Variability in periphyton community and biomass over 37 years in Lake Tahoe (CA-NV)

Abstract Nuisance periphyton blooms are occurring in oligotrophic lakes worldwide, but few have documented changes biomass through monitoring. For decades has caused concern about Lake Tahoe’s nearshore water quality. To determine whether eulittoral increased Tahoe, measures of and dominant communities at 0.5 m below lake level been monitored regularly nine shoreline sites starting 1982, with up to 54 additional annually peak biomass. Lake-wide, this metric not since monitoring began. Biomass decreased many one. Periphyton peaked March was low the summer lake-wide. The northern western shores had higher than eastern southern shores. varied level. High occurred regardless urban development levels. As increasing Tahoe first cited scientific literature 1960s, it is possible that prior our program. A dearth published long-term data from reported makes difficult extent issue worldwide. Long-term crucial for tracking understanding blooms.