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Effects of Nitrogen Dilution on Algal Growth in Lake Erie Water Samples. Nathan Arroyo Summer REU 2011. Acknowledgements. Stone Lab REU Program Dr. Bade Matt Thomas. NOAA/Ohio Sea Grant Summer 2011 Limnology Class. Introduction. Lake Erie plagued with late summer algal blooms
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Effects of Nitrogen Dilution on Algal Growth inLake Erie Water Samples Nathan Arroyo Summer REU 2011
Acknowledgements • Stone Lab REU Program • Dr. Bade • Matt Thomas • NOAA/Ohio Sea Grant • Summer 2011 Limnology Class
Introduction • Lake Erie plagued with late summer algal blooms • Thick mats of algae are unappealing • hurt tourism • cause fish kills • toxic to animals and humans
Background • Eutrophication studied for over a century • Schindler- 1970’s Phosphorous Paradigm • Recently challenged with idea of nitrogen limitation
Questions Asked • What is the best strategy to remediate the Lake? • Can the growth of algae in Lake Erie be curbed by limiting nitrogen? • Hypothesis: By removing nitrogen, the growth of algae in Lake Erie can be reduced.
Nutrient Dilutions • Samples from Gibraltar Island and Sandusky Bay • Samples diluted with artificial Lake Water • Gibraltar Island - no Ca+2 or Si+4 • Sandusky Bay - no Ca+2
Nutrient Dilutions Lake Water 100% 80% 60% 40% Artificial Water 0% 20% 40% 60%
Nutrient Dilutions • Samples incubated at alligator bar for a week • Algal biomass estimated from Chlorophyll a using fluorometer
Summary • Gibraltar dilution- some limitation from nitrogen dilution, overwhelming phosphorous limitation • Sandusky Bay Dilution-slightly phosphorous limited, results point to possible other nutrient limitation (Si)