Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
3857490 
Journal Article 
Phytoplankton assemblage response to changing nutrients in Florida Bay: Results of mesocosm studies 
Shangguan, Y; Glibert, PM; Alexander, J; Madden, CJ; Murasko, S 
2017 
Yes 
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
ISSN: 0022-0981 
494 
38-53 
English 
WOS:000404196100005 
The ongoing restoration of the Florida Everglades has changed the hydrology in south Florida and increasing freshwater discharge has contributed to a shift in nutrients and phytoplankton in northern Florida Bay. To understand the effect of the changing nitrogen (N) forms and nitrogen:phosphorus (N:P) ratios on phytoplankton biomass and assemblage composition, five mesocosm experiments were conducted. Nutrient additions included a matrix of different forms of N (NO3-, NH4+, and DON) and P (as sodium beta(-)glycerophosphate pentahydrate) in differing N:P molar ratios (4, 16, 32), a P alone addition, and a control. In general, chlorophyll a increased threefold in the + P treatments and ten-fold in the + N + P treatments, while it did not increase in the + N treatments. Typically the + N + P treatments, particularly the + NO3- +P at the N:P molar ratio of 32, promoted high concentrations of fucoxanthin (generally indicative of diatoms) relative to chlorophyll a. While chlorophyll a did not increase significantly in the + N alone treatments, there was a change in the phytoplankton assemblage. The + N treatments, when N was in the form of + NH4+ yielded proportionally higher zeaxanthin (generally indicative of picocyanobacteria). When the + N:P ratio increased, the relative concentrations of fucoxanthin and alloxanthin (generally indicative of cryptophytes) to chlorophyll a increased, whereas the relative concentrations of zeaxanthin and dinoflagellates (generally indicative of photosynthetic dinoflagellates) declined. This study highlights the importance of dual P and N control, particularly N in the forms of NH4+ and DON if picocyanobacterial blooms are to be controlled. 
Mesocosms; Nutrient; Phytoplankton; Everglades restoration; N:P stoichiometry; N form 
NAAQS
• ISA NOxSOxPM Ecology (2018)
     Cited in the Second Draft
          Appendix 10
• ISA NOxSOxPM Ecology (2020- Final Project Page)
     Cited
          Appendix 10