Chelsea Hinton Ecology: Lentic Systems Lab Report (Bryan Lake)

Lentic systems, or non flowing bodies of water, contain concrete physical, biological, and chemical characteristics that are influential in its potential health. Increased levels of phosphorus (PO4-3) and nitrogen (NH3) are an asset to eutrophy in lake ecosystems. These nutrients not only aid the plausible growth of a system but benefit the biennial and animal environment as well. Lentic systems also heavily rely on the presence and amount of light. The oxygen levels and temperature can as well have an emphasis on the well being of lentic organisms. These factors have a gradation sequence relative to the presence of chlorophyll A and the rate of photosynthesis affecting algae growth, which then in turn alter the procurable biodiversity population. Lentic ecosystems and plant productivity rely on inorganic nutrients such as phosphorus. Being a limiting nutrient, phosphorus boosts algal growth and photosynthetic production, which then increases the level of organic compounds and nutrients recycled in a lake ecosystem. Bottom dweller bacteria feed on drifted algae and in turn their activity causes a dramatic decrease on the lakes oxygen level even to the point where it cannot sustain aerobic life. When phosphorus levels are low, there is little organic matter available for decomposers to consume allowing oxygen levels to remain high. Phosphorus may enter a lentic system through soil eroding into the water, fertilizer run-off or through failed septic systems, which can be highly problematic. The graph below demonstrates phosphorus levels had a sharp increase at .5 meters. This phenomenon could be due to the systems mixis, however a majority of the phosphorus found was settled at the bottom of the lake where expected.

PO4-3 Levels
Bryan Lake
0.045 0.04 Concentration (mg/L) 0.035 0.03 0.025 0.02 0.015 0.01 0.005 0 .5 2.0 Depth (m) 3.5 Phos- Sample 1 Phos- Sample 2 Phos- Mean

Another inorganic nutrient responsible for cultural eutrophication is nitrogen. Nitrogen is as well a limiting nutrient and preferably consumed prior to other nutrients in respect to phytoplankton. Typically, when phosphorus levels are low, nitrogen levels are high. High nitrogen levels are better tolerated than phosphorus, however an influx in nitrogen can reduce dissolved oxygen concentrations, throw off trophic structure balance, and increase the rate of plant growth. Nitrogen can enter a lentic system through sewage, fertilizer run-off, and also human and animal wastes. The graph below demonstrates that the system has an adequate nitrogen status. The nitrogen levels are placed into the expected range (.3-.7 mg/L) at all three depths.

NH3 Levels
Bryan Lake
0.8 0.7 Concentration (mg/L) 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 .5 2.0 Depth (m) 3.5 NH3- Sample 1 NH3- Sample 2 NH3 Mean

Light is vital in still water ecosystems. Natural attenuation, the growth of phytoplankton, as well as the amount of materials and silt acquired all affect the level of light that hits the surface of water. The graph below demonstrates the light levels dropping dramatically around 1 meter. To measure, we used a secchi disc that actually showed the light to penetrate deepest at an approximate .8 meters.

Light Levels
Bryan Lake
2000 1800 1600 Wavelength (cm2/s) 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 Depth (m) 2.5 3 3.5 4 Amount of Light

Changes in temperature and oxygen levels have a great impact on the adaptations of life in lentic systems. The temperatures of a lentic system change in accordance with depth and vary seasonally. Oxygen levels can be at higher demand during the summer due to the respiration activity of decomposers and only a small amount of water being in direct contact with the air. The graph below demonstrates that the dissolved oxygen levels change with the alteration of depths. Besides the warmer temperature shift noticeable to the surface water is expected, the systems temperature appears to be very stable. There is a noticeably decrease at 1.0 meter, which runs accordingly with the discovered light level. The algae boost present at 2.0 meters could has an affect on the oxygen and light level. The anoxic zone, an area lacking enough oxygen to sustain animal life was present from 3.5 to 4.0 meters.

D.O. & Temperature Levels

25 D.O. & Temperature Levels

20

15

Temp. (C) Dissolved Oxygen

10

0 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 Depth (m) 2.5 3 3.5 4

The main form of life present in the limnetic zone consists of zooplankton. Zooplanktons consume decaying algae and follow the food web process to serve as nutrients for larger predators. Zooplanktons that are alive will be found in well-oxygenated, warm areas that are rich in nutrients. Very few can tolerate the reduced oxygen level of the profundal zone. However, zooplankton consumed by algae will be found near the bottom acting as a nutrient pool for biennal life. The graph below shows a higher number of zooplankton found at 2.0 meters which goes accordingly with the highest levels of chlorophyll A found at 2 meters likewise.

1000 900 800 700 Number of Species 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 .5

Zooplankton Levels
Bryan Lake

Copepods Cladocera Rotifers Total

2.0 Depth (m)

3.5

Chlorophyll-A is utilized by algae in photosynthetic production. The graph below demonstrates that due to the high levels of zooplankton present, there are sufficient nutrients present as well readily available for consumption. The depth where we see this most is at 2.0 meters.

Chlorophyll Levels- Bryan Lake

Concentration (mg/m^3)

35.68

2.0
Depth (m)

3.5

Finally, we can classify these lakes by the nutrient levels we have found. They are either Oligotrophic (poorly nourished), Eutrophic (greatly nourished), or Mesotrophic (middle of the two). These are calculated by both levels of NH3 and PO4. The level of NH3 was found to be 700 micrograms per liter, putting it in the Eutrophic category. The PO4 found in the system was average to be around 9.3 micrograms per liter, falling into the Oligitrophic category. The high levels of PO4 at the bottom can be attributed to the run-off into Bryan Lake. The average is low due to the lack of PO4 at the 2 meter mark where there is an influx of algae and chlorophyll-A instead. So this influx of PO4 and fertilizers at the bottom leads to the high amounts of organisms found in Bryan Lake, and the NH3 levels, as well as the amount of Chlorophyll-A in the system also falls into the Eutrophic category. All things considered, these graphs lead to the conclusion that Bryan Lake is Eutrophic and is a stable environment for life to exist.