Blue waters, green bottoms: Benthic filamentous algal blooms are an emerging threat to clear lakes worldwide

BioScience
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Nearshore (littoral) habitats of clear lakes with high water quality are increasingly experiencing unexplained proliferations of filamentous algae that grow on submerged surfaces. These filamentous algal blooms (FABs) are sometimes associated with nutrient pollution in groundwater, but complex changes in climate, nutrient transport, lake hydrodynamics, and food web structure may also facilitate this emerging threat to clear lakes. A coordinated effort among members of the public, managers, and scientists is needed to document the occurrence of FABs, to standardize methods for measuring their severity, to adapt existing data collection networks to include nearshore habitats, and to mitigate and reverse this profound structural change in lake ecosystems. Current models of lake eutrophication do not explain this littoral greening. However, a cohesive response to it is essential for protecting some of the world's most valued lakes and the flora, fauna, and ecosystem services they sustain.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Blue waters, green bottoms: Benthic filamentous algal blooms are an emerging threat to clear lakes worldwide
Series title BioScience
DOI 10.1093/biosci/biab049
Volume 71
Issue 10
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher American Institute of Biological Sciences
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description 17 p.
First page 1011
Last page 1027
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details