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ZJUS-A
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A (Applied Physics & Engineering)  2012, Vol. 13 Issue (4): 311-322    DOI: 10.1631/jzus.A1100197
Environmental Engineering     
Environmental factors regulating cyanobacteria dominance and microcystin production in a subtropical lake within the Taihu watershed, China
Wan-min Ni, Jian-ying Zhang, Teng-da Ding, R. Jan Stevenson, Yin-mei Zhu
Institute of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Process and Control, Hangzhou 310058, China; Center for Water Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Abstract  Understanding the pattern of phytoplankton and their dependence on water quality variables, can help the management of eutrophic lakes. The aim of this study was to determine water quality and environmental factors associated with cyanobacteria dominance and microcystin production in Qingshan Lake, a subtropical lake located in the headwater of the Taihu watershed, China. Water samples collected monthly from 10 study sites in Qingshan Lake were analyzed for the species distributions of freshwater algae and physico-chemical parameters including total nitrogen (TN), ammonia (NH4+-N), nitrate (NO3−-N), total phosphorus (TP), and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) from June, 2008 to May, 2009. Qingshan Lake was found to be eutrophic, based on the calculated trophic state index (TSI). The average TN of 4.33 mg/L during the study period exceeded the Surface Water Quality Standards of China. TP was significantly correlated with relative abundance of cyanobacteria and Microcystis biovolume, indicating its important role in regulating cyanobacteria. Microcystis, Anabaena, and Oscillatoria were dominant cyanobacteria in Qingshan Lake from June to November, 2008. Cyanobacteria dominance was regulated by water temperature and TP. Principal component analysis further indicated that microcystin production was most affected by water temperature, TP, and cyanobacteria biomass. Results suggest that the control of TP in summer can mitigate cyanobacteria dominance and microcystin production in Qingshan Lake, and close monitoring should be undertaken in summer.

Key words： Cyanobacteria      Microcystins      Eutrophication      Water quality      Taihu watershed     
Received: 25 July 2011      Published: 06 April 2012
CLC:  X524  
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Wan-min Ni
Jian-ying Zhang
Teng-da Ding
R. Jan Stevenson
Yin-mei Zhu
Cite this article:

Wan-min Ni, Jian-ying Zhang, Teng-da Ding, R. Jan Stevenson, Yin-mei Zhu. Environmental factors regulating cyanobacteria dominance and microcystin production in a subtropical lake within the Taihu watershed, China. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE A (Applied Physics & Engineering), 2012, 13(4): 311-322.

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http://www.zjujournals.com/xueshu/zjus-a/10.1631/jzus.A1100197     OR     http://www.zjujournals.com/xueshu/zjus-a/Y2012/V13/I4/311

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