Causal mechanisms of the deep chlorophyll maximum in Lake Superior: A numerical modeling investigation

White, Brooke; Matsumoto, Katsumi

doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2012.05.001

Cited by 28 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The lakes spanned a broad range of lake size, maximum depth, transparency, dissolved organic carbon concentrations, and trophic state (Table ; Supporting Information Table S1). We focused on thermally stratified temperate lakes during summer because the water column must be stratified for a DCM to form (Durham and Stocker and references therein; White and Matsumoto ). All data were collected during mid‐summer when surface water temperatures were the warmest in the water column and greater than 4°C, which are the requirements for thermal stratification (Boehrer and Schultze ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns and drivers of deep chlorophyll maxima structure in 100 lakes: The relative importance of light and thermal stratification

Leach

Beisner

Carey

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

140

139

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The vertical distribution of chlorophyll in stratified lakes and reservoirs frequently exhibits a maximum peak deep in the water column, referred to as the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM). DCMs are ecologically important hot spots of primary production and nutrient cycling, and their location can determine vertical habitat gradients for primary consumers. Consequently, the drivers of DCM structure regulate many characteristics of aquatic food webs and biogeochemistry. Previous studies have identified light and thermal stratification as important drivers of summer DCM depth, but their relative importance across a broad range of lakes is not well resolved. We analyzed profiles of chlorophyll fluorescence, temperature, and light during summer stratification from 100 lakes in the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) and quantified two characteristics of DCM structure: depth and thickness. While DCMs do form in oligotrophic lakes, we found that they can also form in eutrophic to dystrophic lakes. Using a random forest algorithm, we assessed the relative importance of variables associated with light attenuation vs. thermal stratification for predicting DCM structure in lakes that spanned broad gradients of morphometry and transparency. Our analyses revealed that light attenuation was a more important predictor of DCM depth than thermal stratification and that DCMs deepen with increasing lake clarity. DCM thickness was best predicted by lake size with larger lakes having thicker DCMs. Additionally, our analysis demonstrates that the relative importance of light and thermal stratification on DCM structure is not uniform across a diversity of lake types.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns and drivers of deep chlorophyll maxima structure in 100 lakes: The relative importance of light and thermal stratification

Leach

Beisner

Carey

et al. 2017

Limnology & Oceanography

140

139

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, mixing processes can alter the vertical concentration of ions and determine the presence and location of nutriclines (Mellard et al, ; White & Matsumoto, ). Nutriclines are deemed as necessary prerequisites for the occurrence of the SCM (White & Matsumoto, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Variations of Subsurface Chlorophyll Maxima During Thermal Stratification in a Large, Deep Subtropical Reservoir

et al. 2020

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Subsurface chlorophyll maxima (SCM) are found in stratified lakes, reservoirs, and oceans. Spatial variations of the SCM magnitude, depth, and thickness during stratification and related factors were examined in a large, deep subtropical reservoir, Lake Qiandaohu. Significant spatial differences in the SCM parameters were found throughout the lake as thermal stratification developed in the late spring of 2014. SCM depth and thickness were positively correlated with euphotic depth and mixed layer depth but negatively correlated with epilimnetic nutrient concentrations. SCM magnitude was negatively correlated with euphotic depth and mixed layer depth and positively correlated with epilimnetic nutrient concentrations. Seasonal variations in SCM differed among subregions of the lake, which were related to seasonal differences in environmental parameters. SCM (averaging 66.2 mg/m2 in spring and 96.4 mg/m2 in summer) accounted for about 82% of the total areal chlorophyll of the water column (Tchl), and the SCM magnitude was better correlated with Tchl than the surface chlorophyll concentration. This study contributes to understanding of factors causing spatial variations in of SCM in the deep subtropical lakes.

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“…Low carbon:phosphorus ratios of seston within the DCL in the Great Lakes have been offered as evidence for this effect (Barbiero and Tuchman, 2001). In a model of Lake Superior, a nutricline was essential in the formation of a DCL and nutricline depth influenced DCL depth and magnitude (White and Matsumoto, 2012). However, nutriclines are often difficult to identify in the Great Lakes because phosphorus is at such low concentrations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial extent and dissipation of the deep chlorophyll layer in Lake Ontario during the Lake Ontario lower foodweb assessment, 2003 and 2008

Watkins

Weidel

Rudstam

et al. 2015

Aquatic Ecosystem Health &Amp; Management

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Increasing water clarity in Lake Ontario has led to a vertical redistribution of phytoplankton and an increased importance of the deep chlorophyll layer in overall primary productivity. We used in situ fluorometer profiles collected in lakewide surveys of Lake Ontario in 2008 to assess the spatial extent and intensity of the deep chlorophyll layer. In situ fluorometer data were corrected with extracted chlorophyll data using paired samples from Lake Ontario collected in August 2008. The deep chlorophyll layer was present offshore during the stratified conditions of late July 2008 with maximum values from 4–13 μg l−1 corrected chlorophyll a at 10 to 17 m depth within the metalimnion. Deep chlorophyll layer was closely associated with the base of the thermocline and a subsurface maximum of dissolved oxygen, indicating the feature's importance as a growth and productivity maximum. Crucial to the deep chlorophyll layer formation, the photic zone extended deeper than the surface mixed layer in mid-summer. The layer extended through most of the offshore in July 2008, but was not present in the easternmost transect that had a deeper surface mixed layer. By early September 2008, the lakewide deep chlorophyll layer had dissipated. A similar formation and dissipation was observed in the lakewide survey of Lake Ontario in 2003.

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Causal mechanisms of the deep chlorophyll maximum in Lake Superior: A numerical modeling investigation

Cited by 28 publications

References 49 publications

Patterns and drivers of deep chlorophyll maxima structure in 100 lakes: The relative importance of light and thermal stratification

Patterns and drivers of deep chlorophyll maxima structure in 100 lakes: The relative importance of light and thermal stratification

Spatial Variations of Subsurface Chlorophyll Maxima During Thermal Stratification in a Large, Deep Subtropical Reservoir

Spatial extent and dissipation of the deep chlorophyll layer in Lake Ontario during the Lake Ontario lower foodweb assessment, 2003 and 2008

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