Environmental factors that influence cyanobacteria and geosmin occurrence in reservoirs

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Abstract

Phytoplankton are small to microscopic, free-floating algae that inhabit the open water of freshwater, estuarine, and saltwater systems. In freshwater lake and reservoirs systems, which are the focus of this chapter, phytoplankton communities commonly consist of assemblages of the major taxonomic groups, including green algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, and cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are a diverse group of single-celled organisms that can exist in a wide range of environments, not just open water, because of their adaptability [1-3]. It is the adaptability of cyanobacteria that enables this group to dominate the phytoplankton community and even form nuisance or harmful blooms under certain environmental conditions [3-6]. In fact, cyanobacteria are predicted to adapt favorably to future climate change in freshwater systems compared to other phytoplankton groups because of their tolerance to rising temperatures, enhanced vertical thermal stratification of aquatic ecosystems, and alterations in seasonal and interannual weather patterns [7, 8]. Understanding those environmental conditions that favor cyanobacterial dominance and bloom formation has been the focus of research throughout the world because of the concomitant production and release of nuisance and toxic cyanobacterial-derived compounds [4-6, 7-10]. However, the complex interaction among the physical, chemical, and biological processes within lakes, reservoirs, and large rivers often makes it difficult to identify primary environmental factors that cause the production and release of these cyanobacterial by-products.

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Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title Environmental factors that influence cyanobacteria and geosmin occurrence in reservoirs
DOI 10.5772/54807
Year Published 2013
Language English
Publisher inTech
Contributing office(s) South Atlantic Water Science Center
Description 29 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Current perspectives in contaminant hydrology and water resources sustainability
First page 27
Last page 55
Country United States
State South Carolina
County Spartanburg County
Other Geospatial Lake William C. Bowen, Municipal Reservoir #1
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