Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Earth and Environmental Science
Minor
Psychology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Susan Hendricks, PhD
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Chlorophyll α (chl α) can be used as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, while primary productivity (PP), the rate at which carbon is fixed into phytoplankton cells, is an indicator of how quickly carbon is turned over within the phytoplankton community. The purpose of this research was to examine the spatial distribution of chl α seasonally in Kentucky Lake and to examine the relationship between chl α and PP in two embayments of contrasting land use. The two sites analyzed are Ledbetter and Panther embayments. Data analysis showed that the chl α and PP were highly correlated; r=0.45 in Ledbetter and r=0.55 in Panther. Seasonally the highest correlations occurred during winter (r=0.55-0.85) and spring (r=0.55-0.85). The lowest correlations occurred during the summer in both embayments (r=0.10-0.25). It was concluded that the highest correlations occur during times of the year when standing stock of chl α is lowest (winter and spring). It was also concluded that during times of high chl α standing stock (summer and fall), the chl α- PP correlation was disrupted or decoupled by lower nutrient inputs later in the growing season. Therefore, the hypothesis was that the correlation would show strong seasonal variations due to factors such as light intensity and nutrient inputs. Nutrients of the embayments are described by the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio calculated. The nutrient description is used as a way to correlate the chl α and productivity to other variables.
Spring Scholars Week 2019 Event
Sigma Xi Poster Competition (Juried)
Included in
Chlorophyll a and Primary Production Dynamics in Kentucky Lake: 2009-2018
Chlorophyll α (chl α) can be used as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass, while primary productivity (PP), the rate at which carbon is fixed into phytoplankton cells, is an indicator of how quickly carbon is turned over within the phytoplankton community. The purpose of this research was to examine the spatial distribution of chl α seasonally in Kentucky Lake and to examine the relationship between chl α and PP in two embayments of contrasting land use. The two sites analyzed are Ledbetter and Panther embayments. Data analysis showed that the chl α and PP were highly correlated; r=0.45 in Ledbetter and r=0.55 in Panther. Seasonally the highest correlations occurred during winter (r=0.55-0.85) and spring (r=0.55-0.85). The lowest correlations occurred during the summer in both embayments (r=0.10-0.25). It was concluded that the highest correlations occur during times of the year when standing stock of chl α is lowest (winter and spring). It was also concluded that during times of high chl α standing stock (summer and fall), the chl α- PP correlation was disrupted or decoupled by lower nutrient inputs later in the growing season. Therefore, the hypothesis was that the correlation would show strong seasonal variations due to factors such as light intensity and nutrient inputs. Nutrients of the embayments are described by the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio calculated. The nutrient description is used as a way to correlate the chl α and productivity to other variables.