Factors influencing the distribution, abundance and growth of Lyngbya wollei in central Florida

Cowell, Bruce C.; Botts, P. Silver

doi:10.1016/0304-3770(94)90002-7

Cited by 35 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Freshwater studies on the benthic/ planktonic species Lyngbya birgei and L. wollei have shown that these potential diazotrophs exhibit opportunism when they encounter Nenriched conditions, by effectively utilizing available N sources to stimulate growth and bloom potential (Beer et al 1986, Yin et al 1997, Cowell & Dawes 2004. For example, riverine, lake, and spring environments that are experiencing N enrichment from urban, agricultural, and industrial sources have shown a dramatic upsurge in L. birgei and L. wollei blooms that can accumulate as nuisance surface scums fouling beaches, choking macrophyte beds, and promoting bottom-water hypoxia (Speziale & Dyck 1992, Cowell & Botts 1994. Similarly, in estuarine and coastal marine environments experiencing anthropogenic N and P enrichment, opportunistic Lyngbya species have become increasingly widespread and dominant as benthic epilithic and epiphytic blooms (Lapointe 1997, Paul et al 2005, Paerl & Fulton 2006.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-occurrence of dinoflagellate and cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in southwest Florida coastal waters: dual nutrient (N and P) input controls

Paerl¹,

Joyner²,

Joyner³

et al. 2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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During July 2006, 2 distinctly different harmful algal blooms (HABs), one dominated by the pelagic red tide dinoflagellates Karenia spp. and the other by the benthic cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula, occurred simultaneously in the coastal embayments surrounding Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida, USA. The co-occurring HABs were investigated using in situ bioassays with additions of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) alone and in combination to assess nutrient controls of these 'dueling' toxin-producing species. Photosynthetic, biomass (chlorophyll a), and (in L. majuscula) nitrogen fixation responses to nutrient enrichment were examined over 4 d. Primary productivity in Karenia spp. was consistently stimulated by N additions, while P additions failed to show stimulation. When added in combination with N, P did not lead to additional stimulation above N alone. Similar patterns of chlorophyll a stimulation were observed. These patterns were observed at 2 d, after which the cells fell out of suspension. Nutrient stimulation of L. majuscula metabolic activities as well as biomass production was smaller and much slower, relative to controls, than responses observed in Karenia spp. After the demise of Karenia spp., L. majuscula was able to continue utilizing subsequent nutrient additions, and it responded most strongly to the N + P additions after 4 d. This study confirms previous estuarine and coastal studies that indicated that when non-N 2 -fixing HABs co-occur with N 2 -fixing cyanobacterial HAB species, both N and P inputs need to be carefully considered and, in all likelihood, controlled.KEY WORDS: Lyngbya · Karenia · Charlotte Harbor · Sanibel and Captiva Islands · Florida · Blooms · Nutrients Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 371: [143][144][145][146][147][148][149][150][151][152][153] 2008 species include the Florida red tide dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (Steidinger et al. 1998, Steidinger 2002, Vargo et al. 2008 and, among the cyanobacteria, the planktonic genus Trichodesmium and the benthic genus Lyngbya. While the origin of these bloomforming taxa (i.e. offshore, nearshore, estuarine) can vary substantially, there is good agreement that when these bloom species encounter nutrient-enriched conditions, growth and bloom intensity of many of these taxa may be enhanced (Paerl 1988, Lapointe 1997, Elmgren & Larsson 2001, Paerl & Fulton 2006. Accordingly, there is a great deal of concern about coastal nutrient enrichment associated with rapid rates of coastal development in Florida and elsewhere.During July 2006, 2 taxonomically and ecologically distinct harmful algal blooms (HABs), one comprised of planktonic Florida red tide dinoflagellates Karenia spp. and the other of the benthic filamentous cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula, co-occurred in the coastal embayments of Sanibel and Captiva Islands, on Florida's southwest coast (see Fig. 1). Both genera have been implicated in regional water quality, fisheries habitat, and human health probl...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-occurrence of dinoflagellate and cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in southwest Florida coastal waters: dual nutrient (N and P) input controls

Paerl¹,

Joyner²,

Joyner³

et al. 2008

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…In the coastal spring-fed Crystal River, conductivity and alkalinity were the best predictors of Lyngbya abundance, while NO 3 À concentrations provided little predictive power (Cowell and Botts 1994). Hoyer et al (2004) concluded that flow, light, and salinity were the most important factors determining macrophyte and algal abundance within three nearby coastal rivers, although they did observe a weak positive relationship between NO 3 À and macroalgal biomass.…”

Section: Evaluating the Nitrogen-limitation Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In light of the widely demonstrated effects of nutrient enrichment in other aquatic systems, rising NO 3 À concentrations were identified correctly as a potential cause of algal blooms. The Florida Springs Task Force (2000) generally employed cautious language relating NO 3 À enrichment and algal growth; however, despite studies inconsistent with the N-enrichment hypothesis (Odum 1957a, Canfield and Hoyer 1988, Duarte and Canfield 1990, Cowell and Botts 1994, Terrell and Canfield 1996, the report gave little consideration to alternative hypotheses regarding either ultimate or proximate causes of algal proliferation.…”

