Nutrient and Light Limitation Effects on Algal Populations in Two Streams

Abstract

Algal blooms are associated with high nutrient concentrations and can pose problems for freshwater ecosystems, the organisms they contain, and humans that benefit from them. Nutrients that are usually a limiting factor for algal growth such as Nitrogen and Phosphorous can flood streams because they are commonly found in agricultural and urban runoff. In this study we examined how Nitrogen and Phosphorous affected stream algal populations in relation to light availability in two streams: Little Niagara Creek and Lowes Creek. We chose these two streams to compare and contrast the limitation of algal populations in streams draining urban and rural catchments.