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The role of nitrogen-phosphorus ratio in selecting for dominance of phytoplankton by cyanobacteria or green algae and its application to reservoir management

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Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health

Abstract

The undesirable consequences of phosphorus enrichment in reservoirs are primarily connected with the emerging abundance of cyanobacteria which are not utilized by the consumers and form, as a rule, a trophic block in the majority of nutrition chains. Blooming ofChlorococcales does not produce these negative effects since they are actively consumed by grazers.

The NT ratio turns out to be the factor which regulates the dominance of planktonic communities by blue-green or green microorganisms. Decrease of the N:P ratio, through the addition of phosphorus compounds, leads to cyanobacterial blooming.

In order to replace blue-green dominance of eutrophic reservoirs by dominant greens, it is suggested that the addition of nitrogen, thus varying the N:P ratio (nutrient manipulation) to apply, is superior to the traditional phosphorus load decrease. Utilization of the redundant green algal biomass may occur in a natural way or be conducted with the aid of biomanipulation, i.e., by introduction of planktivorous fish into the reservoir.

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  1. Laboratory of General Ecology, Department of Zoology of Vertebrates and General Ecology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, 119899, Vorobyovy Gory, Moscow, Russia

    A. P. Levich

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Levich, A.P. The role of nitrogen-phosphorus ratio in selecting for dominance of phytoplankton by cyanobacteria or green algae and its application to reservoir management. J Aquat Ecosyst Stress Recov 5, 55–61 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691729

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00691729

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