Seasonality of Aulacoseira ambigua abundance and filament length: biogeochemical implications

Abstract

Aulacoseira ambigua abundance and filament length were measured weekly during spring and autumn bloom periods in Trout Lake, Wisconsin, USA. In addition, several chemical and biological variables thought to influence A. ambigua growth were assessed. Results of the field-based observations were complimented with controlled laboratory experiments to evaluate the effects of phosphorus availability on A. ambigua growth. Relative to the autumn bloom period, A. ambigua colonies were generally larger and more abundant in spring prior to the termination of the bloom in June. Chlorophyll-a concentrations indicated that other phytoplankton were also more abundant during the spring bloom. Batch culture experiments indicated that increased phosphorus availability during the spring bloom contributed to the seasonal increase in A. ambigua filament length and abundance. Increase in A. ambigua filament length in response to increased phosphorus availability is discussed as a mechanism that may increase nutrient removal through sedimentation and subsequently decrease the efficiency of nutrient regeneration in higher productivity lakes.

Eruptive and environmental processes recorded by diatoms in volcanically dispersed lake sediments from the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

“…In the modern Lake Taupo sediment, this ratio is 16.7, suggesting relatively long filaments of about 17 cells (Table 2). This is analogous to the warm season filament length (11-17 cells) documented by Poister et al (2012) in a Wisconsin lake. Long filaments suggest relatively calm waters and nutrient-rich conditions in modern Lake Taupo.…”

Diatom Response to Global Warming in Douhu Lake, Southeast China

“…In reservoirs of central China, A. ambigua was also reported to grow rapidly with the declining temperatures in early winter, to reach its maximum abundance at a temperature of ~10°C in mid-December, remaining abundant until mid-February (Zhang et al, 2019). Outside China, many studies report that A. ambigua can be very abundant in temperate or high-latitude lakes (Holland, 1968;Dean et al, 1984;Bradbury, 1988;Siver and Kling, 1997;Kauppila et al, 2002;Poister et al, 2012).…”

Lakes ecosystem response to Holocene climate changes and human impact in the Southern Urals: Diatom and geochemical proxies

“…Aulacoseira ambigua is characterized by high TP optimum (Barinova et al, 2006). Batch culture experiments indicated that increased phosphorus availability contributed to the seasonal increase in Aulacoseira ambigua filament length and abundance (Poister et al, 2012). Shift of the TP:TN ratio could result in the replacement of diatom communities with Aulacoseira ambigua to the assemblages with Puncticulata radiosa.…”