Standardization of instantaneous fluoroprobe measurements of benthic algal biomass and composition in streams
Fluoroprobes, such as BenthoTorch, offer a relatively rapid in situ method for monitoring benthic algae, provide new opportunities for aquatic ecological research, and enable early warning of algal proliferation in municipal water supplies. Currently, however, BenthoTorch is limited for the measurem...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20311249 |
| _version_ | 1818401846196174848 |
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| author | D. Rosero-López M.T. Walter A.S. Flecker D.F. Ontaneda O. Dangles |
| author_facet | D. Rosero-López M.T. Walter A.S. Flecker D.F. Ontaneda O. Dangles |
| author_sort | D. Rosero-López |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fluoroprobes, such as BenthoTorch, offer a relatively rapid in situ method for monitoring benthic algae, provide new opportunities for aquatic ecological research, and enable early warning of algal proliferation in municipal water supplies. Currently, however, BenthoTorch is limited for the measurement of heterogeneous samples, and homogenizing samples is rather difficult. In this study, we compared chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) measurements between BenthoTorch and standard laboratory methods to quantify and describe the biomass and biovolume proportion of benthic algae growing on artificial and natural substrates. We used the difference in Chl-a measurements between these methods (n = 359) to evaluate the effects of environmental variables. Moreover, we used artificial and natural substrates to determine whether either of them reduced variation in BenthoTorch measurements. There was a general concordance in measurements between the two methods, but this agreement was stronger for artificial substrates. Artificial substrates also led to significantly less variation in BenthoTorch readings compared with natural substrates. This may be attributed to the formation of relatively thin algal mats on artificial substrates. To enable early warning of algal proliferation in an aquatic ecosystem, we recommend the use of BenthoTorch and artificial substrates combined with appropriate calibration using standard laboratory methods. The ability of BenthoTorch to produce instantaneous results facilitates replicate collection, which reduces sampling error and increases sampling area on the same day. Despite substantial variation in readings on natural substrates, BenthoTorch enables relatively rapid measurements, facilitating easy monitoring of large areas. Therefore, BenthoTorch may be worth incorporating into aquatic ecosystem studies, depending on the specific research questions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:58:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c37e172a95f04b5ea6159907fb802a95 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T07:58:57Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-c37e172a95f04b5ea6159907fb802a952022-12-21T23:10:29ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2021-02-01121107185Standardization of instantaneous fluoroprobe measurements of benthic algal biomass and composition in streamsD. Rosero-López0M.T. Walter1A.S. Flecker2D.F. Ontaneda3O. Dangles4Soil and Water Lab, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA; Corresponding author at: Riley Rob Hall, 111 Wing Drive 14853, Ithaca, NY, USA.Soil and Water Lab, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USAGerencia de Ambiente e Hidrología, Empresa Pública de Agua Potable y Saneamiento EPMAPS, Quito, EcuadorInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, FranceFluoroprobes, such as BenthoTorch, offer a relatively rapid in situ method for monitoring benthic algae, provide new opportunities for aquatic ecological research, and enable early warning of algal proliferation in municipal water supplies. Currently, however, BenthoTorch is limited for the measurement of heterogeneous samples, and homogenizing samples is rather difficult. In this study, we compared chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) measurements between BenthoTorch and standard laboratory methods to quantify and describe the biomass and biovolume proportion of benthic algae growing on artificial and natural substrates. We used the difference in Chl-a measurements between these methods (n = 359) to evaluate the effects of environmental variables. Moreover, we used artificial and natural substrates to determine whether either of them reduced variation in BenthoTorch measurements. There was a general concordance in measurements between the two methods, but this agreement was stronger for artificial substrates. Artificial substrates also led to significantly less variation in BenthoTorch readings compared with natural substrates. This may be attributed to the formation of relatively thin algal mats on artificial substrates. To enable early warning of algal proliferation in an aquatic ecosystem, we recommend the use of BenthoTorch and artificial substrates combined with appropriate calibration using standard laboratory methods. The ability of BenthoTorch to produce instantaneous results facilitates replicate collection, which reduces sampling error and increases sampling area on the same day. Despite substantial variation in readings on natural substrates, BenthoTorch enables relatively rapid measurements, facilitating easy monitoring of large areas. Therefore, BenthoTorch may be worth incorporating into aquatic ecosystem studies, depending on the specific research questions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20311249BenthoTorchChlorophyll-aArtificial substratesLightThickness |
| spellingShingle | D. Rosero-López M.T. Walter A.S. Flecker D.F. Ontaneda O. Dangles Standardization of instantaneous fluoroprobe measurements of benthic algal biomass and composition in streams Ecological Indicators BenthoTorch Chlorophyll-a Artificial substrates Light Thickness |
| title | Standardization of instantaneous fluoroprobe measurements of benthic algal biomass and composition in streams |
| title_full | Standardization of instantaneous fluoroprobe measurements of benthic algal biomass and composition in streams |
| title_fullStr | Standardization of instantaneous fluoroprobe measurements of benthic algal biomass and composition in streams |
| title_full_unstemmed | Standardization of instantaneous fluoroprobe measurements of benthic algal biomass and composition in streams |
| title_short | Standardization of instantaneous fluoroprobe measurements of benthic algal biomass and composition in streams |
| title_sort | standardization of instantaneous fluoroprobe measurements of benthic algal biomass and composition in streams |
| topic | BenthoTorch Chlorophyll-a Artificial substrates Light Thickness |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20311249 |
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