Phytoplankton growth model for a turbid pulsed aquatic ecosystem.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop a computer simulation that successfully predicted chlorophyll-a dynamics in Lake Waco. A small-scale batch culture was used to elucidate intrinsic growth rate and how it was affected by initial nutrient concentration and light intensity. Light intensity effect proved to be of importance. This translated into a strong dependence of a larger-scale model (model of Lake Waco) on light intensity in the form of photic depth dependence and photoperiod dependence. There were similarities and differences among models of phytoplankton growth of different scale. The larger-scale model had to include also processes of inter-specific competition, zooplankton grazing, algal movement, and washout that arose from emergent properties of a community of greater physical size and being observed for several years. Microscopic features of cells in populations (average size and shape) and floating and sinking rates determined the differential success of algal populations in a lake community. A model developed in this study that included these processes has been successfully applied to phytoplankton dynamics of Lake Waco. The pulsed character of nutrient and clay inflow into the lake largely determined phytoplankton dynamics in Lake Waco.

Description

Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-145).

Keywords

Freshwater phytoplankton -- Growth -- Research.

Citation

Umorin, M. and O. Lind. 2005. Cell volume distribution dynamics of Chlorella vulgaris Beij. in batch cultures under continuous light. Biotechnology Letters 27: 347-354.
Umorin, M. and O. Lind. 2005. Phytoplankton growth models: a hierarchical critique. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 151(3): 191-242