vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Monitoring Systems
Laboratory
Las Vegas NV 89114
Research and Development
EPA-600/S3-80-100 Feb. 1981
Project Summary
Phytoplankton Water Quality
Relationships in U.S. Lakes,
Part VIM: Algae Associated
With or Responsible for Water
Quality Problems
W. D. Taylor, L. R. Williams, S. C. Hern, V. W. Lambou, C. L. Howard, F. A.
Morris, and M. K. Morris
Environmental data are presented
for 117 species and 24 genera of
freshwater algae that have been asso-
ciated with or responsible for water
quality problems. The environmental
data are based on algal occurrence
records from 250 lakes sampled in
Eastern and Southeastern States.
These data provide a basis for analyses
to further delineate the environmental
requirements of problem algae. The
water quality problems addressed in-
clude eutrophication, organic pollu-
tion, taste and odor, filter clogging,
toxicity, and aesthetic nuisance. Data
presented illustrate that most genera
and species associated with eutrophic
conditions also occur in nutrient-poor
waters, thus limiting their indicator
value with respect to nutrient enrich-
ment.
This Project Summary was devel-
oped by EPA's Environmental Moni-
toring Systems Laboratory, Las
Vegas, Nevada, to announce key find-
ings of the research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Introduction
This report identifies those species of
algae reported to be responsible for, or
associated with, specific water quality
problems in lakes, and presents envi-
ronmental data associated with their
occurrence. These data provide a basis
for analyses that will further delineate
the environmental requirements of
problem algae. Environmental data
associated with the occurrence of
known problem algae can be used to
help states meet lake classification re-
quirements under Section 305b and
monitor the success of Clean Lakes
restoration efforts under Section 314 of
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
(PL 92-500), as amended. The study fol-
lows the basic premise that identifica-
tion of environmental conditions sur-
rounding the occurrence of problem
algae is implicit in any rational approach
to their control or manipulation.
Procedure and Discussion
In this study, six categories of algae-
related water quality problems were
addressed: eutrophication, organic pol-
lution, tast and odor, filter clogging,
toxicity, and aesthetic nuisance growth.
Extensive species lists of algae associ-
ated with each problem category were
compiled from the literature. To deter-
mine the environmental conditions sur-
rounding the absence, presence, and
dominant occurrence of problem algae,
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approximately 25,000 phytoplankton
records and 750,000 physical and
chemical data points were analyzed and
compared. These records and data
points were compiled from study of 250
lakes in Eastern and Southeastern
States sampled during 1973. The study
summarizes the environmental condi-
tions for more than half of those 220
species and 34 genera of freshwater
algae associated with one or more of the
problem categories listed in the accom-
panying table.
Most of the taxa for which data are not
available are normally found attached to
substrates (e.g., rocks, sticks, and other
algae) or free-living in shallow water,
intermingled with other vegetation. As
such, their occurrence in the plankton
can be expected to be relatively rare.
Although representatives of all major
groups of freshwater algae are associ-
ated with one or more problems, certain
members of the blue-green algae are
repeatedly associated with a variety of
problem events. M. aeruginosa and G.
echinulata were associated with five of
the six problem categories and each of
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Coelosphaer-
ium keutzingianum, Microcytis aerugi-
nosa, Gloeotrichia echinulata. Anabaena
circinalis, and Osci/atoria rubescens was
associated with at least three of the
problem categories.
Conclusions
Environmental data presented are
especially pertinent to the problem of
eutrophication because of the lake se-
lection criteria used in the study. With
few exceptions, algae commonly asso-
ciated with eutrophic conditions also
occur in nutrient-poor waters, thus
limiting the value of these algae as indi-
cators of nutrient enrichment. The mere
presence of a "eutrophic" form does not
necessarily mean that the water body
will have associated problems.
The continued review and modification
of specific physical and chemical data
for each species of problem algae, such
as listed in Table 1, will result in modifi-
cations of old approaches and the devel-
opment of new approaches to the bio-
logical classification and monitoring of
water quality. Conversely, knowledge of
algal water quality relationships will in-
crease the ability of workers to predict
and prevent or control algal problems.
The information on problem algae
environmental relationships, derived by
this study, constitutes valuable input for
the development and update of water
quality criteria required by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency under
Section 304 of PL92-500 and for predic-
tion of biological responses to nutrient
and other environmental parameters by
area-wide planners responding to
Section 208 of the Act.
