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  • 1. Panek, Sarah The ecology of the nuisance cyanobacterium, Lyngbya wollei, in the Western Basin of Lake Erie

    Master of Science, University of Toledo, 2012, Biology (Ecology)

    While prevalent in the southeastern United States, little is known about the distribution, abundance, and effects of Lyngbya wollei in western Lake Erie excluding research by Bridgeman and Penamon (2010). The objective of this study is three-fold: 1) Determine the temporal and spatial distribution of L. wollei in the Western Basin of Lake Erie. Also, determine if temporal and spatial patterns of previous growing seasons (2009 summer) are repeated. 2) Determine the relative importance of depth, light intensity, substrate type, and temperature in influencing the establishment and biomass of L. wollei. 3) Determine the effects of temperature on L. wollei growth/primary production in order to obtain a range of temperatures at which L. wollei can grow. Also, account for potential power plant effects (increased water temperature in winter months) which may maintain the minimal temperature conditions in winter months for L. wollei growth. Field survey results showed temporal and spatial distributions were consistent in both years sampled. A generalized additive model (GAM) was developed with the environmental factors light at lake bottom, sand, latitude and longitude, temperature, and secchi being the best fit predictors for L. wollei density. Laboratory temperature controlled experiments showed L. wollei growth rate, photosynthetic yield, and electron transport rate decrease with decreasing temperature. L. wollei maintains positive growth rate at temperatures between 7 – 20 °C and a negative growth rate at temperatures < 5 °C. Studying the distribution pattern of L. wollei with accompanying habitat characteristics may be useful in determining which environmental characteristics are most important for the establishment of L. wollei and to predict which areas of Lake Erie and potentially the other Great Lakes may be most affected by L. wollei in the future. Also, by studying the influence of environmental factors I may find ways to reduce L. wollei by altering some human in (open full item for complete abstract)

    Committee: Dr. Thomas Bridgeman (Advisor); Dr. Christine Mayer (Committee Member); Dr. Richard Becker (Committee Member) Subjects: Aquatic Sciences; Ecology; Environmental Science; Limnology
  • 2. Armenio, Patricia Nutrient contributions from Dreissena spp. to Lyngbya wollei and Cladophora glomerata

    Master of Science, University of Toledo, 2011, Biology (Ecology)

    Dreissena spp. (zebra and quagga mussels) have greatly altered aquatic ecosystems since their invasion of the Great Lakes. Dreissena increase light to the benthos, provide hard structure for algal attachment, and may contribute a limiting nutrient to benthic algae, thereby facilitating blooms. The benthic cyanobacterium Lyngbya wollei (Farlow ex Gomont) Speziale and Dyck has recently become abundant in western Lake Erie and reaches nuisance levels. Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kutz., a green alga, has also been resurging in the Great Lakes and studies link this increase to Dreissena. Manipulative experiments showed that L. wollei had a significantly higher concentration of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur in tanks with live Dreissena. C. glomerata had greater biomass in tanks with live Dreissena, but did not have significant increases in nutrient concentration as did L. wollei. Dreissena decreased calcium concentrations, a nutrient important for cell walls, in both algal species; although concentrations were still above the limiting level for growth. Neither algal species responded to structure as a resource for growth. These results suggest that Dreissena are giving several nutrients to benthic algae and these added resources can promote their growth and productivity, aiding in blooms.

    Committee: Christine Mayer PhD (Advisor); Scott Heckathorn PhD (Committee Member); Thomas Bridgeman PhD (Committee Member); Rex Lowe PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Ecology; Freshwater Ecology
  • 3. Gottumukala, Vasudev Evaluation of Lake Erie Algae as Bio-fuel Feedstock

    Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, University of Toledo, 2010, Chemical Engineering

    Currently, transportation fuels are produced from continuously depleting fossil fuel sources. This calls for additional renewable sources that could be used for the production of high quality transportation fuel. Bio-diesel is one such alternative. Soybean, a food crop, has been used in the past as a source of lipids for the production of bio-diesel. Algae are an alternative non-food source of lipids for bio-diesel and/or carbohydrates for bio-ethanol. We have surveyed algae and phytoplankton in the western Lake Erie basin to identify the predominant algae species. The lipid, carbohydrate and the protein content of lake species were determined. Sampling at selected lake sites was performed at regular intervals of time in an attempt to correlate lake conditions (i.e. temperature, phosphorus and nitrogen) with the selection and composition of species. Based on the results of these analyses, native species were identified as candidates for bio-diesel or bio-ethanol production.Few preliminary experiments were performed to process soybean oil using a batch reactor to convert the triacylglycerides to free fatty acids which would then be converted to fatty acid methyl esters (bio-diesel) through transesterification. The optimized processing conditions can then be utilized to process algae.

    Committee: Dr. Constance A. Schall (Advisor); Dr. Sridhar Viamajala (Committee Member); Dr. Thomas Bridgeman (Committee Member) Subjects: Engineering