Cyanobacterial bloom intensity in the ecologically relevant state of lakes – an approach to Water Framework Directive implementation

What is it about?

This study focused on the determination of the cyanobacteria development in terms of the probabilistic recognition of the bloom intensity level in the ecologically relevant state of lakes. Assuming the possibility of using once-a-year sampling frequency, the ecological status or potential was assessed based on the modified Polish phytoplankton-based method (PMPLMOD).

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Why is it important?

Regarding the PMPLMOD-based ecological status or potential assessment, the lakes with at least good ecological status/potential were characterized by cyanobacterial biomass of up to ca. 2.0 mg l-1 corresponding to the cyanobacterial bloom intensity threshold of the good/moderate limit. The average values of 3.3, 9.9 and 22.4 mg l-1 were consistently recorded in lakes with a moderate, poor and bad ecological status/potential, respectively. The average relative cyanobacterial biomass of 49% and 75% (of the total biomass) may also correspond to at least good and below-good ecological status/potential, respectively.