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Dissertation Submitted in Partial Satisfaction of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology

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Dissertation Submitted in Partial Satisfaction of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY School of Science and Technology in conjunction with the Faculty of Graduate Studies ____________________ Factors Affecting Phytoplankton Biodiversity and Toxin Production by Tracey Magrann ____________________ A Dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology ____________________ June 2011 © 2011 Tracey Magrann All Rights Reserved Each person whose signature appears below certifies that this dissertation in his opinion is adequate, in scope and quality, as a dissertation for the degree Doctor of Philosophy. , Chairperson Stephen G. Dunbar, Associate Professor of Biology Danilo S. Boskovic, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, School of Medicine H. Paul Buchheim, Professor of Geology William K. Hayes, Professor of Biology Kevin E. Nick, Associate Professor of Geology iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Stephen G. Dunbar, who assisted with the majority of the editing and for his wonderful guidance throughout this research project, Dr. Danilo Boskovic for providing space in his laboratory, constructing data sheets, giving careful directions in proper water chemistry analysis techniques, and editing proficiency, Dr. Bill Hayes for his contribution in the statistics portion of this work, Dr. Martha Sutula for site selection and providing laboratory and field equipment, Dr. H. Paul Buchheim for contributing expertise in limnology, and Dr. Kevin Nick for his insightful editing contributions. I am also very thankful to those who provided grants and other funding which allowed this project to expand throughout five counties. The Southern California Coastal Waters Research Project (SCCWRP) funded the water chemistry analysis, and the toxin analysis was funded by grants from Marine Research Group (MRG) of Loma Linda University, the Southern California Academy of Sciences, Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends, El Dorado Audubon Society, Friends of Madrona Marsh, Sea and Sage Audubon Society, Blue Water Technologies, and Preserve Calavera. To my family and friends, your love and support through this long endeavor has been treasured and I could not have finished without you. I would like to give special thanks to my husband for his patience and cheerfulness over the past few years. And finally, I would like to thank God for providing me the undeserved opportunity to study His creation and marvel in its complexity. iv CONTENTS Approval Page .................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iv Table of Contents .................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Abbreviations ...........................................................................................................x Abstract .............................................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 Hypotheses .........................................................................................................1 Nutrient Loads ...................................................................................................2 Nitrogenous Nutrients ........................................................................................3 Phosphorous Nutrients .......................................................................................6 Features of Ponds and Lakes Affect Algal Biodiversity ....................................8 Nuisance Algae ................................................................................................11 Summary of Dissertation .................................................................................14 References ........................................................................................................16 2. Water chemistry factors affecting phytoplankton biodiversity and toxin production in Southern California lentic habitats ..................................................20 Abstract ............................................................................................................21 Introduction ......................................................................................................22 Materials and Methods .....................................................................................25 Statistical Analyses ....................................................................................29 Results ..............................................................................................................30 Water Chemistry Factors Affecting Algal Biodiversity ............................30 Water Chemistry Factors Affecting Toxin Production ..............................33 Phytoplankton Biodiversity (Richness and Evenness) ..............................37 v Discussion ........................................................................................................40 Acknowledgments............................................................................................48 References ........................................................................................................49 3. Impact of Microcystis on algal biodiversity and use of new technology to remove Microcystis and dissolved nutrients ..........................................................53 Abstract ............................................................................................................54 Introduction ......................................................................................................55 Materials and Methods .....................................................................................58 Microcystis and Algal Biodiversity ...........................................................58 Algal Cultures ......................................................................................58 Statistical Analysis ...............................................................................59 Phosphate Restriction Assay at Mason Lake .............................................59 Blue ProTM Pilot Study at Mason Lake .......................................................60 Sample Acquisition ..............................................................................62 Algal Assay Technique ........................................................................63 Chlorophyll Assay Technique..............................................................63 Results ..............................................................................................................64 Algal Biodiversity Results .........................................................................64 Phosphate Restriction Assay at Mason Lake .............................................66 Blue ProTM Pilot Study at Mason Lake .......................................................67 Algal Assay Results .............................................................................67 Chlorophyll Assay Results ...................................................................68 Phosphate Results ................................................................................68 Discussion ........................................................................................................69 Conclusions ......................................................................................................72 Acknowledgments............................................................................................73 References ........................................................................................................74 4. Ecological impact of Southern California ponds and small lakes, and strategies for their conservation .............................................................................77 Abstract ............................................................................................................78 Introduction ......................................................................................................79 Ecological Importance of Southern California Ponds and Small Lakes ..........80 Ponds and Small Lakes are Being Threatened .................................................82 Differences between Lakes and Ponds ............................................................83 vi Natural vs. Man–Made Lakes and Ponds ........................................................83 Ephemeral vs. Perennial Ponds ........................................................................84 Sources of Water That Sustain Southern California Lakes and Ponds ............85 Phytoplankton Biodiversity in Ponds and Shallow Lakes ...............................87 Algal Toxins from Cyanobacteria ....................................................................90 Ecological Effects of Harmful Algal Blooms ..................................................94 Conservation and Management of Ponds and Small Lakes .............................95
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