Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-pjpqr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-22T02:18:45.326Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Sudden Mortality of a Massive Phytoplankton Bloom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Claude E. Boyd ,
E. E. Prather  and
Ronald W. Parks
Claude E. Boyd
Affiliation:
Auburn Univ. Agr. Exp. Sta., Dep. Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn, AL 36830
E. E. Prather
Affiliation:
Auburn Univ. Agr. Exp. Sta., Dep. Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn, AL 36830
Ronald W. Parks
Affiliation:
Auburn Univ. Agr. Exp. Sta., Dep. Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn, AL 36830
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A dense bloom of the blue-green alga, Anabaena variabilis Kuetzing suddenly died in a pond heavily stocked with channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus L.). Low light intensity caused the formation of gas vacuoles in A. variabilis. The buoyant filaments accumulated at the surface in large numbers during a period of calm, warm weather. Light injury to cells in the surface scum apparently triggered the mass mortality of phytoplankton. Decomposition of dead algae quickly resulted in depletion of dissolved oxygen. Concentrations of CO2 and ammonia increased to high levels and the pH declined following the phytoplankton die-off. A period of 7 days was required for re-establishment of a phytoplankton community and little improvement in water quality occurred until high densities of healthy phytoplankters were present. Massive mortality of fish was prevented by pumping oxygenated water into the pond at two sites and by mechanically agitating surface water in a limited area.

Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , January 1975 , pp. 61 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © 1975 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. American Public Health Association. 1971. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Amer. Public Health Assoc., New York. 874 pp.Google Scholar
2. Beasley, P.G. 1965. The penetration of light and concentrations of dissolved oxygen in fertilized pond waters infested with Microcystis . Proc. Ann. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Game and Fish Comm. 17:222–226.Google Scholar
3. Boyd, C.E. 1972. Sources of CO2 for nuisance blooms of algae. Weed Sci. 20:492–497.Google Scholar
4. Boyd, C.E. 1973. Summer algal communities and primary productivity in fish ponds. Hydrobiologia 40:357–390.Google Scholar
5. Boyd, C.E. 1973. The chemical oxygen demand of waters and biological materials from ponds. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 102:606–611.Google Scholar
6. Boyd, C.E. 1973. Biotic interactions between different species of algae. Weed Sci. 21:32–37.Google Scholar
7. Boyd, C.E. and Scarsbrook, Ellen. 1974. Effects of agricultural limestone on phytoplankton communities of fish ponds. Arch. Hydrobiol. 74:336–349.Google Scholar
8. Byrd, I.B. and Crance, J.H. 1965. Fourteen years of management and fishing success in Alabama's state-owned public fishing lakes. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 94:129–134.Google Scholar
9. Crance, J.H. 1963. The effects of copper sulphate on Microcystis and zooplankton in ponds. Progr. Fish Cult. 25:198–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10. Einsele, W. 1936. Uber die Beziehungen des Eisenkrerslaufs zum Photosphatkreislauf im eutrophen See. Arch. Hydrobiol. 29:664–686.Google Scholar
11. Fogg, G.E. and Walsby, A.E. 1971. Buoyancy regulation and growth of planktonic blue-green algae. Mitt. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 19:182–188.Google Scholar
12. Golterman, H.L. 1960. Studies on the cycle of elements in fresh water. Acta Bot. Neer. 9:1–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Lovell, R.T. and Sackey, L.A. 1973. Adsorption by channel catfish of earthy-musty flavor compounds synthesized by cultures of blue-green algae. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 102:774–777.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Lund, J.W.G. and Tailing, J.F. 1957. Botanical limnological methods with special reference to the algae. Bot. Rev. 23:489–583.Google Scholar
15. Mortimer, C.H. 1942. The exchange of dissolved substances between mud and water in lakes. J. Ecol. 30:147–201.Google Scholar
16. Prather, E.E. and Lovell, R.T. 1971. Effects of vitamin fortification in Auburn No. 2 catfish feed. Proc. Ann. Conf. Southeast. Assoc. Game and Fish Comm. 25:479–483.Google Scholar
17. Shilo, M. 1971. Biological agents which cause lysis of blue-green algae. Mitt. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 19:206–213.Google Scholar
18. Swingle, H.S. 1968. Fish kills caused by phytoplankton blooms and their prevention. Proc. World Symposium on Warm-water Pond Fish Culture, FAO Fish Rep. 44:407–411.Google Scholar
19. Trussell, R.P. 1972. The percent un-ionized ammonia in aqueous ammonia solutions at different pH levels and temperatures. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 29:1505–1507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar