scholarly journals Harmful algal blooms and cyanotoxins in Lake Amatitlán, Guatemala, coincided with ancient Maya occupation in the watershed

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (48) ◽  
pp. e2109919118
Author(s):  
Matthew Neal Waters ◽  
Mark Brenner ◽  
Jason Hilleary Curtis ◽  
Claudia Suseth Romero-Oliva ◽  
Margaret Dix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Water System ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Ancient Maya ◽  
Nutrient Stoichiometry ◽  
Terminal Classic ◽  
Cyanobacteria Blooms ◽  
Common Era

Human-induced deforestation and soil erosion were environmental stressors for the ancient Maya of Mesoamerica. Furthermore, intense, periodic droughts during the Terminal Classic Period, ca. Common Era 830 to 950, have been documented from lake sediment cores and speleothems. Today, lakes worldwide that are surrounded by dense human settlement and intense riparian land use often develop algae/cyanobacteria blooms that can compromise water quality by depleting oxygen and producing toxins. Such environmental impacts have rarely been explored in the context of ancient Maya settlement. We measured nutrients, biomarkers for cyanobacteria, and the cyanotoxin microcystin in a sediment core from Lake Amatitlán, highland Guatemala, which spans the last ∼2,100 y. The lake is currently hypereutrophic and characterized by high cyanotoxin concentrations from persistent blooms of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Our paleolimnological data show that harmful cyanobacteria blooms and cyanotoxin production occurred during periods of ancient Maya occupation. Highest prehistoric concentrations of cyanotoxins in the sediment coincided with alterations of the water system in the Maya city of Kaminaljuyú, and changes in nutrient stoichiometry and maximum cyanobacteria abundance were coeval with times of greatest ancient human populations in the watershed. These prehistoric episodes of cyanobacteria proliferation and cyanotoxin production rivaled modern conditions in the lake, with respect to both bloom magnitude and toxicity. This suggests that pre-Columbian Maya occupation of the Lake Amatitlán watershed negatively impacted water potability. Prehistoric cultural eutrophication indicates that human-driven nutrient enrichment of water bodies is not an exclusively modern phenomenon and may well have been a stressor for the ancient Maya.

scholarly journals Constructing a Distributed AUV Network for Underwater Plume-Tracking Operations

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 191235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Petillo ◽  
Henrik Schmidt ◽  
Arjuna Balasuriya
Keyword(s):  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle ◽  
Spatiotemporal Data ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Underwater Communication ◽  
Plume Tracking ◽  
Time Variations ◽  
Ocean Environment ◽  
Offshore Oil

In recent years, there has been significant concern about the impacts of offshore oil spill plumes and harmful algal blooms on the coastal ocean environment and biology, as well as on the human populations adjacent to these coastal regions. Thus, it has become increasingly important to determine the 3D extent of these ocean features (“plumes”) and how they evolve over time. The ocean environment is largely inaccessible to sensing directly by humans, motivating the need for robots to intelligently sense the ocean for us. In this paper, we propose the use of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) network to track and predict plume shape and motion, discussing solutions to the challenges of spatiotemporal data aliasing (coverage versus resolution), underwater communication, AUV autonomy, data fusion, and coordination of multiple AUVs. A plume simulation is also developed here as the first step toward implementing behaviors for autonomous, adaptive plume tracking with AUVs, modeling a plume as a sum of Fourier orders and examining the resulting errors. This is then extended to include plume forecasting based on time variations, and future improvements and implementation are discussed.

scholarly journals Marine harmful algal blooms, human health and wellbeing: challenges and opportunities in the 21st century

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Berdalet ◽  
Lora E. Fleming ◽  
Richard Gowen ◽  
Keith Davidson ◽  
Philipp Hess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Health Need

