Phosphate uptake by blue green algae in vitro and in a lake during an algal bloom: Useful application of a force-flow relationship

A bioenergetic model, developed by M. Thellier, was applied to the ³²P-phosphate uptake data obtained with blue green algae and allowed the determination of a threshold concentration for the absorption of phosphate. Data obtained during an algal bloom of Oscillatoria rubescens showed that algal growth ceased when the phosphate concentration in the lake dropped below this threshold value. The resulting starvation led to an increase in the permeability of the membrane for phosphate.     

Control of bloom in a tropical lake: grazing efficiency of some herbivorous fishes

Using a limnocorral study, Microcystis grazing by silver carp, bighead and tilapia was examined in an eutrophic shallow lake permanently infested with a Microcystis bloom. Twelve fingerlings of each fish species were introduced into the limnocorrals placed in the lake, in triplicate, and their grazing effects were examined over a period until the limnocorral bloom declined substantially and remained unchanged. Introduction of fish, regardless of species, into the limnocorrals resulted in sharp reductions (60–93%) of the initial Microcystis population on day 3 or 7. Maximum gross and net clearance of Microcystis were by silver carp followed by bighead and tilapia. Short-term high retention of Microcystis by tilapia indicated that the clearance effect did not last long due to a high rate of defaecation of undigested Microcystis . Nearly 6–180% nutrient enrichment of the limnocorrals was attributable to the defaecation of test fishes suggesting their ichthyoeutrophication potentials, which were in the following order: tilapia>bighead>silver carp. It is concluded that silver carp is most suitable for clearing Microcystis in the lake because of its minimal ichthyoeutrophication effect.     

A fluorometric method for the discrimination of harmful algal bloom species developed by wavelet analysis

An in vivo 3D fluorescence discrimination technique for ten harmful algal bloom (HAB) species that belong to eight genera of four divisions was developed by wavelet analysis. Daubechies-7 (db7) was employed as the mother wavelet. The fifth scale domains were selected as the discriminant characteristic spectra (DCS). Based on the DCS, The phytoplankton species at different growth stages were classified correctly at both the division and the genus level by Bayesian discriminant analysis (BDA). Based on the reference spectra of the DCS, the discrimination method of the phytoplankton species was established by the nonnegative least squares (NNLS) method. The correct discrimination ratios (CDRs) for samples of the single species were 96.1% with 0% blank noise and 93.3% with 10% noise at the genus level, while the CDRs were both 100% with 0% or 10% blank noise at the division level. When blank noise was up to 20%, the CDRs were down to 85.2% at the genus level and 98.0% at the division level. For the mixture samples, the CDRs of the dominant species were 98.3% and 96.3%, respectively, at the division level and at the genus level. As dominant species, Prorocentrum minimum (Pm), Gymnodinium simplex (Gs), Scrippsiella trochoidea (Sc), Skeletonema costatuma (Sk), Chaetoceros (Cu and De), Phaeocystis globosa (Cg) and Chlorella pynnoidosa (Ch) can be correctly discriminated at both the division level and the genus level.     

Observations on limnological conditions associated with a fish kill of Oreochromis niloticus in Lake Chivero following collapse of an algal bloom

Possible causes of deaths of Oreochromis niloticus in Lake Chivero were examined in relation to changes in limnological conditions monitored over a 25‐month period. The fish deaths coincided with the collapse of an algal bloom that had developed and builtup in the lake for 8 months. Chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen increased to average concentrations of 42.4 μg l^?1 and 10.9 mg l^?1 respectively prior to the collapse of the bloom. Dissolved oxygen decreased when the bloom started to die off and coincided with the fish deaths when the average surface dissolved oxygen concentration in the lake was 3.9 mg l^?1 and was at a depth of 5 m <2 mg l^?1. Mortality probably resulted from depressed oxygen levels caused by the high oxygen demand from the massive algal die‐off and released algal toxins. This is the first time that die‐off of algae has been linked to fish‐kills in Lake Chivero as occurs in other hypereutrophic systems.     

