Estimate Of Long-Term Phytoplankton Biomass In Lake Bemidji

Authors

William J. Peterson

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Phytoplankton are photosynthetic organisms that are the base of aquatic food webs. In a dimictic temperate lake such as Lake Bemidji, the environment adjusts with the changing water temperatures and sunlight levels. The phytoplankton in a dimictic lake are adapted to subsist in long term seasonal changes but the exact change to the number of phytoplankton in unknown. The focus of this study was to estimate the biomass of phytoplankton in a long term period including winter stratification and summer peak. From a period between March 2023 and October 2023 water samples were collected from the lake in the south basin, filtered, and analyzed with spectrophotometry to find the chlorophyll a content. The data was graphed and analyzed with regression statistics to track the changing biomass of phytoplankton in the study period. The phytoplankton persisted in lower amounts under the ice, but significantly increased during the summer months, peaking in the fall and decreasing again along with decreasing temperatures.

Publication Date

2023

Comments

Faculty sponsors: Dr. Andrew Hafs, Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology Program; Dr. Mark Fulton, Department of Biology

Recommended Citation

Peterson, William J., "Estimate Of Long-Term Phytoplankton Biomass In Lake Bemidji" (2023). Journal of Earth and Life Science. 60.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/j-earth-life-sci/60