Marine and Estuarine Harmful Algal Blooms: Impacts on Human and Animal Health

2005 ◽  
pp. 165-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Landsberg ◽  
Fran Van Dolah ◽  
Gregory Doucette
Keyword(s):  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Animal Health

scholarly journals Occurrence of a single-species cyanobacterial bloom in a lake in Cyprus: monitoring and treatment with hydrogen peroxide-releasing granules

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Keliri ◽  
Christia Paraskeva ◽  
Angelos Sofokleous ◽  
Assaf Sukenik ◽  
Dariusz Dziga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Cyanobacterial Bloom ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Eutrophic Lake ◽  
Liquid Hydrogen ◽  
Bioactive Metabolites ◽  
Forest Park

AbstractBackgroundExcess loads of nutrients finding their way into waterbodies can cause rapid and excessive growth of phytoplankton species and lead to the formation of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyano-HABs). Toxic cyanobacteria produce a broad range of bioactive metabolites, some of which are known as cyanotoxins. These metabolites can negatively impact the ecosystem, and human and animal health, thus their presence needs to be closely monitored and mitigated. This study aimed to monitor St. George Lake (Athalassa National Forest Park, Cyprus) for its water quality characteristics, and initiate a new methodology to control the bloom that occurred in the lake during summer 2019, by comparing hydrogen peroxide treatment with novel metallic peroxide granules as source of hydrogen peroxide.ResultsLake monitoring showed that pH, salinity, total dissolved solids and conductivity varied throughout the year, and nutrients concentration was high, indicating a eutrophic lake. The cyanobacteriumMerismopediasp. bloomed in the lake between June and September 2019, comprising up to 99% of the phytoplankton biovolume. The presence of microcystin synthase encoding gene (mcyB, mcyE) was documented, however microcystins were not detected by tandem mass spectroscopy. Treatment with liquid hydrogen peroxide in concentrations 1 to 5 mg L−1had no effect on the phycocyanin fluorescence (Ft) and quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) indicating an ineffective treatment for the denseMerismopediabloom (1 million cells mL−1 ± 20%). Metallic peroxide granules tested for their H2O2releasing capacity in St. George Lake water, showing that CaO2released higher H2O2concentration and therefore have better mitigation efficiency than MgO2granules.ConclusionThe present study highlights the importance of monitoring several water parameters to conclude on the different actions to be taken to limit eutrophication in the catchment area. The findings demonstrated that testing for the presence of genes involved in cyanotoxin production may not be sufficient to follow cyanotoxins in the water, therefore it should be accompanied with analytical confirmation. Treatment experiments indicated that slow release of H2O2from peroxide granules may be an alternative to liquid hydrogen peroxide when applied in appropriate doses, but further investigation is needed before it is applied at the field.Graphic Abstract

scholarly journals Pathology in Ecological Research With Implications for One Health: Session Summary

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 1072-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanda M. Haschek ◽  
May Berenbaum ◽  
David E. Hinton ◽  
Michelle Cora ◽  
Neil Chernoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
One Health ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Toxin Production ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Environmental Carcinogens ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Bee Colony ◽  
Contaminate Drinking Water

This session explored the effects of pollutants on One Health at the ecosystem level that included microbes, insects, fish, and humans. The concept of One Health seeks to synergize medical, veterinary, and other health science disciplines to more effectively advance human and animal health. Presentations explored the interactions of pesticides, pathogens, phytochemicals, and xenobiotic biotransformation in bee colony losses critical for food security (bees have been recently listed under the 2017 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) veterinary feed directive); the role of pathology in identifying the effects of pollutants on fish as sentinels for human health; the effects in rats of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that can persist in the environment and contaminate drinking water; harmful algal blooms and toxin production leading to animal and human disease; and the processing of environmental carcinogens by intestinal microbiota.

scholarly journals First report on the occurrence of a single species cyanobacterial bloom in a lake in Cyprus: Monitoring and treatment with hydrogen peroxide releasing granules

