Study of harmful algal blooms in a eutrophic pond, Bangladesh

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to analyze the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors related to the seasonal dynamic of harmful algal blooms in a shallow eutrophic pond, Bangladesh during September 2005–July 2006. Two conspicuous events were noted simultaneously throughout the study period: high concentration of phosphate–phosphorus (>3.03; SD 1.29 mg l^− 1) and permanent cyanobacterial blooms {>3,981.88 × 10³ cells l^− 1 (SD 508.73)}. Cyanobacterial blooms were characterized by three abundance phases, each of which was associated with different ecological processes. High nitrate–nitrogen (>2.35; SD 0.83 mg l^− 1), for example, was associated with high cyanobacterial abundance, while low nitrate–nitrogen (0.36; SD 0.2 mg l^− 1) was recorded during moderate abundance phase. Extremely low NO₃–N/PO₄–P ratio (>3.55, SD 2.31) was recorded, and all blooming taxa were negatively correlated with this ratio. Cyanobacterial blooms were positively correlated with temperature (r = 0.345) and pH (0.833; p = 0.05) and negatively correlated with transparency (r = − 0.956; p = 0.01). Although Anabaena showed similar relationship with water quality parameters as cyanobacteria, the co-dominant Microcystis exhibited negative relationship with temperature (r = − 0.386) and nitrate–nitrogen (r = − 0.172). This was attributed to excessive growth of Anabaena that suppressed Microcystis’s growth. Planktothrix was the third most dominant taxa, while Euglena was regarded as opportunistic.