Dynamic modelling of multiple phytoplankton groups in rivers with an application to the Thames river system in the UK

Whitehead, Paul G.; Bussi, Gianbattista; Bowes, Michael J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0673-1934; Read, Daniel S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8546-5154; Hutchins, Michael G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3764-5331; Elliott, J. Alex; Dadson, Simon J.. 2015 Dynamic modelling of multiple phytoplankton groups in rivers with an application to the Thames river system in the UK. Environmental Modelling & Software, 74. 75-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.09.010

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.09.010

Abstract/Summary

A process-based phytoplankton model developed to simulate the movement and growth of phytoplankton in river systems is presented in this paper. The model is based on mass-balance, and takes into account water temperature, light, self-shading, dissolved phosphorus and silicon concentrations. It was implemented in five reaches of the River Thames (UK), and the results compared to a novel dataset of cytometric data which includes concentrations of chlorophytes, diatoms, cyanobacteria and picoalgae. A Multi-Objective General Sensitivity Analysis was carried out in order to test the model robustness and to quantify the sensitivity to its parameters. The results show a good agreement between the simulations and the measured phytoplankton abundance. The most influential parameters were phytoplankton growth and death rates, while phosphorus concentration showed little influence, due to the high concentration of phosphorus in the Thames. The model is an important step forward towards understanding and predicting algal dynamics in river systems.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.09.010
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Parr Rees (from October 2014)
ISSN:	1364-8152
Additional Keywords:	phytoplankton modelling, phytoplankton growth, general sensitivity analysis, river water quality, River Thames
NORA Subject Terms:	Biology and Microbiology Chemistry
Date made live:	09 Dec 2015 11:38 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512358

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.09.010

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Parr
Rees (from October 2014)

ISSN:

1364-8152

Additional Keywords:

phytoplankton modelling, phytoplankton growth, general sensitivity analysis, river water quality, River Thames

NORA Subject Terms:

Biology and Microbiology
Chemistry