Using a laser particle analyzer to demonstrate relationships between wind strength and Microcystis colony size distribution in Lake Taihu, China

• Published in: Journal of freshwater ecology Vol. 30; no. 3; pp. 425 - 433
• Main Authors: Lin, Li, Appiah-Sefah, Gloria, Li, Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 03.07.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Cell density; Cell size; Colonies; colony size; Disaggregation; Lake Taihu; Lakes; Lasers; Microcystis; particle size; Particle size distribution; Size distribution; spatial variation; Spatial variations; Wind shear; Wind speed; China; Taihu Lake; China, People's Rep., Tai Hu L; China, People's Rep., Jiangsu Prov., Meiliang Bay; China, People's Rep
• ISSN: 2156-6941; 0270-5060; 2156-6941
• DOI: 10.1080/02705060.2014.976666

Cell density and colony size distribution of Microcystis spp. at 14 sites in Meiliang Bay and Gonghu Bay of Lake Taihu, China, were determined using a laser particle analyzer. Cell density increased from 1 July to 18 August 2010 and exceeded 20 × 10 ⁷ cells L ⁻¹ on 15 July and 18 August. The maximum D ₅₀ (the particle size value when the percentage volumes are 50%) of Microcystis colonies (524 μ m) occurred on 1 September. The differences in D ₅₀ values in different areas were not significant most of the time. However, the differences in colony size distribution in different areas were mostly significant. It was also found that colony size distribution of samples with similar D ₅₀ values differed significantly with each other. These results suggested that a mean value (such as D ₅₀ and mean colony diameter) would not reveal complete information on Microcystis colony size under natural conditions. Our study also revealed that spatial variation was caused by wind-driven transport when wind speed was lower but by disaggregation induced by wind shear when the wind was strong enough.