1. Eli Asarian Riverbend Sciences Jacob Kann Aquatic Ecosystem Sciences, LLC. Ann St. Amand PhycoTech, Inc. Standardization and Long-term Trends in a Multi-Decadal Phytoplankton Database for Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon Funding: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to Klamath Tribes Presented at: Society for Freshwater Science, Sacramento, CA 5/24/2016

2. Source: National Hydrography Dataset / USGS, Bureau of Transportation, National Atlas, Map by Jones and Trimiew Design. Klamath Basin

3. Upper Klamath Lake > Broad (~66,000 acres) and shallow (mean summer depth = 7 ft, max depth in Eagle Ridge = 58 ft) > Weak summer stratification, warm temperatures (peaks >25°C) > Hypereutrophic > Seasonal large blooms of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon flos-aquae > High pH, low dissolved oxygen, high ammonia Photos: Jacob Kann

4. Poor WQ linked to decline of federally listed shortnose (Chasmistes brevirostris) and Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) suckers Photos: USGS Shortnose sucker Lost River sucker Sucker larvae

5. Klamath Tribes Long-Term UKL Limnological Monitoring Program Includes: nutrients, light, YSI profile data, zooplankton and… phytoplankton 10 long-term sites Bi-weekly Mid-April to October 1990-2013 (this effort)

6. Phytoplankton Sampling Methods Depth integrated over the entire water column Depth integrated over the entire water column Preserved with Lugol’s Iodine Preserved with Lugol’s Iodine Shipped to Laboratory Shipped to Laboratory

7. Laboratories Four phytoplankton labs: –1990-1997 Aqua I.D. –1998-1999 BSA Environmental –[2000-2003 under-preserved] –2004-2007 Aquatic Analysts –2008-2013 PhycoTech

8. Ann St. Amand of PhycoTech Nationally recognized expert in plankton taxonomy JTG Chair, Plankton Section (10200), Standard Methods for the Examination of Waste Water and Water Participated in the European External Quality Assessment Trials Phytoplankton in Accordance with DIN38402 A 45; Certificate Received November 2013. By Barry H. Rosen and Ann St. Amand Recent coauthor of:

9. Need for Standardization Issues addressed: –Species identification –Levels of taxonomic detail –Outdated names –Counting units (e.g., cells vs. algal units) –Biomass methods No issue with Aphanizomenon ID

10. Tools for Standardization Review archived slides and consult taxonomic keys –confirm PhycoTech’s taxa identification Review previous taxonomic standardization efforts

11. Example of Inter-Lab QA Analysis of split samples sent to Aquatic Analysts and Phycotech Indicated good agreement for APFA colony density but cell size was flagged as a serious issue that would affect biovolume estimates (biovolume=size x density) AA used average cell size from previous measurements of northwestern US lakes as opposed to actual measurements.

12. Phytoplankton ID Issues Inconsistencies in how laboratories identified species; including dominant species as well as less common species. Example using the Diatom Stephanodiscus: Stephanodiscus medius and S. parvus

13. Detections Per Lab-Year Lab 1: Aqua ID Lab 2: BSA Lab 3: Aquatic Analysts Lab 4: PhycoTech Species Name 19901991199219931994199519961997 199819992004200520062007200520062007200820092010 2011 20122013 Stephanodiscus astraea minutula 32285021 Stephanodiscus minutulus 175 162010273663 Stephanodiscus minutula 1 Stephanodiscus parvus 34 3926285421 5 Stephanodiscus hantzschii 3858622164 3334 6 6756151621 51136 Stephanodiscus medius 296 1915 6 582625 Stephanodiscus niagarae 28 4122235 5535 74 1910 48 13271810 72

14. Biovolume Standardization Approach

15. PHYTO SEASONAL PATTERNS AND PRELIMINARY TRENDS

16. Seasonal pattern: major taxonomic groups

17. Trend: increased diatom dominance in spring Diatoms

18. Trend: decreased spring cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria

19. Seasonal pattern: N-fixers precede Microcystis

20. Species or Taxa 1990-2013 analysis doesn’t include 2014-15 (high Microcystis years). Mann-Kendall Trend Tests Time Period

21. Conclusions Major inter-lab issues resolved Protocol for standardization of new data Preliminary trend analysis –Delayed onset of cyanobacterial bloom –Increased Microcystis Phase 2 analysis 2016/2017 –Update thru 2015 –Link plankton to environmental data (meteorology, nutrients, etc.)