Modelling the growth of cyanobacteria (GrowSCUM)

Abstract

Toxic cyanobacteria have become a common nuisance in freshwater lakes and reservoirs throughout the world. sometimes resulting in the closure of sites with high amenity value. Cyanobacteria are able to regulate their buoyancy state in response to changing photosynthetic rates. Additionally, the cyanobacteria are liable to become entrained within wind-induced near-surface turbulent currents, resulting in mixing and mass transport. These movement processes have been modelled. A mathematical function is presented which describes light-and nutrient-limited cyanobacterial growth. The growth model is integrated with a previous movement model (SCUM: simulation of cyanobacterial underwater movement) as movement patterns and wind-induced lake mixing strongly affect the intensity and duration of light received by the cyanobacteria and thereby determine the photosynthetic potential. Results of the model suggest that cyanobacteria are resistant to periods of lake mixing and continue to increase their biomass, but at a depressed rate. Growth is most rapid under calm conditions. The results agree well with field-based findings, confirming the validity of the growth function.

Modelling spatial distributions of Ceratium hirundnella and Microcystis. in a small productive British lake

“…Phytoplankton density was estimated as a function of cell carbohydrate concentration according to the phenomenological method of Kromkamp & Walsby (1990) (see also, Howard et al, 1995;Howard, 1997;Belov & Giles, 1997)…”