Phytoplankton community responses to acidification of lake 223, experimental lakes area, northwestern Ontario
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Abstract.
From 1976 to 1983 the pH of Lake 223 was artificially lowered by additions of H2SO4. From an initial level of 6.7, the pH was lowered at a rate of 0.5 pH units a year until it reached 5.0 and was held there for 3 yr. The decrease in pH caused major changes in the epilimnetic phytoplankton community in this lake. Biomass increased as pH decreased. Chlorophyte (Chlorella) abundance increased as pH decreased from 6.1 to 5.6 while Cyanophytes (Merismopedia and Chroococcus) and dinoflagellates (Gymnodinium and Peridinium) dominated once pH decreased below 5.6. Community diversities decreased because of these species shifts and a decrease in the number of species. The amount of edible biomass increased as the pH decreased from 6.7 to 5.6, then declined as pH decreased to 5.0.
Keywords
Biomass Phytoplankton H2SO4 Major Change DinoflagellatePreview
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