Alan L. Baker

Detection of planktonic cyanobacteria by tandem in vivo fluorometry

For freshwater cyanobacteria, the autofluorescence of phycocyanin is quite high while the in vivo fluorescence (IVF) yield of chlorophyll-a is relatively low, apparently because of low chlorophyll concentrations associated with photosystem II. In eucaryotic phytoplankton, even those with phycobili-protein accessory pigments (e.g. some cryptophytes), the opposite is true. Thus, an IVF ratio which relates phycocyanin to chlorophyll-a signals could be a good index of relative cyanobacterial abundance in the field. Spectrofluorometric scans of whole cells from laboratory cultures indicated that the ratio Em660 @ Ex630/Em680 @ Ex430 could be a very sensitive cyanobacterial indicator. Tandem flowthrough fluorometers were then fitted with the appropriate interference filters and their discriminatory power was evaluated with mixtures of cyanobacterial and eucaryotic phytoplankton. Although subject to many of the constraints of other IVF assays, tandem fluorometry should be particularly appropriate for real-time mapping of the relative spatial and temporal distributions of broad phytoplankton taxa in continuous vertical of horizontal profiles in lakes.

Seasonal succession of the phytoplankton in the upper Mississippi River

Species composition and seasonal succession of the phytoplankton were investigated on the upper Mississippi River at Prairie Island, Minnesota, U.S.A. Both the numbers and volume of individual species were enumerated based on cell counts with an inverted microscope. A succession similar to algal succession in the local lakes occurred. The diatoms were dominant during the spring and fall and blue-green algae were dominant during the summer. The algal concentrations have increased up to 40 fold the concentrations of the 1920s, since the installation of locks and dams. The maximum freshweight standing crop was 4 mg · l−1 in 1928 (Reinhard 1931), 13 mg · l−1 in 1975 a wet year, and 47 mg · l−1 in 1976, a relatively dry year with minimal current discharge. The diatoms varied from 36–99%, the blue-green algae from 0–44% and the cryptómonads from 0–50% of the total standing crop. The green algae were always present but never above 21% of the biomass. The dominant diatoms in recent years were centric -Stephanodiscus andCyclotella spp. (maximum 50,000 ml−1). The dominant blue-green algae wereAphanizomenon flos-aquae (L.) Ralfsex Born.et Flahault andOscillatoria agardhii Gomont (maximum 800 ml−1). These algal species are also present in local lakes. Shannon diversity values indicated greatest diversity of algae during the summer months.

A family of pneumatically-operated thin layer samplers for replicate sampling of heterogeneous water columns

A series of inexpensive, pneumatic thin layer water samplers is described. They can be operated from small boats, and permit sampling at 2.5 cm intervals with little or no disturbance of stratified systems such as oxyclines or redoxclines of meromictic lakes, or microstratification of flagellates in sheltered epilimnia. Some models permit replicate sampling at closely-spaced intervals in a two-dimensional array. Their performance abilities are illustrated with examples of microstratification.

Variations in the mineral content of Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx related to site and season

Abstract The mineral composition of submersed apical shoots of Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx from Lees Pond and Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, U.S.A., was analyzed from 1976 to 1978. Minerals analyzed were P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, as well as ash. Apical mineral content was influenced by both the seasons and sample site location. Seasonal variations in mineral content were largest for Fe and Mn. A generalized seasonal pattern for Na, K, Ca and Mg was a summer maximum. Fe and Mn had late winter maxima, while ash, P and Zn had no significant seasonal variation. Recurrent seasonal patterns were most pronounced for Fe, Mn and Na. Seasonal maxima in Fe content were greater at tributary sampling sites than at non-tributary sites. The recurrent seasonal variations in mineral content observed in this study suggest that the time of sampling can greatly influence the results and therefore the interpretation of tissue chemistry studies of submersed hydrophytes.

Temporal and morphological factors related to mineral composition in Myriophyllum heterophyllum michx

Abstract The emergent floral stem, apex, sub-apex, mid-stem, lower stem, and roots of Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx were analyzed for ash, P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb. Samples were collected 14 times from June 1979 through July 1980 from Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, U.S.A. The plant segments sampled differed significantly in mineral content, but seasonal pulses for each mineral were usually in synchrony between the different segments sampled. Sodium (range, 0.8–2.7% dry wt.) and potassium (range, 1.4–3.3% dry wt.) were the dominant elements in the submersed stem. The dominant element in the floral spike was Ca (range, 2.4–4.1% dry wt.) and in the roots was Fe (range, 2.8–8.0% dry wt.). Sodium concentrations were greater in the submersed stem (range, 0.8–2.7% dry wt.), relative to the roots (range, 0.5–0.9% dry wt.) and flora stem (range, 0.3–1.1% dry wt.). Lead concentrated in the roots significantly more (range, 0.0040–0.0115% dry wt.), than in other plant parts (range, 0–0.0037% dry wt.). The submersed stem had spring or summer peaks in ash, P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, and Zn content, whereas Fe and Mn exhibited late winter to early spring peaks. No evidence of nutrient storage during the non-growing season was evident in the segments sampled. Explanations for the seasonal and morphological differences observed are presented.