Spatial and temporal changes in chlorophyll-a concentrations in the River Thames basin, UK: are phosphorus concentrations beginning to limit phytoplankton biomass?

Bowes, M.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0673-1934; Gozzard, E.; Johnson, A.C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1570-3764; Scarlett, P.M.; Roberts, C.; Read, D.S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8546-5154; Armstrong, L.K.; Harman, S.A.; Wickham, H.D.. 2012 Spatial and temporal changes in chlorophyll-a concentrations in the River Thames basin, UK: are phosphorus concentrations beginning to limit phytoplankton biomass? Science of the Total Environment, 426. 45-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.056

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.056

Abstract/Summary

Chlorophyll-a and nutrient concentrations were monitored at weekly intervals across 21 river sites throughout the River Thames basin, southern England, between 2009 and 2011. Despite a 90% decrease in soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentration of the lower River Thames since the 19905, very large phytoplankton blooms still occur. Chlorophyll concentrations were highest in the mid and lower River Thames and the larger tributaries. Lowest chlorophyll concentrations were observed in the smaller tributaries, despite some having very high phosphorus concentrations of over 300 mu g l(-1). There was a strong positive correlation between river length and mean chlorophyll concentration (R-2=0.82), and rivers connected to canals had ca. six times greater chlorophyll concentration than 'natural' rivers with similar phosphorus concentrations, indicating the importance that residence time has on determining phytoplankton biomass. Phosphorus concentration did have some influence, with phosphorus-enriched rivers having much larger phytoplankton blooms than nutrient-poor rivers of a similar length. Water quality improvements may now be capping chlorophyll peaks in the Rivers Thames and Kennet, due to SRP depletion during the spring/early summer phytoplankton bloom period. Dissolved reactive silicon was also depleted to potentially-limiting concentrations for diatom growth in the River Thames during these phytoplankton blooms, but nitrate remained in excess for all rivers throughout the study period. Other potential mitigation measures, such as increasing riparian shading and reducing residence times by removing impoundments may be needed, alongside phosphorus mitigation, to reduce the magnitude of phytoplankton blooms in the future.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.056
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 1 - Variability and Change in Water Systems > WA - 1.1 - Continued long term monitoring and integrated observation of freshwater systems CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 2 - Ecohydrological Processes > WA - 2.3 - Assess the responses of river, lake and wetland ecosystems to ecohydrological drivers
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Acreman Hails
ISSN:	0048-9697
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Science of the Total Environment. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Science of the Total Environment [426, 45-55 (2012)] 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.056
Additional Keywords:	nutrient, algae, phytoplankton, water quality, River Thames, eutrophication
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences Management Chemistry
Date made live:	03 Sep 2012 15:08 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/19374

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.056

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 1 - Variability and Change in Water Systems > WA - 1.1 - Continued long term monitoring and integrated observation of freshwater systems
CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 2 - Ecohydrological Processes > WA - 2.3 - Assess the responses of river, lake and wetland ecosystems to ecohydrological drivers

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Acreman
Hails

ISSN:

0048-9697

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Science of the Total Environment. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Science of the Total Environment [426, 45-55 (2012)] 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.02.056

Additional Keywords:

nutrient, algae, phytoplankton, water quality, River Thames, eutrophication

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences
Management
Chemistry

Date made live:

03 Sep 2012 15:08 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/19374