Cyanobacteria activity detected under ice in Bantam Lake

Lyngbya, January 4, 2017 Bantam Lake, Litchfield, CT.

Coelosphaerium, January 4, 2017 Bantam Lake, Litchfield, CT.

Aphanizomenon, January 4, 2017 Bantam Lake, Litchfield, CT.

There are few studies that explore the aquatic microbiotic community during the winter season especially under the ice.  Bantam Lake is almost completely covered with ice; I observed an average of 3 inches thick in most places around the lake on January 4, 2017.  I wanted to see if any cyanobacteria was active under the ice.  I broke through the ice at Litchfield Town Beach and performed a vertical sample with a plankton net.  It is important to note that there was no snow on the ice, which can influence the amount of sunlight that penetrates into the water column.  I detected several cyanobacterial groups (images above).  Although no bloom was observed, it surprised me to detect the diversity of cyanobacteria remaining active under the ice.  I also observed one plankton and diatom species from this sample (images below).

Asterionella formosa, a diatom, January 4, 2017 Bantam Lake, Litchfield, CT.

Synura, a plankton, January 4, 2017 Bantam Lake, Litchfield, CT