Simulation of phytoplankton and nutrients interaction in a shallow lake

Resumo

The Ypacarai lake, in Paraguay, is one of the most important water resources. At the moment, its physicochemical and biological characteristics show that its aquatic ecosystems are degraded in eutrophic state. Furthermore, the large amount of effluents discharged in the lake is the main cause of its pollution, because they carry nutrients, in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus, which promote algae (phytoplankton) growth. In this work, we analyze the interaction between phytoplankton and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) getting into the lake through the tributaries, under different wind conditions. This analysis includes the kinetics of algae growth to predict zones with high eutrophication.