Planktonic bacterial DNA and RNA synthesis from algal extracellular products in a eutrophic lake

Abstract In order to better understand bacterial growth in the natural environment, a tracer experiment was carried out by adding [¹⁴C]bicarbonate to samples from a eutrophic lake and enclosures which were constructed inside the lake to provide different substrate conditions. It was shown that extracellular dissolved organic carbon (EDOC) released from photosynthetic phytoplankton was one of the most important carbon sources for the growth of planktonic bacteria in the aquatic environment studied here. About 5% of photosynthetically fixed ¹⁴C was transferred to the bacterial fraction between 4 and 8 h after the addtion of the [¹⁴C]bicarbonate. This increased to 10% during the following 16 h in the dark. Between 50% and 60% of bacterial ¹⁴C from EDOC was transformed to bacterial macromolecules. Analysis of cellular components showed that 36–39% of macromolecules produced were DNA during the light incubation, although the proportion of DNA relative to total macromolecules decreased in the dark. RNA synthesis increased with time, from 25% to 38% during the dark incubation. There was a correlation between bacterial growth rates and the ratio of RNA/DNA synthesized from EDOC (r = 0.81). However, the RNA/DNA ratio was very small, 1.8 for all samples examined, compared with previous data obtained for the laboratory bacteria. This is probably due to the very slow growth rate of the natural planktonic bacteria.     

铜锈环棱螺对藻华水体沉积物-水界面营养盐通量的影响

于2008年在室内小型试验模拟生态系统中进行了为期1个月的铜锈环棱螺生物干扰对底泥耗氧率和上覆水营养盐通量的影响试验,根据铜锈环棱螺放养密度设置了3个处理组和1个对照组。与试验前相比,培养1个月后,所有处理组和对照组的底泥耗氧率均显著下降;各处理组的底泥耗氧率初期高于对照组,后期低于对照组,且密度高的处理组其底泥耗氧率高于密度低的处理组。除12月7日外,对照组沉积物始终向上覆水释放铵氮,且释放量逐渐减小,而各处理组中,除试验初期沉积物向上覆水释放铵氮外,试验中后期均表现为吸收铵氮。除试验初期外,处理组和对照组中亚硝酸盐+硝酸盐通量主要表现为向上覆水中释放,且处理组1与对照组间存在显著差异(P<0.05)。磷酸盐通量主要表现为,试验初期沉积物向上覆水中释放,后期被沉积物吸收。本试验结果表明,短期内铜锈环棱螺的生物干扰增加了底泥耗氧率,但其长期效应可使底泥耗氧率下降,铜锈环棱螺的存在促进了沉积物中的总体硝化速率,加快了沉积物中的N循环。     

Stability of a model of human granulopoiesis using continuous maturation

A class of mathematical models involving a convection-reaction partial differential equation (PDE) is introduced with reference to recovering human granulopoiesis after high dose chemotherapy with stem cell support. The stability properties of the model are addressed by means of numerical investigations and analysis. A simplified model with proliferation rate and mobilization rate independent of maturity shows that the model is stable as the maturation rate grows without bounds, but may go through stable and non-stable regimens as the maturation rate varies. It is also shown that the system is stable when parameters are chosen to approximate a real physiological situation. System characteristics do not change profoundly by introduction of a maturity-dependent proliferation and mobilization rate, as is necessary to make the model operate more in accordance with hematological observations. However, by changing the system mitotic responsiveness with respect to changes in cytokine level, the system is still stable but may show persistent oscillations much resembling clinical observations of cyclic neutropenia. Furthermore, in these cases, changes in the model feedback signal caused by, for instance, an impaired effective cytokine elimination by cell receptors may enforce these oscillations markedly.     

The value of harmful algal bloom predictions to the nearshore commercial shellfish fishery in the Gulf of Maine

In this study, we develop a framework for measuring the value of harmful algal bloom (HAB) predictions. The framework captures the effects of both private and public responses to HABs. Using data from the New England nearshore commercial shellfish fishery and impact estimates for a large-scale HAB event in 2005, we illustrate how the potential value of HAB forecasts may be estimated. The results of our study suggest that the long-term value of a HAB prediction and tracking system for the Gulf of Maine is sensitive to the frequency of HAB events, the accuracy of predictions, the choice of HAB impact measures, and the effectiveness of public and private responses.     

