MONITORING THE TROPHIC STATE AND PHYCOCYANIN PIGMENT OF KARAOUN RESERVOIR, LEBANON

Eutrophication and toxic cyanobacterial blooms have become a worldwide environmental problem. The Carlson trophic state index (CTSI) is widely used for the classification of trophic conditions of fresh water bodies. The performance of the TriOS microFlu-blue probe in the field, for the measurement of in vivo phycocyanin fluorescence, was compared to laboratory biovolumes. The trophic state of the Karaoun Reservoir, the largest water body in Lebanon, has been poorly studied, as is the case with many freshwater bodies around the Mediterranean Sea. Sampling campaigns were conducted semi-monthly between May 2012 and August 2013 to assess the trophic state and performance of the TriOS microFlu-blue. Karaoun Reservoir was found to be eutrophic to hypereutrophic during 2012-2013. A strong linear relation was found between Trios phycocyanin measurements and the total cyanobacteria biovolumes in Karaoun Reservoir, with a R super(2) value of 0.87.