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Keliri ◽  
Christia Paraskeva ◽  
Angelos Sofokleous ◽  
Assaf Sukenik ◽  
Dariusz Dziga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Peroxide ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Cyanobacterial Bloom ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Bioactive Metabolites ◽  
Blue Green Algae ◽  
Forest Park ◽  
Water Characteristics

Abstract Background: Cyanobacteria are phytoplankton microorganisms, also known as blue-green algae, and an essential component of the food web in all aquatic ecosystems. Excess loads of nutrients into waterbodies can cause their rapid and excessive growth which leads to the formation of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyano-HABs). Toxic species of cyanobacteria genera excrete into the water a broad range of bioactive metabolites, some of which are known as cyanotoxins. These metabolites can negatively affect the ecosystem, and human and animal health in various ways, thus their presence needs to be closely monitored. This study aimed to monitor a lake at the Athalassa National Forest Park in Cyprus, in order to correlate its trophic condition with its water quality characteristics and identify the key environmental variables driving cyanobacteria blooming and their toxicity. In addition, surface water during the blooming period was collected and used in bench-scale experiments in order to test novel hydrogen peroxide releasing granules as mitigation processes for cyano-HABs.Results: The monitoring lasted throughout 2019 with ten sampling events taking place during this period. Samples were mainly analyzed for phytoplankton community, and various physicochemical parameters: pH, conductivity, salinity, total and dissolved nutrients. Obtained data indicated that cyanobacteria blooming lasted for four months (June – September), while microscopic observation of preserved samples showed that 99% of the phytoplankton biovolume was attributed to a single picocyanobacterial species, the Merismopedia sp. Select samples were analysed for the presence of toxins genes with positive results mainly for mcyB and mcyE genes. Further analysis with HPLC MS/MS, revealed that cyanotoxins’ concentration was lower than the method detection limit - MDL (<2-6 ng/L). Conclusion: The present study highlights the importance of monitoring several water characteristics to conclude on the main drivers of a bloom and its toxicity. The findings demonstrated that it is not enough to test cyanotoxin genes as indicator of their presence since, in case of mono-domination, cyanobacteria may not be active on producing the toxins. Treatment experiments of contaminated water indicated that slow realizing peroxide granules may be an alternative to hydrogen peroxide. Treatment with CaO2 granules outperformed MgO2 granules due to higher H2O2 releasing capacity.

National coastal management challenges and needs

Shore & Beach ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 34-43
Author(s):  
Nicole Elko ◽  
Tiffany Roberts Briggs
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Management ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Technical Information ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Beach Erosion ◽  
The U.S

In partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (USGS CMHRP) and the U.S. Coastal Research Program (USCRP), the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) has identified coastal stakeholders’ top coastal management challenges. Informed by two annual surveys, a multiple-choice online poll was conducted in 2019 to evaluate stakeholders’ most pressing problems and needs, including those they felt most ill-equipped to deal with in their day-to-day duties and which tools they most need to address these challenges. The survey also explored where users find technical information and what is missing. From these results, USGS CMHRP, USCRP, ASBPA, and other partners aim to identify research needs that will inform appropriate investments in useful science, tools, and resources to address today’s most pressing coastal challenges. The 15-question survey yielded 134 complete responses with an 80% completion rate from coastal stakeholders such as local community representatives and their industry consultants, state and federal agency representatives, and academics. Respondents from the East, Gulf, West, and Great Lakes coasts, as well as Alaska and Hawaii, were represented. Overall, the prioritized coastal management challenges identified by the survey were: Deteriorating ecosystems leading to reduced (environmental, recreational, economic, storm buffer) functionality, Increasing storminess due to climate change (i.e. more frequent and intense impacts), Coastal flooding, both Sea level rise and associated flooding (e.g. nuisance flooding, king tides), and Combined effects of rainfall and surge on urban flooding (i.e. episodic, short-term), Chronic beach erosion (i.e. high/increasing long-term erosion rates), and Coastal water quality, including harmful algal blooms (e.g. red tide, sargassum). A careful, systematic, and interdisciplinary approach should direct efforts to identify specific research needed to tackle these challenges. A notable shift in priorities from erosion to water-related challenges was recorded from respondents with organizations initially formed for beachfront management. In addition, affiliation-specific and regional responses varied, such as Floridians concern more with harmful algal blooms than any other human and ecosystem health related challenge. The most common need for additional coastal management tools and strategies related to adaptive coastal management to maintain community resilience and continuous storm barriers (dunes, structures), as the top long-term and extreme event needs, respectively. In response to questions about missing information that agencies can provide, respondents frequently mentioned up-to-date data on coastal systems and solutions to challenges as more important than additional tools.

