Confused on what the question is asking

 

1.)   Review Figs. 4 and 5 and the related text. Based on these data, which fluorophore appears to be the best predictor of a future bloom? Explain. (3 pts.)

Assigned reading: Hipsher et al. 2020. Impact of bloom events on dissolved organic matter fluorophore signatures in Ohio waters. Sci. of the Tot Env. 699:13403.

 

Cyanobacterial blooms contribute greatly to the bulk chromophoric dissolved organic matter pool and the fluorescence signature of organic matter resultant from these blooms may be used as an indicator of future blooms. Researchers were able to found that an increase in tryptophan-like and tyrosine-like fluorophores occurs or appears before an increase in chlorophyll levels linked with bloom biomass, in some Ohio waters affected by cyanobacterial blooms but the protein-like fluorophores are said not correlated with levels of the cyanotoxin, microcystin. The figure shown between May and September shows the significance of protein-like fluorophores vary on both dates and due to its presence, bloom occurs. The presence of protein-like fluorophores appears to be the best predictor of a future bloom in certain areas or reservoirs.