Comparison of satellite reflectance algorithms for estimating turbidity and cyanobacterial concentrations in productive freshwaters using hyperspectral aircraft imagery and dense coincident surface observations.

We analyzed 37 satellite reflectance algorithms and 321 variants for five satellites for estimating turbidity in a freshwater inland lake in Ohio using coincident real hyperspectral aircraft imagery converted to relative reflectance and dense coincident surface observations. This study is part of an effort to develop simple proxies for turbidity and algal blooms and to evaluate their performance and portability between satellite imagers for regional operational turbidity and algal bloom monitoring. Turbidity algorithms were then applied to synthetic satellite images and compared to in situ measurements of turbidity, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), total suspended solids (TSS) and phycocyanin as an indicator of cyanobacterial/blue green algal (BGA) abundance. Several turbidity algorithms worked well with real Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) and synthetic WorldView-2, Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3/MERIS/OLCI imagery. A simple red band algorithm for MODIS imagery and a new fluorescence line height algorithm for Landsat-8 imagery had limited performance with regard to turbidity estimation. Blue-Green Algae/Phycocyanin (BGA/PC) and Chl-a algorithms were the most widely applicable algorithms for turbidity estimation because strong co-variance of turbidity, TSS, Chl-a, and BGA made them mutual proxies in this experiment.

Evaluating the portability of satellite derived chlorophyll-a algorithms for temperate inland lakes using airborne hyperspectral imagery and dense surface observations.

This study evaluated the performances of twenty-nine algorithms that use satellite-based spectral imager data to derive estimates of chlorophyll-a concentrations that, in turn, can be used as an indicator of the general status of algal cell densities and the potential for a harmful algal bloom (HAB). The performance assessment was based on making relative comparisons between two temperate inland lakes: Harsha Lake (7.99 km2) in Southwest Ohio and Taylorsville Lake (11.88 km2) in central Kentucky. Of interest was identifying algorithm-imager combinations that had high correlation with coincident chlorophyll-a surface observations for both lakes, as this suggests portability for regional HAB monitoring. The spectral data utilized to estimate surface water chlorophyll-a concentrations were derived from the airborne Compact Airborne Spectral Imager (CASI) 1500 hyperspectral imager, that was then used to derive synthetic versions of currently operational satellite-based imagers using spatial resampling and spectral binning. The synthetic data mimics the configurations of spectral imagers on current satellites in earth's orbit including, WorldView-2/3, Sentinel-2, Landsat-8, Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS). High correlations were found between the direct measurement and the imagery-estimated chlorophyll-a concentrations at both lakes. The results determined that eleven out of the twenty-nine algorithms were considered portable, with r2 values greater than 0.5 for both lakes. Even though the two lakes are different in terms of background water quality, size and shape, with Taylorsville being generally less impaired, larger, but much narrower throughout, the results support the portability of utilizing a suite of certain algorithms across multiple sensors to detect potential algal blooms through the use of chlorophyll-a as a proxy. Furthermore, the strong performance of the Sentinel-2 algorithms is exceptionally promising, due to the recent launch of the second satellite in the constellation, which will provide higher temporal resolution for temperate inland water bodies. Additionally, scripts were written for the open-source statistical software R that automate much of the spectral data processing steps. This allows for the simultaneous consideration of numerous algorithms across multiple imagers over an expedited time frame for the near real-time monitoring required for detecting algal blooms and mitigating their adverse impacts.

Trace element accumulation in lotic dragonfly nymphs: Genus matters.

