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Predicting algal blooms: Are we overlooking groundwater?
Andrea E Brookfield1, Amy T Hansen2, Pamela L Sullivan3
1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
The Science of the Total Environment
|January 22, 2021
Summary
Groundwater inputs significantly impact freshwater algal blooms by altering water chemistry. Understanding these distinct groundwater effects is crucial for predicting and managing harmful algal blooms.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Limnology
- Hydrology
Background:
- Freshwater algal blooms are increasing, causing significant financial and ecological burdens.
- Key factors influencing blooms include nutrient dynamics, hydrology, climate, and food webs.
- The role of groundwater in modulating algal bloom dynamics remains a critical research gap.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize existing literature on groundwater's influence on algal blooms.
- To propose a hypothesis that groundwater's distinct chemistry modulates bloom dynamics.
- To identify key mechanisms through which groundwater impacts algal growth.
Main Methods:
- Literature synthesis and review of groundwater-algal bloom interactions.
- Hypothesis development based on geochemical and biological distinctions of groundwater.
- Identification of three primary mechanisms: subsurface redox state, water-rock interactions, and discharge stability.
Main Results:
- Groundwater, due to long residence times, possesses distinct geochemical and biological properties compared to surface water.
- Groundwater discharge can either support or inhibit algal blooms based on specific local conditions.
- Subsurface redox state, water-rock interactions, and discharge stability are key mechanisms influencing groundwater's impact.
Conclusions:
- Groundwater inputs are a significant, yet understudied, factor in freshwater algal bloom dynamics.
- Predicting algal blooms requires understanding how land use, water management, and climate change affect groundwater.
- Integrated modeling and data approaches, including genomics, are essential for mechanistic understanding and improved predictions.
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