Chlorophyll-total phosphorus relationships in Lake Burragorang, New South Wales, and some other Southern Hemisphere lakes

Abstract

Linear regression of chlorophyll concentration on total phosphorus concentration for phosphorus- limited Lake Burragorang, N.S.W., yields regression coefficients within the range reported for individual lakes in the Northern Hemisphere. Some variation in slope of published regressions is attributable to the choice of different regression subvariables (e.g. annual mean or annual maximum). The extent of this variation is quantified. Data from Lake Burragorang and other sites indicate that chlorophyll-phosphorus relationships in the Southern Hemisphere are concordant with those in the north if turbid waters are excluded from consideration. This is obviously significant in Australia, with so many turbid waters. The notion of 'growing season', as applied to Northern Hemisphere studies, is inappropriate for the warm temperate conditions of Lake Burragorang, and it was necessary instead to use the annual maximum chlorophyll concentration. Prediction of annual maximum chlorophyll concentration is of particular significance to water-quality management. Despite highly significant regressions, 95% confidence intervals and 95% prediction limits are wide, so that prediction of chlorophyll concentration from single values of total phosphorus, using double-In regressions, gives a wide arithmetic range. Use of annual mean total phosphorus concentration as the predictor variable limits the forecasting ability of the Lake Burragorang regressions but facilitates future coupling with a phosphorus loading model. This would assist in the assessment of projected management plans and the formulation of protective loading criteria.

Nutrient–chlorophyll relationships in tropical–subtropical lakes: do temperate models fit?

“…This possible N limitation suggests that tropical systems may have a poorer relationship between TP and Chl than temperate systems but Chl may be more closely related to total N (TN) concentrations. To date, however, there are relatively few studies examining the relationship between Chl and nutrients in either tropical (Walker andTyler 1983 apud Ferris andTyler 1985;Salas and Martino 1991;Lewis 1990;Sarnelle et al 1998;Jones et al 2000) or subtropical regions (e.g., Canfield 1983;Brown et al 2000). Further, many of the existing studies are based on relatively narrow geographic regions (e.g., Florida, Thailand), or relatively small data sets.…”

Biomanipulation: a review of biological control measures in eutrophic waters and the potential for Murray cod Maccullochella peelii peelii to promote water quality in temperate Australia

“…Reasons for this include: (1) in world lakes, its success rate as a management tool is sufficiently high (Meijer et al 1999); (2) in Australia, zooplankton may reach a larger body size than overseas and impose the highest known grazing impact on phytoplankton (Matveev et al 1994b); (3) small pelagic fish have been found to be numerous in reservoirs (Cartwright 2000;Matveev and Matveeva 1998); (4) there are significant correlations between estimates of the biomass of the small fish and the biomass of principal grazers, such as Daphnia (Matveev and Matveeva 1997);(5) there are significant correlations between indices of zooplankton grazing in lakes and phytoplankton biomass (Matveev 1995); (6) some zooplankton of the southern hemisphere have been shown to actively feed on cyanobacteria (Matveev 1998); (7) linear regression of chlorophyll a concentration on total phosphorus concentration for southern temperate freshwaters fits the ranges reported for individual lakes in the Northern Hemisphere where biomanipulation exercises have achieved considerable success (Ferris and Tyler 1985;Meijer et al 1994); and, (8) Australian Daphnia are recognized as having a significant grazing impact upon phytoplankton (Matveev et al 1994b). Most daphnids can consume their own biomass in phytoplankton per day (Meijer et al 1999;Schriver et al 1995).…”

The phytoplankton of Lake Liddell, New South Wales: chlorophyll a concentrations, species seasonal succession, and covariation with nutrients

“…Low light penetration as a result of suspended particulate matter and/or high gelbstoff (gilvin) concentrations is a feature of many Australian lakes and reservoirs (Williams, 1982;Ganf & Oliver, 1982;Bowling & Tyler, 1984;Wrigley et al, 1988;Kirk, 1976;Timms, 1973;King & tyler, 1981;Geddes, 1984). This may alter the relationship between chlorophyll a concentrations and phosphorus concentrations (Ferris & Tyler, 1985;Rosich, 1983) so that predictions of chlorophyll a concentrations from ambient phosphorus concentrations are over-estimates. Mean annual total-P concentration in Lake Liddell is characteristic of mesotrophic waters (Royle & King, 1992).…”

“…Broad generalizations have been be made about the similarity of phytoplankton seasonal cycles in southern and northern hemisphere lakes (Ashton, 1985), but the small number of waterways studied and the characteristics of some Australian lakes, particularly high gelbstoff (gilvin) and/or particulate matter concentrations (Williams, 1982;Bowling&Tyler, 1984;Wrigley et al, 1988;Kirk, 1976;Timms, 1973;King & Tyler, 1981;Geddes, 1984), indicate that the adaption of information from the large body of overseas studies may be inappropriate. For example, Ferris & Tyler (1985) found that the use of northern hemisphere models in Australia would require an assessment of the effect of non-algal turbidity in modifying the chlorophyll-phosphorus relationship.…”

“…Most often this work has been carried out in Northern Hemisphere lakes (Smith, 1982;Heyman & Lundgren, 1988;Ahlgren et al, 1988;OECD, 1982) although studies have been made on Australian freshwater (Ferris & Tyler, 1985) and saline lakes (Outridge et al, 1989). Where data are available for only one lake and for one annual cycle, relationships between nutrient parameters and phytoplankton may be used to indicate which parameters are important in determining phytoplankton biomass and community structure.…”