Use of phosphorus to reduce blooms of the benthic diatom Didymosphenia geminata in an oligotrophic stream
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Abstract
Blooms of the benthic alga, Didymosphenia geminata [Lyngbye (Schmidt)], were first documented in Rapid Creek, South Dakota, in 2002 and have since been associated with changes to aquatic resources. Low concentration of P has been associated with D. geminata stalk development (i.e., blooms), so we considered elevating P as a possible method to reduce D. geminata blooms. We conducted 2 whole-stream P-enrichment experiments in Rapid Creek during 2007 and 2008. Enrichment with a slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote®: 14-14-14) in 2007 significantly reduced D. geminata blooms (indexed by D. geminata biomass) compared to upstream control sites. The reduction in biomass was less pronounced as distance from the enrichment source increased, a result indicating that P augmentation effectively decreased D. geminata biomass. In 2008, we implemented a before-after–control-impact (BACI) study to assess effects of a quick-release fertilizer (MAP: 11-52-0) on D. geminata biomass. The addition of 6 μg/L P to Rapid Creek resulted in a significant decrease in D. geminata biomass within 0.6 km downstream of the nutrient-addition point. Effects on D. geminata biomass were not evident further downstream. This study provides evidence to support the hypothesis that low P concentration regulates D. geminata blooms.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Use of phosphorus to reduce blooms of the benthic diatom Didymosphenia geminata in an oligotrophic stream |
| Series title | Freshwater Science |
| DOI | 10.1086/683038 |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | The University of Chicago Press |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Leetown |
| Description | 10 p. |
| First page | 1272 |
| Last page | 1281 |