Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vertical distributions of chlorophyll in deep, warm monomictic lakes

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Aquatic Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The factors affecting vertical distributions of chlorophyll fluorescence were examined in four temperate, warm monomictic lakes. Each of the lakes (maximum depth >80 m) was sampled over 2 years at intervals from monthly to seasonal. Profiles were taken of chlorophyll fluorescence (as a proxy for algal biomass), temperature and irradiance, as well as integrated samples from the surface mixed layer for chlorophyll a (chl a) and nutrient concentrations in each lake. Depth profiles of chlorophyll fluorescence were also made along transects of the longest axis of each lake. Chlorophyll fluorescence maxima occurred at depths closely correlated with euphotic depth (r 2 = 0.67, P < 0.01), which varied with nutrient status of the lakes. While seasonal thermal density stratification is a prerequisite for the existence of a deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM), our study provides evidence that the depth of light penetration largely dictates the DCM depth during stratification. Reduction in water clarity through eutrophication can cause a shift in phytoplankton distributions from a DCM in spring or summer to a surface chlorophyll maximum within the surface mixed layer when the depth of the euphotic zone (z eu) is consistently shallower than the depth of the surface mixed layer (z SML). Trophic status has a key role in determining vertical distributions of chlorophyll in the four lakes, but does not appear to disrupt the annual cycle of maximum chlorophyll in winter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott MR, Denman KL, Powell TM, Richerson PJ, Richards RC, Goldman CR (1984) Mixing and the dynamics of the deep chlorophyll maximum in Lake Tahoe. Limnol Oceanogr 29:862–878

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arar EJ, Collins JB (1992) In vitro determination of chlorophyll-a and pheophytin-a in marine and freshwater algae by fluorescence. Method 445.0, National Exposure Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayley SE, Creed IF, Sass GZ, Wong AS (2007) Frequent regime shifts in shallow lakes on the Boreal Plain: Alternative “unstable” states? Limnol Oceanogr 52:2002–2012

    Google Scholar 

  • Belzile C, Vincent WF, Howard-Williams C, Hawes I, James MR, Kumagai M, Roesler CS (2004) Relationships between spectral optical properties and optically active substances in a clear oligotrophic lake. Water Resour Res 40:1–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter SR (2003) Regime shifts in lake ecosystems: pattern and variation: excellence in ecology series, vol 15. Ecology Institute, Olendorf

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassie V (1978) Seasonal changes in phytoplankton densities in four North Island lakes, 1973–1974. N Z J Mar Freshw Res 12:153–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clegg MR, Maberly SC, Jones RI (2007) Behavioral response as a predictor of seasonal depth distribution and vertical niche separation in freshwater phytoplanktonic flagellates. Limnol Oceanogr 52:441–455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Condie SA (1999) Settling regimes for non-motile particles in stratified waters. Deep Sea Res I 46:681–699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davey MC, Heaney SI (1989) The control of sub–surface maxima of diatoms in a stratified lake by physical, chemical and biological factors. J Plankton Res 11:1185–1199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fee EJ (1976) The vertical and seasonal distribution of chlorophyll in lakes of the Experimental Lakes Area, northwest Ontario: implications for primary productivity estimates. Limnol Oceanogr 21:767–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fennel K, Boss E (2003) Subsurface maxima of phytoplankton and chlorophyll: steady-state solutions from a simple model. Limnol Oceanogr 48:1521–1534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton DP (2005) Land use impacts on nutrient export in the Central Volcanic Plateau, North Island. N Z J For 49:27–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard-Williams C, Law K, Vincent CL, Davies J, Vincent WF (1986) Limnology of Lake Waikaremoana with special reference to littoral and pelagic primary producers. N Z J Mar Freshw Res 20:583–597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huisman J, Sommeijer B (2002) Maximal sustainable sinking velocity of phytoplankton. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 244:39–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huisman J, Thi NNP, Karl DM, Sommeijer B (2006) Reduced mixing generates oscillations and chaos in the oceanic deep chlorophyll maximum. Nature 439:322–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumagai M, Nakano S, Jiao C, Hayakawa K, Tsujimura S, Nakajima T, Frenette J-J, Queseda A (2000) Effect of cyanobacterial blooms on thermal stratification. Limnology 1:191–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson DW, Dahm CN, Geiger NS (1987) Vertical partitioning of the phytoplankton assemblage in ultraoligotrophic Crater Lake, Oregon USA. Freshw Biol 18:429–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Letelier RM, Karl DM, Abbott MR, Bidigare RR (2004) Light driven seasonal patterns of chlorophyll and nitrate in the lower euphotic zone of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Limnol Oceanogr 29:508–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacIntyre S, Aldridge AL, Gotschal CG (1995) Accumulation of marine snow at density discontinuities in the water column. Limnol Oceanogr 40:449–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall CT, Peters RH (1989) General patterns in the seasonal development of chlorophyll a for temperate lakes. Limnol Oceanogr 34:856–867

