Phytoplankton growth regulation by dissolved P and mortality regulation by endogenous cell death over 35 years of P control in a Mountain Lake

Abstract

Dynamics of phytoplankton and phosphorus were quantified in Lake Dillon, Colorado, over 35 years of P control. The lake provides an example of early intervention for P enrichment rather than remediation of advanced eutrophication. Phosphorus control began with tertiary treatment of effluent, which caused a phytoplankton decline (8.1-4.5 μg L-1 chla); a second decline (4.6-2.5 μg L-1 chla) occurred later following replacement of failing septic systems. Results showed that bioavailable phosphorus (BAP) loading was the only significant correlate of phytoplankton biomass; total P loading was not significantly related to biomass measured as chlorophyll. Phytoplankton composition changed greatly over the study interval, even though there was no long-term trend in potential causes of phytoplankton abundance other than reduction in BAP. Gradual decline of BAP loading also appears to have been the cause of large, gradual changes in phytoplankton community composition. Factors typically assumed to control phytoplankton mortality accounted for only ∼50% of phytoplankton biomass turnover; the balance of mortality appears to be accounted for by endogenous cell mortality.