Large scale comparison of factors influencing phytoplankton abundance in rivers, lakes, and impoundments

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Ecology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1939885· OSTI ID:5364090

Soeballe, D M; Kimmel, B L

The authors analyzed two large data sets (the National Stream Water Quality Accounting Network and the National Eutrophication Survey) to compare quantitatively the ecological structure and function of rivers, river impoundments, and natural lakes on a broad scale. Discriminant analysis with physical-chemical variables separated these three types of aquatic systems along a composite gradient that correlated with water residence time (r = 0.7), drainage area (r = 0.7), water depth (r = 0.6), stream flow (r = 0.6), and water clarity (r = -0.4). Natural lakes and rivers occupied opposite ends of this gradient, and reservoirs, on average, were intermediate, but natural lakes and impoundments overlapped extensively and did not form a useful dichotomy. Regression analysis showed algal abundance per unit phosphorus increasing in the sequence: rivers < impoundments < natural lakes, which paralleled intergroup differences in residence time. Algal abundance per unit phosphorus did not differ significantly among these three system types when systems with similar residence times were compared. Their results indicate that water residence time is a useful system-level index that has similar ecological implications for rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5364090
• Journal Information: Ecology; (United States), Journal Name: Ecology; (United States) Vol. 68:6; ISSN ECOLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
INJURIES
LAKES
NONMETALS
PHOSPHORUS
PHYTOPLANKTON
PLANKTON
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION
WATER RESERVOIRS