SGER: Opening Pandora's box: a cyanobacterial key and its potential to accelerate eutrophication

湖泊富营养化是由高磷浓度引起的水质恶化，是科学家和公众都非常关注的问题。 该项目旨在测试蓝细菌Gloeotrichia echinulata（一种令人讨厌的藻类）是否能够通过获取和运输否则将被锁定在湖泊沉积物中的磷来加速低磷湖泊的富营养化。 2007年7月初，G.刺果类？在新罕布什尔州的苏纳皮湖的水面种群，已经达到了夏末更典型的水华密度高峰。 这种早期的水华有可能增加输送到水柱中的磷的量，破坏食物网，并增加人类暴露于蓝藻毒素。 因此，这是一个关键的时间来跟踪两个G。以及苏纳皮湖的营养物质。 本项目将评估G.在2007年夏天，使用现场观测，实验室措施和沉积物岩心分析，在苏纳皮湖echinulata磷循环。 这项研究将有助于人们越来越多地了解移动的生物体改变生态系统过程的方式。 G.在过去的十年里，新英格兰至少有20个低磷湖泊报告了棘孢藻水华;这些湖泊中的大多数是娱乐和旅游的重要资源。 如果这一物种代表了一种新的途径，这种湖泊的退化，将有相当大的影响，湖泊管理。 一名研究生和至少四名本科生将参与这个项目，研究结果将与非营利、非倡导性的苏纳皮湖保护协会分享。

Lake eutrophication, poor water quality caused by high phosphorus concentrations, is of great concern to both scientists and the public. This project seeks to test whether the cyanobacterium Gloeotrichia echinulata, a nuisance form of algae, is able to accelerate eutrophication in low-phosphorus lakes by accessing and transporting phosphorus that would otherwise remain locked in lake sediments. In early July 2007, G. echinulata?s surface population in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire, was already at peak bloom densities more typical of late summer. This earlier bloom has the potential to increase the amount of phosphorus transported into the water column, disrupt the food web, and increase human exposure to cyanobacterial toxins. It is therefore a crucial time to track the dynamics of both G. echinulata and nutrients in Lake Sunapee. This project will evaluate the potential importance of G. echinulata to phosphorus cycling in Lake Sunapee during summer 2007 using field observations, laboratory measures, and analysis of sediment cores. This research will contribute to a growing understanding of the ways in which mobile organisms alter ecosystem processes. G. echinulata blooms have been reported from at least 20 low-phosphorus lakes across New England during the past decade; most of these lakes are vital resources for recreation and tourism. If this species represents a novel pathway for degradation of such lakes, there will be considerable implications for lake management. One graduate student and at least four undergraduates will work on this project, and findings will be shared with the non-profit, non-advocacy Lake Sunapee Protective Association.