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, ------- 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 ------- 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 ------- United States Environmental Protection Agency Center for Environmental Research Information Official Business Penalty for Priva UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Cincinnati, Ohio 45268 Postage and Fees Paid Environmental Protection Agency EPA 335 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER r L EPA-353 (Cin) (Rev. 11-80) VERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1981—757-064/0272 ------- |