Abstract
Low algal biomasses and high water transparencies are a feature of the storage reservoirs that supply most of London's treated water. This is a result of knowledgeable limnological management and biomanipulation and despite the eutrophic nature of the River Thames with its high nutrients (7 gN m−3; 1 gP m−3) and particulate organic carbon (2 gC m−3). Built-in possibilities of jetting input water are managed to prevent stratification, to ensure isothermy, to mix chemicals and plankton vertically and horizontally and to manipulate the mixed-depth of the algal populations such that their potential for biomass growth is reduced by light-energy limitation. Spring algal growth is delayed and the spring peak is reduced and curtailed by the grazing impact of considerable biomasses of large-bodied daphnid populations (Daphnia magna, pulicaria & hyalina) whose development is also supported by the continuous input of high riverine algal crops. The existence of a large-bodied daphnid zooplankton in the reservoirs is associated with low levels of fish predation since the late 1960s. Variations in the intensity and nature of this vertebrate predation during the subsequent twenty years (1968–88) are illustrated by the changes that have occurred in the relationship between the phytoplankton and zooplankton biomasses of the April-May-June quarter of the year. This example of the London reservoirs serves to illustrate biomanipulation in deep water bodies by bottom-up as well as top-down effects.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Andrew, T. E., 1976. The production and respiration ecology of reservoir populations of zooplankton, with special reference to daphnids. PhD Thesis, Royal Holloway College, Univ. London, 296 pp.
Bottrell, H. H., A. Duncan, Z. M. Gliwicz, E. Grygierek, A. Herzig, A. Hillbricht-Ilkowska, H. Kurasawa, P. Larsson & T. Weglenska, 1976. A review of some problems in zooplankton production studies. Norw. J. Zool. 24: 419–456.
Bubb, M. J., 1980. A large buoyant net designed to catch coarse fish fry quantitatively from shallow weed free water. Fish Mgmt. 11: 29–34.
Burgis, M. J., 1975. The biomass of cyclopoids in two London reservoirs. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 19: 1836–40.
Chalk, E. A., 1981. Cladoceran filter feeding in a Thames Valley reservoir. PhD Thesis, Central London Polytechnic & Thames Water, 266 pp.
Cooley, P. & S. L. Harris, 1954. The prevention of stratification in reservoirs. J. instn. Wat. Engrs. 8: 517–37.
Doohan, M., 1973. Energetics of planktonic rotifers applied to populations in reservoirs. PhD Thesis, Royan Holloway College, Univ. London, 226 pp.
Duncan, A., 1975a. The importance of zooplankton in the ecology of reservoirs. Water Research Centre symp. The Effects of Storage on Water Quality, Medmenham, U.K. 247–72.
Duncan, A. 1975b. Production and biomass of three species ofDaphnia co-existing in London reservoirs. Verh. int. Ver. Limnol. 19: 2858–67.
Hopkins, D. G., 1975. An ecological study of fish in a Thames Valley storage reservoir. PhD Thesis, Royal Holloway College, Univ. London, 249 pp.
Kibby, H. V., 1969. Energy transformations by a population ofDiaptomus gracilis. PhD Thesis, Westfield College, Univ. London, 224 pp.
Mackereth, F. J. H., J. Heron & J. F. Talling, 1978. Water Analysis: some revised methods for limnologists. Freshwat. Biol. Ass. Sci. Publ. 36: 101–106.
Mathews, C. P., 1971. Contribution of young fish to total production of fish in the River Thames near Reading. J. Fish. Biol. 3: 157–80.
Ridley, J. E., P. Cooley & J. A. Steel, 1966. Control of thermal stratification in Thames Valley reservoirs. Proc. Soc. Wat. Treat. Exam. 15: 225–244.
Ridley, J. E. & J. A. Steel, 1975. Ecological aspects of river impoundments. In B. Whitton (ed.), River Ecology. Blackwells Sci. Pub.: 565–588.
Santos, L. C. dos, 1989. The effects of food limitation on the population dynamics, production and biological interactions of threeDaphnia species co-existing in a London reservoir. PhD Thesis, Royal Holloway & Bedford New College, Univ. London, 236 pp.
Steel, J. A., 1972. The application of fundamental limnological research in water supply system design and management. Symp. zool. Soc. Lond. 29: 41–67.
Steel, J. A., 1975. The management of Thames Valley reservoirs. Water Research Centre symp. The Effects of Storage on Water Quality. Medmenham, U.K.: 371–419.
Steel, J. A., 1976. Eutrophication and the operational management of reservoirs of the Thames Water Authority. Instn. Publ. Hlth. Engrs. symp. Eutrophication of Lakes and Reservoirs. Chameleon Press, U.K.: J1-J9.
Steel, J. A., 1978a. Reservoir algal productivity. In A. James (ed.) Mathematical Models in Water Pollution Control. Wiley & Sons: 107–135.
Steel, J.A., 1978b. The use of simple plankton models in the management of Thames Valley reservoirs. DVGW-Schriftenreihe, Wasser, 16: 42–59.
Vollenweider, R. A., 1968. Scientific fundamentals of the eutrophication of lakes and flowing waters, with particular reference to nitrogen and phosphorus as factors in eutrophication. OECD Directorate for Scientific Affairs, Paris.
Williams, W. P., 1967. The growth and mortality of four species of fish in the River Thames at Reading. J. anim. Ecol. 36: 695–720.
Windle-Taylor, E., 1967. Forty-third Report of the Metropolitan Water Board: 65–67.
Windle-Taylor, E., 1969. Forty-fourth Report of the Metropolitan Water Board: 86–88.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Duncan, A. A review: limnological management and biomanipulation in the London reservoirs. Hydrobiologia 200, 541–548 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02530371
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02530371