Great Lakes Cladophora in the 21st century: same algae—different ecosystem

Auer, Martin T.; Tomlinson, Lisa M.; Higgins, Scott N.; Malkin, Sairah Y.; Howell, E. Todd; Bootsma, Harvey A.

doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2010.03.001

Cited by 140 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 25 publications

(60 reference statements)

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“…Higgins et al (2008) noted that few incidents of beach fouling by Cladophora were reported during this interval and that, to those authors' knowledge, no quantitative in situ surveys of the alga's presence, abundance, or nutritional status were performed. Auer et al (2010) concurred with the position of Higgins et al (2008), pointing out that there is little information available for the Post-P Management Period, making it difficult to compare the magnitude of past Cladophora problems with contemporary conditions (see also Young and Berges 2004). It was clear, however, that P concentrations declined in Lake Ontario in the Post-P Management Period, leading to recognition of two intervals ( Fig.…”

Section: Post-p Management Periodmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Resurgence may be defined as an increase or revival in vigor after a period of little activity. The term resurgence has today become widely used, appearing in at least 11 papers in the peer-reviewed primary scientific literature since 2005 (e.g., Auer et al 2010;Malkin et al 2010). Yet, while a recently published Great Lakes submerged aquatic vegetation map (SAV: Cladophora and vascular plants; Brooks et al 2015;Shuchman et al 2013aShuchman et al , 2013b confirms the widespread occurrence of the alga, characteristics of the Cladophora dynamic meriting the term resurgence remain poorly defined and largely unquantified.…”

Section: Resurgencementioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Post-p Management Periodmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Resurgencementioning

confidence: 99%

TheCladophoraresurgence in Lake Ontario: characterization and implications for management

Kuczynski

Auer

Brooks

et al. 2016

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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“…Since the mid-2000s, there has been a dramatic increase in the concentration of energy and biomass in the nearshore, primarily in the form of Dreissenid mussels (Nalepa et al 2009) and the filamentous green alga, Cladophora sp. (Bootsma et al, 2005;Auer et al, 2010), both of which are benthic.…”

Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A science plan for carbon cycle research in North American coastal waters. Report of the Coastal CARbon Synthesis (CCARS) community workshop, August 19-21, 2014

Benway¹,

Alin²,

Boyer³

et al. 2016

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“…At the same time, changing agricultural practices, precipitation patterns, and weather conditions have increased soluble P loadings to western Lake Erie, resulting in a recurrence of cyanobacterial blooms (Michalak et al, 2013). While there is general agreement reductions in P availability are the most practical means with which to reduce the extent and severity of Cladophora blooms (Auer et al, 2010), uncertainty remains as to the relative importance of direct P inputs, P circulating within the lake, and P potentially recycled in the benthic environment by dreissenid mussels . These uncertainties have confounded efforts to develop revised P loading targets for the east basin of Lake Erie to address Cladophora blooms (GLWQA, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorus Dynamics and Availability in the Nearshore of Eastern Lake Erie: Insights From Oxygen Isotope Ratios of Phosphate

2018

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Blooms of filamentous benthic algae that plagued Lake Erie in the 1950s through 1970s were largely reduced through reductions of phosphorus (P) loading from point sources.Since the mid-1990s, these blooms have returned despite a period of relatively stable external P inputs. While increased loadings of dissolved P have been causally linked to cyanobacterial blooms in some parts of the lake, the impacts of ecosystem changes such as the effect of invasive species on nutrient cycling and availability have not been fully elucidated, leading to uncertainty as to the effectiveness of additional non-point P management actions. Here we use the oxygen isotope ratios (δ 18 O P ) of phosphate in concert with measures of water quality along the northern shore of the east basin of Lake Erie to identify sources and pathways of P cycling and infer potential importance in relation to annual blooms of Cladophora that foul the shorelines of eastern Lake Erie. δ 18 O P data indicate that potential external source signatures are rapidly overprinted by biological cycling of P by the plankton community and that much of the available phosphate in the nearshore waters is derived from hydrolysis of dissolved organic P compounds. Near the dreissenid-colonized lake bed, δ 18 O P was persistently and significantly enriched in 18 O relative to δ 18 O P measured in surface waters and was similar to δ 18 O P of phosphate excreted by dreissenid mussels in incubations. These results implicate dreissenid mussels as key agents in nearshore P cycling and highlight the importance of considering ecosystem changes in the development of nutrient management strategies designed to ameliorate symptoms of eutrophication.

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Great Lakes Cladophora in the 21st century: same algae—different ecosystem

Cited by 140 publications

References 25 publications

TheCladophoraresurgence in Lake Ontario: characterization and implications for management

TheCladophoraresurgence in Lake Ontario: characterization and implications for management

A science plan for carbon cycle research in North American coastal waters. Report of the Coastal CARbon Synthesis (CCARS) community workshop, August 19-21, 2014

Phosphorus Dynamics and Availability in the Nearshore of Eastern Lake Erie: Insights From Oxygen Isotope Ratios of Phosphate

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