Abstract
The nature reserve Botshol (Utrecht, The Netherlands), consisting of two shallow lakes, ditches and reedland, originated from excavation of peat by man in the 17th century. Up to 1960 Botshol was a clear-water Charophyte lake system. Since the sixties water quality deteriorated and phytoplankton concentrations increased, while the number and dispersion of Chara species decreased. Several restoration measures were attempted to restablish a Charophyte-dominated ecosystem. This paper reports the promising results of this restoration experiment and mentions some complications that arose in restoring the reserve to a less fertile state. The restoration measures have resulted in a sixfold reduction of the external phosphorus load, from 0.6 to 0.1 g m−2.y−1, and in a significant reduction of phosphorus levels at all locations. Moreover, the light climate improved and the phyto- and zooplankton compositions changed considerably Unexpectedly, a bloom ofPrymnesium parvum and a fish kill were observed during the last three months of 1990. Despite this fish kill the restoration of the lake is successful so far.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AQUASENSE, 1991. Onderzoek naar de effecten van integrale eutrofieringsbestrijding in de Botshol, 1991. Report 910154, Aquasense, Amsterdam, 31 p.
BIJWAARD, P. and E. TIMMERMAN, 1982. Botshol, een biologische waterbeoordeling. MSc. Thesis, Universiteit van Amsterdam, 76 p.
BOS, M. and J. MEEKEL, 1987. Botshol 1987, een inventariserend en oecologisch gericht plankton-onderzoek, dat als basis dient om het effect van defosfatering te kunnen bepalen. MSc. Thesis, Vrije Universiteit van Amsterdam, 75 p.
COLLINS, M., 1978. Algal toxins. Microbiol. Rev. 42/4: 725–746.
HILLEBRAND, H., 1977. Periodicity and distribution of multicellular green algae in two lake areas in the Netherlands. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Amsterdam, 178 p.
HILLEBRAND, H., 1987. De eutrofiëring van Botshol., Wetensch. Meded. K.N.N.V. 182: 1–46.
HOLDWAY, P., 1978. Influences exerted by salinity on a Norfolk Broads strain ofPrymnesium parvum (Carter). Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 20: 2336–2340.
KRAMMER, K. and H. LANGE-BERTALOT, 1988. Bacillariophyceae 2. Teil: Bacillariophyceae, Epithemiaceae, Surirellaceae. In: Sußwasserflora von Mitteleuropa, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart.
MEYER, D., 1971. Het voorkomen en de autoecologie van diatomeeën in Botshol in de periode van december 1967 tot oktober 1978. MSc. Thesis, Systematische Plantkunde, Universieit van Amsterdam, 34 p.
MOSS, B. and R.T. LEAH, 1982. Changes in the ecosystem of a guanotrophic and brackish shallow lake in Eastern England: Potential problems in its restoration, Int. Revue. ges. Hydrobiol. 67: 625–659.
MUR, L.R., 1962. Onderzoek naar het plankton van de Botshol. MSc. Thesis, Universiteit van Amsterdam, 36 p.
PROVINCIE UTRECHT, 1975. Meerjarenverslag over de kwaliteit van het oppervlaktewater in de provincie Utrecht. 1964–1975. Intern rapport Provinciale Waterstaat Utrecht, Sector Waterkwaliteitsbeheer, 24 p.
PROVINCIE UTRECHT, 1989. Waterkwaliteitsverslag 1980 t/m 1986. Het waterkwaliteitsonderzoek in het oppervlaktewater van de Provincie Utrecht, Dienst Water en Milieu, Afdeling Oppervlaktewaterkwaliteit, 35 p.
REYNOLDS, C.S., 1984. The ecology of freshwater phytoplankton. Cambridge University.
RIP, W.J., K. EVERARDS and J. SIMONS, 1990. Macrophyte recovery in the Botshol nature reserve. Proceedings EWRS 8th Symposium on Aquatic Weeds: 179–184.
SANDGREN C.D., 1988. Growth and reproductive strategies of freshwater phytoplankton. Cambridge University.
SAS H., 1989. Lake restoration by reduction of nutrient loading: expectations, experiences and extrapolations. Academia Verlag.
SHILO, M., 1967. Formation and Mode of Action of Algal Toxins, Bacteriol. Rev. 31: 180–193.
SHILO, M., 1971. Toxins of Chrysophyceae. Microbial Toxins 7: 67–103.
SIMONS, J., M. OHM and R. DAALDER, 1992. Recovery of Characeae in the shallow peat lake Botshol (The Netherlands) after restoration measures. Hydrobiol. Bull., 25: 287–294.
SKJOLDAL, H.R. and J. AURE, 1989. Toxic bloom ofPrymnesium parvum in fjords in rogaland, Western Norway, during august 1989. North sea task force, 3rd meeting, 6–8 sept 1989.
VAN DER DOES, J. and P. DE JONG, 1992. Integrale eutrofieringsbestrijding in the Nieuwkoopse Plassen, H2O 25/1: 2–5.
VAN IERSEL, P.B.W. and W.J. RIP, 1992. Restoration of Botshol (The Netherlands) by reduction of external nutrient load: Problem analysis and restoration methods. Hydrobiol. Bull., 25: 265–273.
VAN LIERE, L., L.D. GULATI, F.G. WORTELBOER and E.H.R.R. LAMMENS, 1990A. Phosphorus dynamics following restoration measures in Loosdrecht Lakes, Hydrobiologia 191: 87–95.
VAN LIERE, L., O.F.R. VAN TONGEREN, L. BREEBAART and W. KATS, 1990B. Trends in chlorophyll and total phosphorus in Loosdrecht Lakes, The Netherlands. Verh. Internat. Verein Limnol. 24: 707–710.
VAN DER WERFF, A. and H. HULS, 1957–1974. Diatomeeënflora van Nederland. Abcoude-De Hoef (reprint 1976) Koeltz, Koenigstein.
WALKER, P.A. and A.J.P. RAAT, 1989. Visstandbemonstering in de Botshol-zomer en najaar 1989. OVB, 57 p.
ZAG, 1990. Naardermeer Jaarverslag 1990; Zuiveringsinstallatie & Waterkwaliteit. Zuiveringschap Amstel en Gooiland afdeling onderzoek, 28 p.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rip, W.J., Everards, K. & Houwers, A. Restoration of Botshol (The Netherlands) by reduction of external nutrient load: The effects on physico-chemical conditions, plankton and sessile diatoms. Hydrobiological Bulletin 25, 275–286 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02270813
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02270813