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Phytoplankton Bloom

Posted by Vanessa Chilunda,
North Country explorer from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
April 13, 2014

The artificial pond, about one meter deep, purifies runoffs from St. Lawrence University before discharging into the Grasse River. During winter, a layer of ice accumulated on the pond. This resulted in less sunlight available for phytoplankton photosynthesis. This may have affected the food chain within the pond. Phytoplankton are essential in the pond because they are a food source to other organisms such as zooplankton and planktonic bacteria that purify the runoffs. As it is getting warmer, the layer of snow on the pond is starting to melt. The melting snow provides fresh and clear water on the surface - allowing maximum sunlight penetration. When the cold dense water sinks into the bottom of the pond, it forces the water with nutrients to rise up. This provides nutrients that support the growth of phytoplankton. The implication of seasonal change from winter to spring is that there is an increase in photosynthesis - causing phytoplankton bloom. This provides more food for zooplankton and planktonic bacteria that feed on phytoplankton. This leads to an increase in the rate of runoffs purification and cleaner water discharged to the Grasse River. Consequently, there will be less bio-magnification to organisms that live in the river.