Limnological Methods
Md. Ataul Gani
Assistant Professor
Department of Botany
Jagannath University
Dhaka 1100
Limnological Methods
Analytical tools used in limnological research
o Collection of data from the ecosystem
o Experiment:
a. In situ
b. In vitro
o Model development
Limnological methods
❑ Collection of data from the ecosystem:
In the case of ecological research
Primary data of the morphometry of ecosystem, temperature, light,
chemical, biological, metabolism, etc.
Spatial and temporal distribution of limnological factors
Limnological methods
❑ Experiment:
In a controlled environment, analysis of a particular subject of aquatic
ecosystem, which can be carried out in fixed temperature or a fixed
density of a nutrient of a species
a) In situ experiment: Analysis carried out in its natural condition
In situ experiments can be conducted in three ways-
(i) Small enclosure
(ii) Large enclosure
(iii) Whole lake analysis
b) Laboratory experiment: Analysis carried out in a controlled
condition in the laboratory
Limnological methods
❑ Model development:
Limnological research carried out by model development in lake
ecosystems
Four types of model
a. Physical model
b. Mathematical model
c. Analytical model
d. Synthetic model
Artificial enclosures
Artificial enclosure
▪ First started in 1945 by placing a conical flask having a
volume of 100 or 200 ml on a lake.
▪ Later on, J W G Lund experimented with separating the
water column of the lake using a large tube made
artificially (Lund, 1950); after that, this tube was called
Lund tube.
▪ The patent product from different companies named
Cepex and Limnocorral.
▪ In 1950 Lund & Reynolds set up some artificial enclosures
on Blelham Tran Lake to conduct an essential experiment
on phytoplankton ecology.
Artificial enclosure
Artificial enclosure
Model Development
Physical model- LSE
▪ Primary production and its relation to sestonic concentration are of
central interest in the restoration studies of the Loosdrecht lakes in the
Netherlands.
▪ These lakes are shallow (z=1.9 m); mean summer chlorophyll a =180
µg/L; Total P=130 µg/L
▪ Phytoplankton primary production can be calculated using
photosynthetic vs. light relationships in situ or using an incubator,
simulation of the natural light and temperature.
Physical model-LSE
▪ By enclosing the lake water in a laboratory flow system, primary
production measurements may be related to changes in organic
matter since energy and mass balances are defined.
▪ It was possible to compare oxygen changes derived from short-
term incubations with that of the oxygen balance of the entire
water column and change in seston concentration of the lake's
water pare oxygen changes derived from short term incubations,
with that of the oxygen balance of the entire water column and
change in seston concentration of the water of the lake in a
laboratory flow system.
Physical model- LSE
Physical model- LSE
Physical model- LSE
From the LSE results Rijkeboer and Gons showed that
Primary production: 1.77-2.31 mg O2/L/h
Respiration rate: 2-20% of PP
Fluctuation rate of O2: 1mg O2/L
Oxygen uptake rate at night: 0.015 mg /O2 (mg C)/h
Physical model-Biosphere 2
As part of the ground-based preparation for creating long-term life
systems needed for space habitation and settlement, Space
Biospheres Ventures (SBV) is undertaking the Biosphere 2 project
near Oracle, Arizona.
Biosphere 2, currently under construction, is scheduled to
commence its operations in 1991 with a two-year closure period
with a crew of eight people.
Biosphere 2 is a facility which will be essentially materially closed to
exchange with the outside environment. It is open to information
and energy flow.
Physical model- Biosphere 2
Biosphere 2 is designed to achieve a complex life-support system by
integrating seven "-rainforest, savannah, desert, marsh, ocean,
intensive agriculture and human habitat.
Unique regenerative technologies, such as soil bed reactors for air
purification, aquatic waste processing systems, real-time analytic
systems and complex computer monitoring and control systems, are
being developed for the Biosphere 2 project.
Its operation should afford valuable insight into the functioning of
complex life systems necessary for long-term habitation in space.
It will serve as an experimental ground-based prototype and testbed
for the stable, permanent life systems needed for human exploration
of Mars.
Predictive Limnology and Mathematical Modelling
Predictive Limnology
Frank H. Riegler was the initiator of Predictive Limnology
Elementary mass balance and export models are explored in relation
to eutrophication as caused by phosphorus and nitrogen. New
criteria for phosphorus loading are given in relation to the ratio
‘mean depth-water fill-in-time’. The results suggest lakes with long
water renewal times are much more sensitive to phosphorus loading
than would appear from a mean depth only.
Predictive Limnology
Predictive Limnology
Regression models
Predictive Limnology
Regression analysis
Dilon and Riegler
(1974)
Predictive Limnology
Regression analysis
Lake biomass prediction using TP
Predictive Limnology
Water resource management requires conceptual or numerical
ecological models relating water quality parameters to alternative
management options or scenarios.
It also requires tools to manipulate data so that multiobjective trade-
offs can be made.
❑ In Norway, 44,000 lakes in an area of 170000 km2.
❑ To assist the management of these lakes ---a data system for
calculating ecological and socio-economic consequences of lake
eutrophication
❑ The system is based on the following elements:
i) regression equations for calculating ecological consequences and ii)
ii) expert system techniques for choosing the correct equations and
assessing the results
Predictive Limnology
e.g. 1
FU, NOK ×
ha-1 Vs FY,
kg × ha-1
Predictive Limnology
FU= Fish utility in NOK
ha-1
SF=Sport fish
RF=Rough fish
FF=Forage fish
FY=Fish yield kg/ha/y
Predictive Limnology
P= Number of people
who catch fish
F= Frequency of fish catches
S= Slope (√Aמ-1
Predictive Limnology
Further, from a comparison of the relative residence time of nitrogen
and phosphorus, it is deduced that—with increasing eutrophication—
the nitrogen metabolism is speeded up beyond the point of simple
proportionality, which would explain the transition from phosphorus
to nitrogen limitation in highly eutrophic lakes.
It is further suggested that the principles derived from eutrophication
concerning phosphorus and nitrogen metabolism in lakes also apply to
other environmental compartments and stress factors.
