The Assessment of Phytoplankton Dynamics in Two Reservoirs in Southern Africa with Special Reference to Water Abstraction for Inter-Basin Transfers and Potable Water Production

Toxic phytoplankton in the aquatic ecosystems are dynamic, affecting water quality. It remains unclear as to how possible toxic phytoplankton assemblages vary vertically and temporally in Swakoppoort and Von Bach dams, located in a dry subtropical desert region in central Namibia. The following vari...

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Autores principales: Johannes Sirunda, Paul Oberholster, Gideon Wolfaardt, Marelize Botes, Christoff Truter
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Publicado: MDPI AG 2021
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:3797e993b6ce4a3f845bcf2f00bd3dc12021-11-11T19:55:41ZThe Assessment of Phytoplankton Dynamics in Two Reservoirs in Southern Africa with Special Reference to Water Abstraction for Inter-Basin Transfers and Potable Water Production10.3390/w132130452073-4441https://doaj.org/article/3797e993b6ce4a3f845bcf2f00bd3dc12021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/21/3045https://doaj.org/toc/2073-4441Toxic phytoplankton in the aquatic ecosystems are dynamic, affecting water quality. It remains unclear as to how possible toxic phytoplankton assemblages vary vertically and temporally in Swakoppoort and Von Bach dams, located in a dry subtropical desert region in central Namibia. The following variables were analyzed: pH, Secchi depths, turbidity, water temperature, total phosphorus, orthophosphate, chlorophyll-<i>a</i>, phytoplankton cells, and water depths. Cyanobacteria dominated the phytoplankton community in the autumn, winter and spring (dry) and summer (wet) seasons, at all the depth ranges in both dams. <i>Microcystis</i> dominated the vertical and temporal dynamics, followed by <i>Dolichospermum</i>. In the dry seasons, higher cyanobacteria cell numbers were observed in comparison to the rainy season in both dams. Spring blooms of cyanobacteria were evident in the Von Bach Dam while autumn and spring cyanobacteria blooms were observed in the Swakoppoort Dam. In the Swakoppoort Dam, the preferable depth ranges for toxic cyanobacteria species were at 5 to 10 m while in the Von Bach Dam at 0 to 5 m range. The findings of the current study indicate that the traditional selective withdrawal of water in the two dams should be performed with vertical and temporal dynamics of possible toxic cyanobacteria accounted for to aid the abstraction of water with the lowest possible toxic phytoplankton numbers, which could lower the public health risk.Johannes SirundaPaul OberholsterGideon WolfaardtMarelize BotesChristoff TruterMDPI AGarticlecyanobacteriawater qualitydepthdynamiclakediversityHydraulic engineeringTC1-978Water supply for domestic and industrial purposesTD201-500ENWater, Vol 13, Iss 3045, p 3045 (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic cyanobacteria
water quality
depth
dynamic
lake
diversity
Hydraulic engineering
TC1-978
Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes
TD201-500
spellingShingle cyanobacteria
water quality
depth
dynamic
lake
diversity
Hydraulic engineering
TC1-978
Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes
TD201-500
Johannes Sirunda
Paul Oberholster
Gideon Wolfaardt
Marelize Botes
Christoff Truter
The Assessment of Phytoplankton Dynamics in Two Reservoirs in Southern Africa with Special Reference to Water Abstraction for Inter-Basin Transfers and Potable Water Production
description Toxic phytoplankton in the aquatic ecosystems are dynamic, affecting water quality. It remains unclear as to how possible toxic phytoplankton assemblages vary vertically and temporally in Swakoppoort and Von Bach dams, located in a dry subtropical desert region in central Namibia. The following variables were analyzed: pH, Secchi depths, turbidity, water temperature, total phosphorus, orthophosphate, chlorophyll-<i>a</i>, phytoplankton cells, and water depths. Cyanobacteria dominated the phytoplankton community in the autumn, winter and spring (dry) and summer (wet) seasons, at all the depth ranges in both dams. <i>Microcystis</i> dominated the vertical and temporal dynamics, followed by <i>Dolichospermum</i>. In the dry seasons, higher cyanobacteria cell numbers were observed in comparison to the rainy season in both dams. Spring blooms of cyanobacteria were evident in the Von Bach Dam while autumn and spring cyanobacteria blooms were observed in the Swakoppoort Dam. In the Swakoppoort Dam, the preferable depth ranges for toxic cyanobacteria species were at 5 to 10 m while in the Von Bach Dam at 0 to 5 m range. The findings of the current study indicate that the traditional selective withdrawal of water in the two dams should be performed with vertical and temporal dynamics of possible toxic cyanobacteria accounted for to aid the abstraction of water with the lowest possible toxic phytoplankton numbers, which could lower the public health risk.
format article
author Johannes Sirunda
Paul Oberholster
Gideon Wolfaardt
Marelize Botes
Christoff Truter
author_facet Johannes Sirunda
Paul Oberholster
Gideon Wolfaardt
Marelize Botes
Christoff Truter
author_sort Johannes Sirunda
title The Assessment of Phytoplankton Dynamics in Two Reservoirs in Southern Africa with Special Reference to Water Abstraction for Inter-Basin Transfers and Potable Water Production
title_short The Assessment of Phytoplankton Dynamics in Two Reservoirs in Southern Africa with Special Reference to Water Abstraction for Inter-Basin Transfers and Potable Water Production
title_full The Assessment of Phytoplankton Dynamics in Two Reservoirs in Southern Africa with Special Reference to Water Abstraction for Inter-Basin Transfers and Potable Water Production
title_fullStr The Assessment of Phytoplankton Dynamics in Two Reservoirs in Southern Africa with Special Reference to Water Abstraction for Inter-Basin Transfers and Potable Water Production
title_full_unstemmed The Assessment of Phytoplankton Dynamics in Two Reservoirs in Southern Africa with Special Reference to Water Abstraction for Inter-Basin Transfers and Potable Water Production
title_sort assessment of phytoplankton dynamics in two reservoirs in southern africa with special reference to water abstraction for inter-basin transfers and potable water production
publisher MDPI AG
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/3797e993b6ce4a3f845bcf2f00bd3dc1
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