Meteorological influences on algal bloom potential in a nutrient-rich blackwater river

1. The effect of variability in rainfall on the potential for algal blooms was examined for the St Johns River in northeast Florida. Water chemistry and phytoplankton data were collected at selected sites monthly from 1993 through 2003. Information on rainfall and estimates of water turnover rates were used in the analyses of trends in phytoplankton biomass.
2. Major trends in rainfall and runoff within the lower St Johns River catchment over the 10-year study period were marked by both significant drought and flood periods. Autumn and winter rainfall patterns were strongly correlated with the range of Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies associated with El Niño events and La Niña periods. The effect of these major shifts in rainfall was evident in the strong relationship to replacement rates for water within the lower St Johns River.
3. The eutrophic status of the river was reflected in the high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus observed at all sampling sites, with total nitrogen concentrations up to 3100  μ g L⁻¹ and total phosphorus concentrations up to 180  μ g L⁻¹.
4. While it is clear that the high phytoplankton biomass and frequent blooms that characterize the freshwater portions of the lower St Johns River are fundamentally based on nutrient status, the expression of that potential was strongly correlated to water replacement rates, as revealed by the inverse relationship between phytoplankton biovolume increase and water turnover rate, with an R ² of 0.80 for the major bloom season. The sensitivity of algal blooms to rainfall patterns over the 10-year study period suggest that longer-term temporal and spatial shifts in rainfall, such as multi-decadal cycles and the global-warming phenomenon, will also influence the frequency and intensity of algal blooms.     

Dynamical analysis of cellular networks based on the Green's function matrix

The complexity of cellular networks often limits human intuition in understanding functional regulations in a cell from static network diagrams. To this end, mathematical models of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) have commonly been used to simulate dynamical behavior of cellular networks, to which a quantitative model analysis can be applied in order to gain biological insights. In this paper, we introduce a dynamical analysis based on the use of Green's function matrix (GFM) as sensitivity coefficients with respect to initial concentrations. In contrast to the classical (parametric) sensitivity analysis, the GFM analysis gives a dynamical, molecule-by-molecule insight on how system behavior is accomplished and complementarily how (impulse) signal propagates through the network. The knowledge gained will have application from model reduction and validation to drug discovery research in identifying potential drug targets, studying drug efficacy and specificity, and optimizing drug dosing and timing. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated through applications to common network motifs and a Fas-induced programmed cell death model in Jurkat T cell line.     

Analysis of the self-shading effect on algal vertical distribution in natural waters

Self-shading of light by algae growing in a column of water plays an important role in the dynamics of algal blooms. Thus without self-shading the algal concentration would increase more rapidly, making the nutrient limitation too strong. Apart from the practical importance of self-shading, its inherent nonlinearity in the growth dynamics leads to an interesting mathematical problem, which warrants detailed analytical investigation. Our mathematical model for the self-shading effect includes vertical diffusion, algal settling, gross production, and collective losses of algae. Steady-state solutions of the model equation are investigated in detail by the phase plane method, and their stability examined. Finally we discuss the vertical profile of algal concentration.Contribution No. 291 of the Marine Sciences Research Center     

Copepod grazing in a summer cyanobacteria bloom in the Gulf of Finland

Blooms of the cyanobacteria Nodularia spumigena and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae dominated the phytoplankton assemblages of the western Gulf of Finland and the eastern side of the northern Baltic Sea in late July–August, 1992. The bloom overlapped the peak seasonal contributions of the dominant mesozooplankton herbivores in the region, the copepods Acartia bifilosa and Eurytemora affinis and the cladoceran Bosmina longispina maritima. Using radio-labelling techniques; the copepods were offered one of the cyanobacteria, Nodularia, as well as the 10–54 µm fraction of the natural phytoplankton assemblage. In general, incorporation rates of the labelled phytoplankton into the copepods declined with increasing contributions of the cyanobacteria. For both copepods, incorporation was inversely related to total phytoplankton biomass, whether measured as chlorophyll, total cells or cyanobacteria biomass. The very low rates for Acartia (< 0.8 µl [copepod h]^–1) indicated that this copepod was likely starving in the cyanobacteria bloom, consistent with the generally poor condition of the animal observed in the laboratory. The other major mesozooplanktor, B. longispina maritima, ingested substantially more cyanobacterial biomass than the two copepods, based on HPLC-identified cyanobacteria-specific pigment echinenone in the gut. Bloom carbon provided < 1% and < 4% of the daily rations for Acartia and Eurytemora, respectively. Total copepod demand in the cyanobacteria blooms was trivial, < 1% of bloom biomass consumed daily. These results suggest that copepod herbivory is relatively unimportant in dissipating summer cyanobacteria blooms in the Gulf of Finland.     

