Seasonal and spatial variation in algal growth potential and growth‐limiting nutrients in a shallow endorheic lake: Lake Pátzcuaro (Mexico)

Abstract

The present research focused on the functional role of the phytoplankton of an economically important endorheic tropical lake from the perspective of algal growth bioassays. The algal growth potential of the lake water was compared for littoral and pelagic sites during the wet and dry seasons. Algal growth potentials at open waters reached minimum and maximum values following the seasonal alternation of dilution (by rain) and concentration (by evaporation) respectively. Conversely, at southern littoral stations high algal growth responses related to the availability of nutrients from point contamination sites. There was no such effect at nearby offshore sites or elsewhere in the lake which suggests filtration and competitive interactions for these nutrients between phytoplankton and littoral macrophytes. Nitrogen and phosphorus both acted consistently as limiting nutrients at open waters by colimitation. Nitrogen to phosphorus ratios seemed to approach equilibrium where limitation easily shifted to one element or the other temporally and spatially.

First lacustrine varve chronologies from Mexico: impact of droughts, ENSO and human activity since AD 1840 as recorded in maar sediments from Valle de Santiago

“…It also resuspends sediments in the littoral, the source for the large diatoms. Phytoplankton is suppressed through rainfall directly on the lake surface, turbidity, and nutrient dilution (Bernal-Brooks et al 2003; Oliva et al 2001). With decreasing rainfall and temperatures in fall, the water column mixes and a second bloom of algae occurs, probably benefiting from recycled nutrients and improved light conditions after reduction of the suspended matter.…”

Assessing nutrient limitation in a subtropical reservoir

“…Contrary to the concept of a single limiting nutrient, the concept of N and P co-limitation has been put forward by various researchers Wurtsbaugh 2008, Sterner 2008). Co-limitation of N and P was found in Lake Pátzcuaro in Mexico (Bernal-Brooks et al 2003); in 63% of 30 small upland lakes in Cumbria, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (Maberly et al 2002); in 2 warm temperate Texan reservoirs (Sterner andGrover 1998, Grover et al 1999); and in reservoirs in Kansas, USA (Dzialowski et al 2005). In a study of 8 mountain lakes of central Colorado, 79% of all observed instances of limitation indicated that N was the most frequently limiting nutrient, either alone or in combination with P (Morris and Lewis 1988).…”

Ecological niche model to predict the potential distribution of phytoplankton in the Aguamilpa Dam, Nayarit. Mexico (doi:10.4136/ambi-agua.154) (Spanish)

“…En los últimos años, la gran diversidad de especies que conforman el fitoplancton en sistemas lacustres, ha sufrido importantes descensos causados directa o indirectamente por las actividades humanas (Prosperi, 2002;Bernal-Brooks et al, 2003). La comunidad de fitoplancton es sensible a los cambios ambientales, por lo que la alteración de su hábitat, causada por la contaminación, es probable que sea una causa directa de su declive (Dávalos et al, 1989).…”

“…En el caso de algunas presas, el fitoplancton con certeza ha tenido una reducción drástica en sus poblaciones y en su riqueza específica, debido a la transformación del hábitat, tanto por causas naturales como antropogénicas (Dávalos et al, 1989;Prosperi, 2002;Bernal-Brooks et al, 2003;Jasprica et al, 2005).…”

“…Estos modelos se han utilizado con éxito en especies de plantas y animales (Nix, 1986;Carpenter et al, 1993;Sánchez-Cordero et al, 2001;Anderson et al, 2003) y recientemente en algunas especies acuáticas (Domínguez-Domínguez et al, 2006;Zambrano et al, 2006;Iguchi et al, 2004, McNyset, 2005 pero nunca en fitoplancton.…”