Constituents of coal combustion waste (CCW) expose aquatic organisms to complex mixtures of potentially toxic metals and metalloids. Multi-element trace element analyses were used to distinguish patterns of accumulation among 8 genera of dragonfly nymphs collected from two sites on a CCW contaminated coastal plain stream. Dragonfly nymphs are exceptional for comparing trace element accumulation in syntopic macroinvertebrates that are all predators within the same order (Odonata) and suborder (Anisoptera), but differ vastly in habitat use and body form. Sixteen trace element (Be, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Hg, Tl, and Pb) were analyzed and trophic position and basal carbon sources assessed with stable isotope analyses (C and N). Trophic positions varied within relatively narrow ranges. Size did not appear to influence trophic position. Trophic position rarely influenced trace element accumulation within genera and did not consistently correlate with accumulation among genera. Patterns between δ13C and trace element accumulation were generally driven by differences between sites. An increase in trace element accumulation was associated with a divergence of carbon sources between sites in two genera. Higher trace element concentrations tended to accumulate in nymphs from the upstream site, closer to contaminant sources. Influences of factors such as body form and habitat use appeared more influential on trace element accumulation than phylogeny for several elements (Ni, Ba, Sr, V, Be, Cd, and Cr) as higher concentrations accumulated in sprawler and the climber-sprawler genera, irrespective of family. In contrast, As and Se accumulated variably higher in burrowers, but accumulation in sprawlers differed between sites. Greater variation between genera than within genera suggests genus as an acceptable unit of comparison in dragonfly nymphs. Overall, taxonomic differences in trace element accumulation can be substantial, often exceeding variation between sites. Our results underscore the element and taxa specific nature of trace element accumulation, but we provide evidence of accumulation of some trace elements differing among dragonflies that differ in body form and utilize different sub-habitats within a stream reach.

Spatial and taxonomic variation in trace element bioaccumulation in two herbivores from a coal combustion waste contaminated stream.

Dissimilarities in habitat use, feeding habits, life histories, and physiology can result in syntopic aquatic taxa of similar trophic position bioaccumulating trace elements in vastly different patterns. We compared bioaccumulation in a clam, Corbicula fluminea and mayfly nymph Maccaffertium modestum from a coal combustion waste contaminated stream. Collection sites differed in distance to contaminant sources, incision, floodplain activity, and sources of flood event water and organic matter. Contaminants variably accumulated in both sediment and biofilm. Bioaccumulation differed between species and sites with C. fluminea accumulating higher concentrations of Hg, Cs, Sr, Se, As, Be, and Cu, but M. modestum higher Pb and V. Stable isotope analyses suggested both spatial and taxonomic differences in resource use with greater variability and overlap between species in the more physically disturbed site. The complex but essential interactions between organismal biology, divergence in resource use, and bioaccumulation as related to stream habitat requires further studies essential to understand impacts of metal pollution on stream systems.

Variation in trace-element accumulation in predatory fishes from a stream contaminated by coal combustion waste.

Extensive and critical evaluation can be required to assess contaminant bioaccumulation in large predatory fishes. Species differences in habitat use, resource use, and trophic level, often influenced by body form, can result in diverging contaminant bioaccumulation patterns. Moreover, the broad size ranges inherent with large-bodied fish provide opportunity for trophic and habitat shifts within species that can further influence contaminant exposure. We compared contaminant bioaccumulation in four fish species, as well as two herbivorous invertebrates, from a coal combustion waste contaminated stream. Muscle, liver, and gonad tissue were analyzed from fish stratified across the broadest size ranges available. Effects of trophic position (δ (15)N), carbon sources (δ (13)C), and body size varied among and within species. Mercury and cesium concentrations were lowest in the invertebrates and increased with trophic level both among and within fish species. Other elements, such as vanadium, cadmium, barium, nickel, and lead, had greater levels in herbivorous invertebrates than in fish muscle. Sequestration by the fish livers averted accumulation in muscle. Consequently, fish liver tissue appeared to be a more sensitive indicator of bioavailability, but exceptions existed. Despite liver sequestration, within fishes, muscle concentrations of many elements still tended to increase by trophic level. Notable variation within some species was observed. These results illustrate the utility of stable isotope data in exploring differences of bioaccumulation within taxa. Our analyses suggest a need for further evaluation of the underlying sources of this variability to better understand contaminant bioaccumulation in large predatory fishes.