Effects of behavioral changes in a smallpox attack model

The impact of individual and community behavioral changes in response to an outbreak of a disease with high mortality is often not appreciated. Response strategies to a smallpox bioterrorist attack have focused on interventions such as isolation of infectives, contact tracing, quarantine of contacts, ring vaccination, and mass vaccination. We formulate and analyze a mathematical model in which some individuals lower their daily contact activity rates once an epidemic has been identified in a community. Transmission parameters are estimated from data and an expression is derived for the effective reproduction number. We use computer simulations to analyze the effects of behavior change alone and in combination with other control measures. We demonstrate that the spread of the disease is highly sensitive to how rapidly people reduce their contact activity rates and to the precautions that the population takes to reduce the transmission of the disease. Even gradual and mild behavioral changes can have a dramatic impact in slowing an epidemic. When behavioral changes are combined with other interventions, the epidemic is shortened and the number of smallpox cases is reduced. We conclude that for simulations of a smallpox outbreak to be useful, they must consider the impact of behavioral changes. This is especially true if the model predictions are being used to guide public health policy.     

Small-scale spatial variability in intertidal and subtidal turfing algal assemblages and the temporal generality of these patterns

Spatial and temporal variation in patterns of distribution and abundance of algal assemblages is large and often occurs at extremely small spatial and temporal scales. Despite this, few studies investigate interactions between these scales, that is, how patterns of spatial variation change through time. This study investigated a number of scales of spatial variation (from tens of centimetres to kilometres) in assemblages of intertidal and subtidal turfing algae. Significant differences were found in the composition and abundances of species in assemblages of turf at all spatial scales tested. Much of the variation among assemblages could, however, be explained at the scale of quadrats (tens of centimetres apart) (27±1.4 (SE)% of dissimilarity) with an additional 7±1.2% explained at the scale of sites (tens of metres apart) and 10±1.5% at the scale of locations (kilometres apart). Although the greatest dissimilarity in assemblages occurred at the scale of habitats, this accounted for a relatively small proportion of the overall variation in assemblages. These patterns were consistent through time, that is, at each sampling time the spatial scale explaining the greatest proportion of variation in assemblages was replicate quadrats separated by tens of centimetres. These patterns appear to be due to small-scale variation in patterns of distribution and abundances of the individual species that comprise turfing algal assemblages. The results of this experiment suggest that large scale processes have less effect on patterns of variability of algal assemblages than those occurring on relatively smaller spatial scales and that small-scale spatial variation should not be considered as simply “noise”.     

Effect of algal inoculation on the yield and vitamin C content of two varieties of tomato

Summary Two varieties of tomato (Pusa Rubi and Selection 120) positively responded to algal inoculation in terms of the yield of fruits and shoots, but there was no significant effect on the vitamin C content of the fruits. A combined application of urea and algae was more effective than the application of urea alone.     

Photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation in a cyanobacterial bloom in the Baltic Sea

Daily integrals of photosynthesis by a cyanobacterial bloom in the Baltic Sea, during the summer of 1993, were calculated from the vertical distributions of light, temperature and the organisms in the water column and from photosynthesis/irradiance curves of picoplanktonic and diazotrophic cyanobacteria isolated from the community. The distribution of chlorophyll a in size-classes <20?µm and >20?µm was monitored over 9 days that included a deep mixing event followed by calm. Picocyanobacteria formed 70% of the cyanobacterial biomass and contributed 56% of the total primary production. Of the filamentous diazotrophs that formed the other 30%, Aphanizomenon contributed 28% and a Nodularia-containing fraction 16% of the primary production. For the whole population there was little change in standardized photosynthetic O₂ production, which remained at about 31?mmol?m^?2 before and after the mixing event. There were differences, however, between the classes of cyanobacteria: in picocyanobacteria primary production hardly changed, while in Aphanizomenon it increased by 2.6 and in Nodularia it fell below zero. Total phytoplankton photosynthesis was strongly dependent on total daily insolation with the compensation point at a photon insolation of 22.7?mol?m^?2?d^?1. Similar analyses of N₂ fixation showed much less dependence on depth distribution of light and biomass: Aphanizomenon fixed about twice as much N₂ as Nodularia their; their fixation exceeded their own N demand by about 12%. Together, these species contributed 49% of the total N demand of the phytoplankton population. Computer models based on the measured light attenuation and photosynthetic coefficients indicate that growth of the cyanobacterial population could occur only in the summer months when the critical depth of the cyanobacteria exceeds the depth of mixing.     

