Scales of temporal and spatial variability in the distribution of harmful algae species in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA

Monitoring of the 2011 Super Algal Bloom in Indian River Lagoon, FL, USA, Using MERIS

“…During the blooms, the mean Chl a was eight times the historical mean concentration (>50 µg·L −1 in most segments), which reduced light penetration through the water column and subsequently caused decreases in the density and distributions of SAV by up to 90% in some parts of the IRL [26].…”

“…TMDL is a pollution reduction and regulatory method used in an effort to identify the maximum amount of nutrients, metals, and organic compounds a water body can receive while still meeting water quality standards [27]. At "the historically normal conditions," the IRL has an average Chl a concentration range from 6.2 to 16.4 µg·L −1 [26], with seasonal algal blooms at Chl a levels reaching 25 µg·L . The long-term field water quality monitoring data at the multiple sites, however, were not sufficient to show spatially continuous information because the surface water area of the IRL is 750 km 2 , meaning each monthly sampling site is used to assess an area of roughly 18 km 2 [27].…”

“…TSS, on the other hand, did not increase compared to the historical mean values, and all segments but ML had significant decreases in TSS in 2012. Phlips et al [26] reported that both total nitrogen and phosphorus were almost double in 2011than previous years and increased in step with growth of the bloom. …”

“…The IRL is divided into three sub-lagoons; Mosquito Lagoon (ML), the IRL proper, and Banana River (BR) (Figure 1), as each of these sections has unique water residence times, ecology, chemistry, and watershed development [26]. The IRL proper is further divided into two sections; North (NIRL) and South (SIRL).…”

“…This Chl a elevation in ML could have been due to another algal bloom referred to as a Brown Tide that subsequently occurred in early 2012 and affected throughout the ML [26]. …”