scholarly journals Marine harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the United States: History, current status and future trends

Harmful Algae ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 101975
Author(s):  
Donald M. Anderson ◽  
Elizabeth Fensin ◽  
Christopher J. Gobler ◽  
Alicia E. Hoeglund ◽  
Katherine A. Hubbard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
United States History ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
States History

scholarly journals Mitochondrial genome evolution in pelagophyte algae

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon J Sibbald ◽  
Maggie Lawton ◽  
John M Archibald
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Genome ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Mitochondrial Genomes ◽  
Trna Genes ◽  
Unique Region ◽  
Long Read ◽  
Genomic Studies ◽  
Aureoumbra Lagunensis

Abstract The Pelagophyceae are marine stramenopile algae that include Aureoumbra lagunensis and Aureococcus anophagefferens, two microbial species notorious for causing harmful algal blooms. Despite their ecological significance, relatively few genomic studies of pelagophytes have been carried out. To improve understanding of the biology and evolution of pelagophyte algae, we sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes for A. lagunensis (CCMP1510), Pelagomonas calceolata (CCMP1756) and five strains of A. anophagefferens (CCMP1707, CCMP1708, CCMP1850, CCMP1984 and CCMP3368) using Nanopore long-read sequencing. All pelagophyte mitochondrial genomes assembled into single, circular mapping contigs between 39,376 base-pairs (bp) (P. calceolata) and 55,968 bp (A. lagunensis) in size. Mitochondrial genomes for the five A. anophagefferens strains varied slightly in length (42,401 bp—42,621 bp) and were 99.4%-100.0% identical. Gene content and order was highly conserved between the A. anophagefferens and P. calceolata genomes, with the only major difference being a unique region in A. anophagefferens containing DNA adenine and cytosine methyltransferase (dam/dcm) genes that appear to be the product of lateral gene transfer from a prokaryotic or viral donor. While the A. lagunensis mitochondrial genome shares seven distinct syntenic blocks with the other pelagophyte genomes, it has a tandem repeat expansion comprising ∼40% of its length, and lacks identifiable rps19 and glycine tRNA genes. Laterally acquired self-splicing introns were also found in the 23S rRNA (rnl) gene of P. calceolata and the coxI gene of the five A. anophagefferens genomes. Overall, these data provide baseline knowledge about the genetic diversity of bloom-forming pelagophytes relative to non-bloom-forming species.

scholarly journals Performance of a Handheld Chlorophyll-a Fluorometer: Potential Use for Rapid Algae Monitoring

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1409
Author(s):  
Hamdhani Hamdhani ◽  
Drew E. Eppehimer ◽  
David Walker ◽  
Michael T. Bogan
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Ambient Light ◽  
Calibration Equation ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
Potential Use

Chlorophyll-a measurements are an important factor in the water quality monitoring of surface waters, especially for determining the trophic status and ecosystem management. However, a collection of field samples for extractive analysis in a laboratory may not fully represent the field conditions. Handheld fluorometers that can measure chlorophyll-a in situ are available, but their performance in waters with a variety of potential light-interfering substances has not yet been tested. We tested a handheld fluorometer for sensitivity to ambient light and turbidity and compared these findings with EPA Method 445.0 using water samples obtained from two urban lakes in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Our results suggested that the probe was not sensitive to ambient light and performed well at low chlorophyll-a concentrations (<25 µg/L) across a range of turbidity levels (50–70 NTU). However, the performance was lower when the chlorophyll-a concentrations were >25 µg/L and turbidity levels were <50 NTU. To account for this discrepancy, we developed a calibration equation to use for this handheld fluorometer when field monitoring for potential harmful algal blooms in water bodies.

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