Algal growth potential and nutrient limitation in a tropical river-reservoir system of the Central Plateau, Mexico

The algal growth-limiting nutrient of lakes located at Mexico’s Mesa Central

“…N and P concentrations analyzed for each sample and fraction under study and an assumption of the limiting nutrient based on the stoichiometric ratio. Lind (1998) and Hernández et al (2001) corresponded with the present study. However, López and Dávalos Lind (1998) found an interesting spatial variation of the limiting nutrient (including N) at a wider geographical scale beyond the water body, including the tributary and the outlet.…”

“…Lind (1998) and Hernández et al (2001) corresponded with the present study. However, López and Dávalos Lind (1998) found an interesting spatial variation of the limiting nutrient (including N) at a wider geographical scale beyond the water body, including the tributary and the outlet. N limitation also occurred in some cases (Dávalos, 1989, Hernández et al, 2001Ramos-Higuera et al, 2008) as well as NP co-limitation (Bernal-Brooks et al, 2002a, 2003.…”

“…This strain was obtained from the Laboratory of Limnology at Baylor University (Texas, USA), and the procedure included a variation introduced by Dávalos et al (1989) using 50 mL test tubes (to maximize space for incubation) with a polyurethane sponge on top and a 40:60 water sample/air proportion (López-López and Dá-valos- Lind, 1998;Millican et al, 2008). For each lake, the algal growth was registered for five conditions and four replicates: lake water without nutrients added (socalled algal growth potential or AGP), full-nutrient culture media, lake water with nitrogen (N) added, lake water with phosphorus (P) added, and lake water with both N and P (NP) added.…”

Limnology in Mexico

“…In this case, the inference of ecological relationships relies frequently on the unilateral standpoint of chemical water analysis of N:P ratios. Shortcomings have been identified as ''the measurement of P and N concentrations in water gives static values…'' (López-López & Dávalos-Lind, 1998) and ''this method by itself does not yield reliable results if fluxes of nutrients are unknown and if no information is available on the nutrient requirements of the species involved'' (Van Donk et al, 1989). Recently, there has been a gradual change emphasizing the integral functional features of aquatic systems rather than just a ''descriptive'' framework.…”

“…The article ''Phytoplankton and bacterioplankton production and trophic relations in lake Chapala'' summarize 15 years of on-site research where nitrogen acts as limiting nutrient. López-López & Dávalos-Lind (1998) assessed the algal growth potential and nutrient limitation in a river-reservoir system near Morelia, in Michoacán, México. In this case, the headwaters responded to P additions, while the impoundments downstream show N and P colimitation.…”