paleontology , botany , cartography , geography , geotechnical engineering
Factors that regulate phytoplankton dynamics in shallow, productive lakes are poorly understood, due to their predisposition for frequent algal blooms and sediment resuspension events. In Lake Apopka, greatest phytoplankton biomass reflects wind‐induced resuspension of algae (meroplankton) that exists on the aphotic lake bottom in a layer approximately 5 cm thick; this assemblage is dominated by diatoms (>60% of total biomass) that can occur in resting stages. Once exposed to moderate light, meroplankton are capable of growth and photosynthetic rates comparable with surface populations. In Lake Okeechobee, remote sensing was used to assess the basin‐wide distribution of suspended particles. Satellite reflectance values agreed well with in situ particle densities at 20 in‐lake stations (average r 2 ; LANDSAT = 0.81, AVHRR = 0.53), and maps of algal blooms (r 2 = 0.79, p ≤ 0.01). The greatest chlorophyll concentrations occurred in the vicinity of tributary nutrient inputs at the lake's perimeter, while turbidity increased towards the center of the lake reflecting predominant water circulation patterns. These results underscore the importance of physical‐biological interactions in lakes.