Table 1. Problem Algae Identified in
250 Lakes in 17 Eastern
and Southeastern States
Sampled in 1973. with
Problems Indicated
Actinastrum - E, T & O
hantzschii - OP
Anabanea - E
planctonica - T & O, AN
Anabaenopsis - T & O
Ankistrodesmus - E
fa/catus - OP
Aphanizomenon
flos-aquae - E, T & O, T, AN
Arthrospira
jenneri - OP, E
Asterionella - E
formosa - FC, AN
formosa v. gracillima - T & O
Ceratium
hirundinella - E, T & 0, FC
Chlamydomonas
globosa - T & O
Chlorella - T & O, E
vulgar is - OP
Chlorogonium
elongatum - OP
Closterium - T & 0, E
moniliferum - FC
Cocconeis
diminuta - E
placentula - OP
Coelastrum
microporum - OP, E
Coelosphaerium
kuetzingianum - T & O, T, E, AN
Coscinodiscus
rothii v. subsalsa - OP
Cosmarium
bioculatum - E
Crucigenia - E
Cryptomonas
erosa - OP, T & O
ovata - OP
Cyclotella - E
comta - T & O
meneghiniana - OP, E, FC
stelligera - E
Cymatopleura
solea - OP, E
Cymbella
prostrata - E
ventricosa - FC
Diatoma
vulgare - OP, E, T & O, FC
Dictyosphaerium - E
ehrenbergianum - T & O
pulchellum - OP, FC
Dinobryon
divergens - T & O
sertularia - FC
Eudorina - T & 0
elegans - OP
Euglena
acus - OP
gracilis - OP
oxyuris - OP
pis cifor mis - OP
Eunotia
pectinalis - OP, E
Fragilaria - E
brevistriata - E
capucina - OP, E
construens - OP, E, T & O
crotonensis - OP, E, FC
pinnata - E
Gloeocystis - E
planctonica - T & 0
Gomphonema
angustatum - E
olivaceum - OP, E
parvulum - OP, E
Gomphosphaeria - E
Gonium - T & 0
pectorale - OP
Gyrosigma - E
Lepocinclis
fusiformis - E
ovum - OP
Lyngbya - E
contorta - T
limnetica - AN
Mallomonas
caudata - T & 0
Melosira - T & O, E
ambigua - E
granulata - OP, E, FC
granulata v. angustissima - OP, E
italica - E
varians - OP, E, FC
Meridion - T & O
circulars - E
Merismopedia
tenuissima - OP, E
Micractinium
pusillum - OP, E
Microcystis - E
aeruginosa - OP, E, T & O, T, AN
Navicula - E
cuspidata - OP, E
lanceolate - E, FC
minima - E
rhynchocephala - OP, E
tripunctata - E
viridula - OP, E
Nitzschia - E
acicularis - OP, E
amphibia - E
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Table 1. (Continued) Synura
uvella - OP, T & 0
palea - OP, E FC Tabellaria - E
sigmoidea - OP, E fenestrata - T & 0, FC
Oocystis - E flocculosa - OP, FC
Oscillator/a - E Tetraedron - E
amphibia - FC muticum - OP
chlorina - OP Trachelomonas
limosa - OP crebea - FC
princeps - OP, FC volvocina - OP
tenuis - OP, T & O Ulothnx - T & O, E
Pandorina
morum - OP, T & O, E c . . ,.
„ .. .. .- E - eutrophication
Pediastrum - E .-., ,..,. .
^yam/m-OP FC - f.lter clogging
' Qp OP - organic pollution
" E T - toxicity
. . ' T B _. T & O - taste and odor
tetras - T & O A., . ..
Peridinium AN ' aesthetlc nuisance
cinctum - E, T & 0
wisconsinense - FC
Phacus
pleuronectes - OP
pyrum - OP
Phormidum - FC
Pleurosigma - T & 0
Rhizosolenia
eriensis - E
longiseta - E
Rhoicosphenia
curvata - OP, E
/?/iopa/oc//a
c//Ma - OP, E
Scenedesmus - E
abundans - T & O
acuminatus - OP
dimorphus - OP
obliquus - OP
quadricauda - OP
potamos - E
schroeteri - E
Spirulina - E
Staurastrum
chaetoceras - E
paradoxum - T & O
pinque - E
Stephanodiscus
c TVje complete report, entitled "Phytoplankton Water Quality Relationships in
astraea - t
dubius - E
hantzschii - OP, E, FC
invisitatus - E
Surirella - E
ovafa - OP
Synedra - E
W. D. Taylor, L. R. Williams, S. C. Hern, V. W. Lambou, andC. L. Howard are with
are with the Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, USEPA, Las
Vegas, NV; F. A. Morris andM. K. Morris are with the University of Nevada, Las
Vegas. NV 89154.
V. W. Lambou is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
t/.S. Lakes, Part VIII: Algae Associated With or Responsible for Water Quality
Problems," (Order No. PBS 1-156 831; Cost: $23.00, subject to change) will be
available only from:
-r o r\ National Technical Information Service
n.agarae-J&O
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
acus - OP, E, FC Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
acus v. radians- FC us Environmental Protection Agency
dehcatissima - E P 0 Box 15027
pulchella - E, FC Lgs v NV89114
radians - OP, E
ulna - OP, E, T & 0
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Agency
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Information
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VERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1981—757-064/0272
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