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien KR, Ivey GN, Hamilton DP, Waite AM, Visser PM (2003) Simple mixing criteria for the growth of negatively buoyant phytoplankton. Limnol Oceanogr 48:1326–1337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez G, Queimalinos C, Balseiro E, Modenutti B (2007) Phytoplankton absorption spectra along the water column in deep North Patagonian Andean lakes Argentina. Limnol Ecol Manage Inland Waters 37:3–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds CS (1997) Vegetation processes in the pelagic: a model for ecosystem theory: excellence in ecology series, vol 9. Ecology Institute, Olendorf

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan EF, Hamilton DP, Hall JA, Cassie-Cooper UV (2005) Lake phytoplankton composition and biomass along horizontal and vertical gradients. Verh Int Ver Limnol 29:1033–1036

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan EF, Duggan IC, Hamilton DP, Burger D (2006) Phytoplankton community composition in North Island lakes of New Zealand: is trophic state, mixing, or light climate more important? N Z J Mar Freshw Res 40:389–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sackmann BS, Perry MJ, Eriksen CC (2008) Seaglider observations of variability in daytime fluorescence quenching of chlorophyll a in Northeastern Pacific coastal waters. Biogeosci Discuss 5:2839–2865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman BS, Webster IT, Jones GT, Oliver RL (1998) Transitions between Aulacoseira and Anabaena dominance in a turbid river weir pool. Limnol Oceanogr 43:1902–1915

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spigel RH, Imberger J (1987) A review of mixing processes relevant to phytoplankton dynamics in lakes. N Z J Mar Freshw Res 21:392–405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steele JH (1964) A study of production in the Gulf of Mexico. J Mar Res 22:211–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Tett P, Arístegui J, Barton D, Basterretxea G, De Armas JD, Escánez JE, León SH, Lorenzo LM, Montero N (2002) Steady-state DCM dynamics in Canaries waters. Deep Sea Res II 49:3543–3559

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D (1996) Biodiversity: population versus ecosystem stability. Ecology 77:350–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent WF (1983) Phytoplankton production and winter mixing: contrasting effects in two oligotrophic lakes. J Ecol 71:1–20

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent WF, Gibbs MM, Dryden SJ (1984a) Accelerated eutrophication in a New Zealand lake: Lake Rotoiti, central North Island. N Z J Mar Freshw Res 18:431–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent WF, Neale PJ, Richerson PJ (1984b) Photoinhibition: algal responses to bright light during diel stratification and mixing in a tropical alpine lake. J Phycol 20:201–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Viner AW, White E (1987) Phytoplankton growth. In: Viner AB (ed) Inland waters of New Zealand. Department of Scientific Information and Research Bulletin No. 241, Wellington, pp 191–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsby AE, Schanz F (2002) Light-dependent growth rate determines changes in the population of Planktothrix rubescens over the annual cycle in Lake Zurich, Switzerland. New Phytol 154:671–687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williamson CE, Sanders RW, Moeller RE, Stutzman PL (1996) Utilization of subsurface food resources for zooplankton reproduction: Implications for diel vertical migration theory. Limnol Oceanogr 41:224–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wurtsbaugh WA, Gross HP, Budy P, Luecke C (2001) Effects of epilimnetic versus metalimnetic fertilization on the phytoplankton and periphyton of a mountain lake with a deep chlorophyll maxima. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 58:2156–2166

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded through the Foundation of Research, Science and Technology (Contract UOWX0505) and the University of Waikato Lakes Chair supported by Environment Bay of Plenty. KO’B’s participation in this project was supported by research Grants from the School of Engineering, University of Queensland. We acknowledge the assistance of Dennis Trolle in discussions on this manuscript, and George Ganf, Warwick Vincent and Emanuel Boss for reviews.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand

    David P. Hamilton & Chris G. McBride

  2. Division of Environmental Engineering, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia

    Katherine R. O’Brien

  3. Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    Michele A. Burford

  4. Water Research Cluster, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Justin D. Brookes

Authors
  1. David P. Hamilton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katherine R. O’Brien
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michele A. Burford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Justin D. Brookes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chris G. McBride
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David P. Hamilton.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hamilton, D.P., O’Brien, K.R., Burford, M.A. et al. Vertical distributions of chlorophyll in deep, warm monomictic lakes. Aquat. Sci. 72, 295–307 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-010-0131-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-010-0131-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation