Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1186/s12302-022-00683-3
Lizenz creative commons licence
Titel (primär) Controlling blooms of Planktothrix rubescens by optimized metalimnetic water withdrawal: a modelling study on adaptive reservoir operation
Autor Mi, C.; Hamilton, D.P.; Frassl, M.A.; Shatwell, T.; Kong, X.; Boehrer, B.; Li, Y.; Donner, J.; Rinke, K.
Quelle Environmental Sciences Europe
Erscheinungsjahr 2022
Department SEEFO
Band/Volume 34
Seite von art. 34
Sprache englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Supplements https://ndownloader.figstatic.com/files/37876692
Keywords CE-QUAL-W2; Planktothrix rubescens; Drinking water reservoir; Selective withdrawal; Light extinction; Deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM)
Abstract

Background:

Aggregations of cyanobacteria in lakes and reservoirs are commonly associated with surface blooms, but may also occur in the metalimnion as subsurface or deep chlorophyll maxima. Metalimnetic cyanobacteria blooms are of great concern when potentially toxic species, such as Planktothrix rubescens, are involved. Metalimnetic blooms of P. rubescens have apparently increased in frequency and severity in recent years, so there is a strong need to identify reservoir management options to control it. We hypothesized that P. rubescens blooms in reservoirs can be suppressed using selective withdrawal to maximize its export from the reservoir. We also expect that altering the light climate can affect the dynamics of this species. We tested our hypothesis in Rappbode Reservoir (the largest drinking water reservoir in Germany) by establishing a series of withdrawal and light scenarios based on a calibrated water quality model (CE-QUAL-W2).

Results:

The novel withdrawal strategy, in which water is withdrawn from a certain depth below the surface within the metalimnion instead of at a fixed elevation relative to the dam wall, significantly reduced P. rubescens biomass in the reservoir. According to the simulation results, we defined an optimal withdrawal volume to control P. rubescens blooms in the reservoir as approximately 10 million m 3 (10% of the reservoir volume) during its bloom phase. The results also illustrated that P. rubescens growth can be most effectively suppressed if the metalimnetic withdrawal is applied in the early stage of its rapid growth, i.e., before the bloom occurs. Additionally, our study showed that P. rubescens biomass gradually decreased with increasing light extinction and nearly disappeared when the extinction coefficient exceeded 0.55 m -1 .

Conclusion:

Our study indicates the rise in P. rubescens biomass can be effectively offset by selective withdrawal strategy and controlling light intensity beneath the water surface. Considering the widespread occurrence of P. rubescens in stratified lakes and reservoirs worldwide, we believe the results will be helpful for scientists and water managers working on other water bodies to minimize the negative impacts of this harmful algae.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=26644
Mi, C., Hamilton, D.P., Frassl, M.A., Shatwell, T., Kong, X., Boehrer, B., Li, Y., Donner, J., Rinke, K. (2022):
Controlling blooms of Planktothrix rubescens by optimized metalimnetic water withdrawal: a modelling study on adaptive reservoir operation
Environ. Sci. Eur. 34 , art. 34 10.1186/s12302-022-00683-3