Distribution of nuisance Cladophora in the lower Great Lakes: Patterns with land use, near shore water quality and dreissenid abundance

Depew, David C.; Houben, Adam J.; Guildford, Stephanie J.; Hecky, Robert E.

doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2011.08.011

Cited by 58 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…The authors therefore emphasized that effective management of Cladophora blooms requires control of local and lakewide P loading. In contrast, Depew et al (2011) found that dreissenid abundance was the single largest determinant of variance in nuisance Cladophora biomass and best explained the high Cladophora biomasses observed on offshore shoals in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario far removed from watershed sources of P. Makarewicz et al (2012d) concluded that nearshore data to date do not fully resolve the impact on nearshore water column nutrients and algae by benthic assemblages. Holeck et al (2010) reported that from 1995-2010 epilimnetic TP ranged between 6 and 11 μg/L in both nearshore and offshore waters with higher concentrations in embayments, and chlorophyll and water clarity were similar to 1990s levels, suggesting oligotrophic conditions.…”

Section: Main Lake Regionmentioning

confidence: 88%

The ecological history of Lake Ontario according to phytoplankton

Estepp

Reavie

2015

Journal of Great Lakes Research

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Lake Ontario's condition has fluctuated since European settlement, and our understanding of the linkages between observed ecosystem shifts and stressors is improving. Changes in the physical and chemical environment of the lake due to non-indigenous species, pollution, sedimentation, turbidity, and climate change altered the pelagic primary producers, so algal assessments have been valuable for tracking long-term conditions. We present a chronological account of algal assessments to summarize past and present environmental conditions in Lake Ontario. This review particularly focuses on pelagic, diatom-based assessments as their fossils in sediments have revealed the combined effects of environmental insults and recovery. This review recaps the long-term trends according to three unique regions: Hamilton Harbour, the main lake basin, and the Bay of Quinte. We summarize pre-European impact settlement; eutrophication throughout most of the 20th century; subsequent water quality changes due to nutrient reductions; and filter-feeding dreissenid colonization and contemporary pelagic, shoreline, and embayment impairments. Recent data suggest that although phytoplankton biovolume is stable, species composition has shifted to an increase in densities of spring eutrophic diatoms and summer cyanobacteria. Continued monitoring and evaluation of historical data will assist in understanding and responding to the natural and anthropogenic drivers of Lake Ontario's environmental conditions.

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Section: Main Lake Regionmentioning

confidence: 88%

The ecological history of Lake Ontario according to phytoplankton

Estepp

Reavie

2015

Journal of Great Lakes Research

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“…We have concluded that the resurgence is a result of the ecosystem engineering role of dreissenid mussels acting to clear the water column of particulate matter, increasing light penetration, and thereby increasing the area of lake bottom available for colonization by Cladophora, as hypothesized by Howell (1998). We further conclude that the resurgence cannot be ascribed to the P recycling capabilities of mussels (see Depew et al 2011) because the stored P content of Cladophora has fallen to one-third of the level observed in the Post-P Management Period (pre-dreissenid). This is not to say that mussel excretion (i.e., the nearshore phosphorus shunt; plays no role in Cladophora nutrition.…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 79%

TheCladophoraresurgence in Lake Ontario: characterization and implications for management

