Graduate Program

Biological Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2009

Thesis Director

Charles Pederson

Thesis Committee Member

Scott Meiners

Thesis Committee Member

Jeffrey Laursen

Abstract

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEP A) identify needs to monitor aquatic resources by quantitative means using biocriteria in conjunction with routine environmental assessment to identify sources of impairment, and determine the effectiveness of management protocols (IEP A 2007; USEPA 2007). Though bioassessment protocols have been implemented within lotic systems and lakes of natural origin, investigation of their application to functionally unique reservoir habitat, which dominates the Midwest, has been limited. This study .evaluated the utility of photopigment profiles, attained using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), for development ofbioassessment protocols for Illinois lakes and reservoirs. As an alternative to taxonomic determinations, HPLC is cost effective, time efficient, and is a quantitative means of characterizing a phytoplankton assemblage. Physiochemical and photopigment samples were taken during June, July, and August of 2007 and 2008. Results reveal that trophic state of Illinois lentic systems is generally elevated, that a chlorophyll-a based model best reflects these trophic states, and that primary productivity is typically limited by irradiance. Additionally, relative to both environmental and biotic variation, samples are best divided according to either of two regional categories, or Secchi depth category. These results clearly define lake classes within categories, which may warrant alternative bioassessment protocols. Analysis of environmental and biotic data indicated that temporal heterogeneity is present between the beginning and end of the sampling period, with significant differences between the months of June and August. Following determination of the proper index period, subsets of photopigments indicative of variation in the entire dataset were identified for each informative lake class using BV-Step procedures. In addition, with regard to each informative lake class, several physiochemical variables were identified as accounting for much of the variation present in the photopigment dataset. Analysis of these data not only shows that photopigment signatures from HPLC can effectively be used to assess trophic state of lakes and reservoirs, but also elucidates classification guidelines within an identified sampling, or index, period which may be followed to establish more comprehensive and streamlined bioassessment protocols for lentic systems within the state.

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