Water column stability effects on phytoplankton community assembly in Missisquoi Bay, Lake Champlain
VanFossen, Lindsay Mae
VanFossen, Lindsay Mae
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Abstract
Phytoplankton influence freshwater lakes by altering oxygen, nutrient cycling, and the light environment. In Lake Champlain and globally, climate change has altered the seasonality of ecosystem processes and phytoplankton community succession. This research aims to assess the impact of stochastic mixing events on phytoplankton community assembly in Missisquoi Bay, and identify taxa and functional traits that are resilient to these events. We used high-frequency water temperature data to calculate water-column stability, and characterized phytoplankton communities before, during, and following disturbance events. Results will improve our understanding of phytoplankton community assembly and lake ecosystem function in response to climate change pressure.
Description
Undergraduate
Date
2022-01-01