铜锈环棱螺生物扰动对"蓝藻水华"水体底泥及其间隙水中碳、氮、磷含量的影响

实验室内建立小型模拟生态系统,根据铜锈环棱螺(Bellamya aeruginosa)的密度设置了3个处理组和1个对照组.结果显示:铜锈环棱螺对底泥0～0.5 cm及0.5～2 cm有机质影响较明显,显著降低了底泥中的C:P.处理组3和处理组2间隙水NH4+-N含量分别在底泥0～0.5cm及0.5～2 cm深度和对照组之间存在显著差异(p＜0.05).间隙水中NO2--N+NO3--N的变化较复杂,处理组NO2--N+NO3--N含量在0～0.5 cm,0.5～2cm及2～4cm与对照组相比差异显著(p＜0.05).间隙水中DIP含量随底泥深度先增后减,在2～4 cm处含量达最大,DIP含量在0.5～2 cm深度处理组与对照组之间有显著差异(p＜0.05).铜锈环棱螺生物干扰增加了底泥表层有机质的含量,同时降低了其稳定性.     

The effect of resuspension on algal production in a shallow lake

Waves cause erosion and resuspension of bottom sediments. In shallow lakes resuspension can take place over most of the lake area and the resuspended matter can stay in suspension for such a long time that the mean light intensity in the lake is reduced, causing reduced algal growth. The increase of suspended matter and light attenuation in the water of lake Tämnaren, Sweden, was found to be proportional to wind velocity to the third power. After each storm increased attenuation of light lasted for a week. The algal production was estimated to be reduced to only 15 % of what it would have been without increased turbidity due to resuspension.     

Modeling for the optimal biodegradation of toxic wastewater in a discontinuous reactor

The degradation of toxic compounds in Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs) poses inhibition problems. Time Optimal Control (TOC) methods may be used to avoid such inhibition thus exploiting the maximum capabilities of this class of reactors. Biomass and substrate online measurements, however, are usually unavailable for wastewater applications, so TOC must use only related variables as dissolved oxygen and volume. Although the standard mathematical model to describe the reaction phase of SBRs is good enough for explaining its general behavior in uncontrolled batch mode, better details are needed to model its dynamics when the reactor operates near the maximum degradation rate zone, as when TOC is used. In this paper two improvements to the model are suggested: to include the sensor delay effects and to modify the classical Haldane curve in a piecewise manner. These modifications offer a good solution for a reasonable complexification tradeoff. Additionally, a new way to look at the Haldane K-parameters (micro(o),K(I),K(S)) is described, the S-parameters (micro*,S*,S(m)). These parameters do have a clear physical meaning and, unlike the K-parameters, allow for the statistical treatment to find a single model to fit data from multiple experiments.     

Feeding electivity of two epiphytic chironomids in a subtropical lake

Summary Feeding electivity of two epiphytic orthoclad chironomid species, Psectrocladius sp. and Thienemanniella cf. fusca, was investigated using gut content analysis of larvae collected from Typha stems in Lake Padgett, Florida. Electivity values, computed using Strauss's Food Selection Index, were strongly positive for Cosmarium and negative for Oedogonium and Bulbochaete. Diatoms either were avoided or grazed in proportion to their abundance in the environment. Patterns of electivity were similar for both chrionomid species during all seasons studied. Pairwise food preference experiments were conducted in the laboratory using the algal species, Cosmarium impressulum, Navicula pelliculosa, Selenastrum capricornuatum, Oedogonium cardiacum, and Synedra sp. Preferences were hierarchical and consistent for both larval genera. Preference ranking for the algae offered were CosmariumSynedra>Navicula>Oedogonium>Selenastrum. Larvae seemed to be feeding electively based upon algal genus, size, position in the epiphytic community, and possibly extracellular chemistry.