Kuczynski

Auer

Brooks

et al. 2016

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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Nuisance growth of the alga Cladophora, reported from Lake Ontario since the 1930s, abated in the decades following implementation of phosphorus control measures in the 1970s. Our examination of beach fouling records and historical observations of algal biomass has confirmed literature reports that a resurgence in nuisance growth of Cladophora has occurred since invasion of Great Lakes waters by dreissenids. Our findings indicate that the growth rate of Cladophora (specific rate of net photosynthesis) has decreased by 44% since 1972 in response to phosphorus controls. However, improved transparency, a response to mussel activity, has increased the maximum depth colonizable by Cladophora by a factor of 5 over that same interval. The net result is a sixfold increase in production potential since the late 1980s (the Post-P Management II Period) and a threefold increase since the 1970s (the Pre-P Management Period). Although the Cladophora resurgence has been driven by dreissenid modification of the light environment, phosphorus management remains the only alternative for reversing and ameliorating nuisance conditions. Elucidation of the nature of the Cladophora resurgence will aid decision-makers in maintaining a focus on phosphorus management as the appropriate means of remediating nuisance growth of the alga.Résumé : La nuisible prolifération de Cladophora repérée sur le Lac Ontario au moins depuis les années 1930 a visiblement diminué après la mise en place de mesures de contrôle du phosphore à la fin des années 1970. Notre analyse des données historiques sur les plages souillées et sur la biomasse historique des algues a confirmé qu'il y a eu une résurgence de la nuisible prolifération de Cladophora sur la période qui a suivi l'invasion des Grands Lacs par les dreissenidés. Notre découverte indique que le taux net de photosynthèse en Cladophora a diminué de 44 % depuis 1972, en réponse aux réductions de concentration de phosphore. Pourtant, la meilleure transparence, une réponse aux activités des dreissenidés, a augmenté la profondeur maximum disponible pour la colonisation par Cladophora par un facteur de 5 durant le même intervalle. En résulte quasiment une augmentation de six fois du potentiel de croissance pendant les années 1980s (l'ère Post-P Management II) et une augmentation de trois fois depuis les années 1970s (l'ère Pre-P Management). Bien que cette augmentation ait été poussée par la modification de l'environnement de lumière par les dreissenidés, la gestion du phosphore demeure la seule alternative pour inverser et améliorer ces conditions nuisibles. L'élucidation de la nature de la résurgence de Cladophora aidera les décideurs en maintenant l'accent sur la gestion du phosphore comme le moyen approprié pour corriger la nuisible prolifération de cette algue.

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“…1). We observed C. glomerata at only a few locations in western Lake Erie; however, this species co-occurs with Dreissena in Lakes Michigan, Ontario, and eastern Lake Erie (Hecky et al, 2004;Higgins et al, 2005b;Depew et al, 2011). Hence, it is likely that greater benthic algal biomass will potentially occur where Dreissena are present, possibly mediated by increased physical structure or nutrients from Dreissena.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Resource contributions from dreissenid mussels to the benthic algae Lyngbya wollei (Cyanobacteria) and Cladophora glomerata (Chlorophyta)

et al. 2015

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Dreissena spp. (zebra and quagga mussels) are invasive to North America and increase light to the benthos, provide hard structure for algal attachment, and may contribute limiting nutrients to benthic algae, thereby facilitating algal blooms. We conducted experiments to determine how Dreissena affect nutrient stoichiometry and growth of Lyngbya wollei and Cladophora glomerata, two benthic algal species recently increasing in biomass in parts of the Laurentian Great Lakes, combined with a field survey to determine the likelihood of L. wollei co-occurrence with Dreissena. L. wollei had a significantly higher concentration of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur when grown with live Dreissena. C. glomerata had greater biomass in tanks with live Dreissena, but did not have significant increases in nutrient concentration like L. wollei did. Neither algal species increased in growth due to the added structure of Dreissena shells. L. wollei biomass was greater in the presence of Dreissena during 1 year (of two) of our field survey. This field survey also showed that L. wollei and Dreissena are likely to co-occur. These results suggest that Dreissena provide several nutrients to benthic algae, and these added resources can promote algal growth and consequently blooms.

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Distribution of nuisance Cladophora in the lower Great Lakes: Patterns with land use, near shore water quality and dreissenid abundance

Cited by 58 publications

References 73 publications

The ecological history of Lake Ontario according to phytoplankton

The ecological history of Lake Ontario according to phytoplankton

TheCladophoraresurgence in Lake Ontario: characterization and implications for management

Resource contributions from dreissenid mussels to the benthic algae Lyngbya wollei (Cyanobacteria) and Cladophora glomerata (Chlorophyta)

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