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Kramer Thesis Final.pdf (3.56 MB)

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Diel Vertical Distribution of Microcystis and Associated Environmental Factors in the Western Basin of Lake Erie

Kramer, Eva Lauren
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1544813640320216

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Science, University of Toledo, Biology (Ecology).
Harmful algal blooms comprised of the cyanobacteria Microcystis have recently caused multiple “do not drink” advisories in Ohio communities that draw their drinking water from Lake Erie, including the city of Toledo. Microcystis colonies are able to regulate their buoyancy and have a tendency to aggregate in thick scums at the water’s surface on a diel cycle under certain conditions. The city of Toledo’s drinking water intake draws water from near the bottom of the water column, thus a concentration of the bloom near the surface would present an opportunity to minimize Microcystis biomass and microcystin toxin entering the drinking water system. To better understand the vertical distribution of Microcystis over diel cycles, five temporally intensive sampling events were conducted from 2016-2017 under calm weather conditions near the drinking water intake in the western basin of Lake Erie. In-situ vertical profiles of algal concentrations and environmental parameters were recorded, and water samples were collected from discrete depths for algal identification and laboratory analysis of chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, microcystin, and nutrient concentrations. A scum was observed on only one of the five sampling events; unexpectedly, Microcystis decreased near the surface in the middle of the day during three of the five events. Total water column Microcystis decreased throughout each sampling event, possibly due to settling. Toxin distributions did not reflect cyanobacterial distributions. Therefore, real-time monitoring of cyanobacteria and toxin remain important tools for the management of Toledo’s drinking water.
Thomas Bridgeman (Committee Chair)
Timothy Davis (Committee Member)
Daryl Moorhead (Committee Member)
75 p.
Environmental Science
Microcystis; vertical distribution; drinking water; harmful algal blooms

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kramer, E. L. (2018). Diel Vertical Distribution of Microcystis and Associated Environmental Factors in the Western Basin of Lake Erie [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1544813640320216

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kramer, Eva. Diel Vertical Distribution of Microcystis and Associated Environmental Factors in the Western Basin of Lake Erie. 2018. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1544813640320216.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kramer, Eva. "Diel Vertical Distribution of Microcystis and Associated Environmental Factors in the Western Basin of Lake Erie." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1544813640320216

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1544813640320216
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© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.