Seasonal Dynamics and Trends of Environmental Conditions in Lake Louise, Georgia
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Authors
Kwawuvi, Daniel
Issue Date
2025-08-04
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Academic theses , Biology , Lakes , Water temperature , Conductivity (Water) , Water--Dissolved oxygen , Phytoplankton , Hurricanes , Environmental monitoring , Seasonal variations (Economics) , Georgia , Lake Louise (Ga.)
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Abstract
Lakes are important aquatic ecosystems that are extensively influenced by seasonal variations. This study investigates the seasonal dynamics and trends of three environmental variables, water temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen (DO), in Lake Louise, a sinkhole lake located in southern Georgia. These variables were measured in-situ along a depth profile from January 27, 2024 to January 17, 2025. Archived data from field campaigns in 2003, 2004, and 2017 was accessed in order to test whether a recent increase in the number of hurricanes impacting the region, five since August, 2017, may have significantly altered the seasonal dynamics of the lake. Seasonal differences and trends were investigated using Dunn’s test of multiple comparisons and the Modified Mann-Kendall test, respectively. The study also quantified phytoplankton in the lake using imaging flow cytometry. The results highlight the highly responsive nature of the lake’s surface waters to seasonal variation and environmental impacts while conditions in the hypolimnion (deeper layers) were relatively stable and differentially anoxic over the study period; only conductivity showed an increasing trend in the hypolimnion as thermal stratification stabilized. Pairwise comparisons of seasons showed a mix of significant and non-significant differences in water temperature, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen levels within the period of study. The Modified Mann-Kendall test results for water temperature indicated a non-significant increasing trend from 2004 to 2024, although in 2003, the increase was significant. Conductivity exhibited a significant increasing trend for the period of study in 2024, and in 2017. Meanwhile, oxygen levels demonstrated significant decreasing trends in 2004 and 2024, with non-significant decreasing trends observed in 2003 and 2017.Cyanobacteria levels post-Hurricane Irma in 2017 significantly decreased in 2024, possibly due to Hurricane Helene's timing in 2024.
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This dissertation is protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States (Public Law 94-553, revised in 1976). Consistent with fair use as defined in the Copyright Laws, brief quotations from this material are allowed with proper acknowledgement. Use of the materials for financial gain with the author's expressed written permissions is not allowed.