Publication Date

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Committee Members

Silvia E. Newell, Ph.D. (Advisor); Rebecca Teed, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Mark J. McCarthy, Ph.D. (Committee Member); Erik Jeppesen, Ph.D. (Other)

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) impact lakes worldwide and are caused by excess nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading from watersheds. Climate warming and nutrient loading effects on N cycling were examined in shallow lake mesocosms in Denmark. N loading to some mesocosms ceased in June 2018 and resumed in June 2019. Ammonium (NH4+) uptake, regeneration, and nitrification and nitrate uptake rates were evaluated. High nutrient, ambient temperature mesocosms exhibited the highest NH4+ cycling rates. Before resumption of N loading in high nutrient mesocosms, NH4+ regeneration supported 46 % of potential microbial NH4+ demand, versus 24 % with N loading. Nutrient additions generally had a larger effect on rates than temperature changes; however, community structure (phytoplankton versus macrophytes) was the best predictor of NH4+ dynamics. In eutrophic, shallow lakes, where internal NH4+ regeneration can sustain HABs, as observed in some mesocosms, management strategies should aim to reduce external N and P loads and, if deemed necessary, implement biomanipulation methods to obtain macrophyte-dominated, clear-water states.

Page Count

158

Department or Program

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Year Degree Awarded

2020


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