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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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Official Business
Penalty for Priva
                             UNITED STATES
                 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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                 EPA-353 (Cin) (Rev. 11-80)
                                                                                                           VERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1981—757-064/0272

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