Section: Ecological Changes and Management Response In Florida Springsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Algal blooms and the nitrogen‐enrichment hypothesis in Florida springs: evidence, alternatives, and adaptive management

Heffernan

Liebowitz

Frazer

et al. 2010

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. Contradictions between system-specific evidence and broader paradigms to explain ecosystem behavior present a challenge for natural resource management. In Florida (USA) springs, increasing nitrate (NO 3 À ) concentrations have been implicated as the cause of algal overgrowth via alleviation of N-limitation. As such, policy and management efforts have centered heavily on reduction of nitrogen (N) loads. While the N-limitation hypothesis appears well founded on broadly supported aquatic eutrophication models, several observations from Florida springs are inconsistent with this hypothesis in its present simplified form. First, NO 3 À concentration is not correlated with algal abundance across the broad population of springs and is weakly negatively correlated with primary productivity. Second, within individual spring runs, algal mats are largely confined to the headwater reaches within 250 m of spring vents, while elevated NO 3 À concentrations persist for several kilometers or more. Third, historic observations suggest that establishment of macroalgal mats often lags behind observed increases in NO 3À by more than a decade. Fourth, although microcosm experiments indicate high thresholds for N-limitation of algae, experiments in situ have demonstrated only minimal response to N enrichment. These muted responses may reflect large nutrient fluxes in springs, which were sufficient to satisfy present demand even at historic concentrations. New analyses of existing data indicate that dissolved oxygen (DO) has declined dramatically in many Florida springs over the past 30 years, and that DO and grazer abundance are better predictors of algal abundance in springs than are nutrient concentrations. Although a precautionary N-reduction strategy for Florida springs is warranted given demonstrable effects of nutrient enrichment in a broad suite of aquatic systems worldwide, the DO-grazer hypothesis and other potential mechanisms merit increased scientific scrutiny. This case study illustrates the importance of an adaptive approach that explicitly evaluates paradigms as hypotheses and actively seeks alternative explanations.

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“…Public concern in Florida has grown in recent years over the large number of springs, lakes, and rivers (19 in this study) that increasingly support massive benthic and/or floating L. wollei mats that adversely affect water quality. L. wollei is known to thrive in environments with a wide range of N concentrations (5,23). This is due to its abilities to rapidly acquire combined N from the water column when it is abundant and to fix atmospheric N when combined N concentrations are low (6,12).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological and Genetic Evidence that the Cyanobacterium Lyngbya wollei (Farlow ex Gomont) Speziale and Dyck Encompasses at Least Two Species

Joyner

Litaker

Paerl

2008

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Dense blooms of the cyanobacterium Lyngbya wollei are increasingly responsible for declining water quality and habitat degradation in numerous springs, rivers, and reservoirs. This research represents the first molecular phylogenetic analysis of L. wollei in comparison with the traditional morphological characterization of this species. Specimens were collected from several springs in Florida and a reservoir in North Carolina. Segments of the small-subunit (SSU) rRNA and nifH genes were PCR amplified, cloned, and sequenced. The phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rRNA gene revealed sequences that fell into three distinct subclusters, each with >97% sequence similarity. These were designated operational taxonomic unit 1 (OTU1), OTU2, and OTU3. Similarly, the nifH sequences fell into three distinct subclusters named S1, S2, and S3. When either bulk samples or individual filaments were analyzed, we recovered OTU1 with S1, OTU2 with S2, and OTU3 with S3. The coherence between the three SSU rRNA gene and nifH subclusters was consistent with genetically distinct strains or species. Cells associated with subclusters OTU3 and S3 were significantly wider and longer than those associated with other subclusters. The combined molecular and morphological data indicate that the species commonly identified as L. wollei in the literature represents two or possibly more species. Springs containing OTU3 and S3 demonstrated lower ion concentrations than other collection sites. Geographical locations of Lyngbya subclusters did not correlate with residual dissolved inorganic nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations. This study emphasizes the need to complement traditional identification with molecular characterization to more definitively detect and characterize harmful cyanobacterial species or strains.

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Factors influencing the distribution, abundance and growth of Lyngbya wollei in central Florida

Cited by 35 publications

References 9 publications

Co-occurrence of dinoflagellate and cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in southwest Florida coastal waters: dual nutrient (N and P) input controls

Co-occurrence of dinoflagellate and cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in southwest Florida coastal waters: dual nutrient (N and P) input controls

Algal blooms and the nitrogen‐enrichment hypothesis in Florida springs: evidence, alternatives, and adaptive management

Morphological and Genetic Evidence that the Cyanobacterium Lyngbya wollei (Farlow ex Gomont) Speziale and Dyck Encompasses at Least Two Species

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