Microalgal blooms are a natural part of the seasonal cycle of photosynthetic organisms in marine ecosystems. They are key components of the structure and dynamics of the oceans and thus sustain the benefits that humans obtain from these aquatic environments. However, some microalgal blooms can cause harm to humans and other organisms. These harmful algal blooms (HABs) have direct impacts on human health and negative influences on human wellbeing, mainly through their consequences to coastal ecosystem services (fisheries, tourism and recreation) and other marine organisms and environments. HABs are natural phenomena, but these events can be favoured by anthropogenic pressures in coastal areas. Global warming and associated changes in the oceans could affect HAB occurrences and toxicity as well, although forecasting the possible trends is still speculative and requires intensive multidisciplinary research. At the beginning of the 21st century, with expanding human populations, particularly in coastal and developing countries, mitigating HABs impacts on human health and wellbeing is becoming a more pressing public health need. The available tools to address this global challenge include maintaining intensive, multidisciplinary and collaborative scientific research, and strengthening the coordination with stakeholders, policymakers and the general public. Here we provide an overview of different aspects of the HABs phenomena, an important element of the intrinsic links between oceans and human health and wellbeing.

scholarly journals The effect of plant extracts on growth and photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics of Microcystis flos-aquae

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 1102-1110
Author(s):  
Yuxin Shi ◽  
Anglu Shen ◽  
Meng Tan ◽  
Peimin He ◽  
Liu Shao
Keyword(s):  
Plant Extracts ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Alternanthera Philoxeroides ◽  
Effective Quantum Yield ◽  
Brachydanio Rerio ◽  
Cyanobacteria Blooms ◽  
Fluorescence Characteristics ◽  
Relative Electron

Abstract The cyanobacteria Microcystis flos-aquae can cause harmful algal blooms in waterbodies, which threaten the normal functioning of aquatic ecosystems and human health. Some plant extracts are considered as promising algaecides. In this study, the effects of ten plant extracts (Cinnamomum camphora, Ginkgo biloba, Firmiana platanifolia, Salix babylonica, Euphorbia humifusa, Erigeron annuus, Solidago canadensis, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Thalia dealbata and Eichhornia crassipes) against M. flos-aquae were investigated. The results showed that all ten plant extracts had a significant inhibitory effect on M. flos-aquae growth after 96 h (P < 0.01). The inhibition rates of S. babylonica, E. humifusa, S. canadensis and A. philoxeroides were over 70.00%. Furthermore, the E. humifusa extract had the best inhibitory effect on the photosynthesis of M. flos-aquae, with the effective quantum yield of photosystem II and maximal relative electron transport rate decreasing by 97.50% and 97.00%, respectively, after 96 h. Additionally, the E. humifusa extract was found to be non-toxic to non-target organisms such as Brachydanio rerio and Vallisneria spiralis within 96 h. This study contributes to the existing knowledge and data of freshwater cyanobacteria blooms, and provides insights for their control and the restoration of freshwater systems affected by cyanobacteria blooms.

scholarly journals Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Outlook on Current and Emerging Mitigation and Control Approaches

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1472
Author(s):  
Assaf Sukenik ◽  
Aaron Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Drinking Water Treatment ◽  
Lake Water Quality ◽  
Cyanobacteria Blooms ◽  
Toxic Cyanobacteria ◽  
Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Lake Waters ◽  
And Control

An intensification of toxic cyanobacteria blooms has occurred over the last three decades, severely affecting coastal and lake water quality in many parts of the world. Extensive research is being conducted in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the driving forces that alter the ecological balance in water bodies and of the biological role of the secondary metabolites, toxins included, produced by the cyanobacteria. In the long-term, such knowledge may help to develop the needed procedures to restore the phytoplankton community to the pre-toxic blooms era. In the short-term, the mission of the scientific community is to develop novel approaches to mitigate the blooms and thereby restore the ability of affected communities to enjoy coastal and lake waters. Here, we critically review some of the recently proposed, currently leading, and potentially emerging mitigation approaches in-lake novel methodologies and applications relevant to drinking-water treatment.

scholarly journals Nutrient removal effectivity of seaweeds as biofilter and water pollution control in hybrid grouper aquaculture wastewater at low salinity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ratih Ida Adharini ◽  
Murwantoko Murwantoko ◽  
Namastra Probosunu ◽  
Riza Yuliratno Setiawan ◽  
Tony Budi Satriyo
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Harmful Algal Blooms ◽  
Algal Blooms ◽  
Water System ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
Hybrid Grouper ◽  
Aquaculture Wastewater

Abstract This research aims to determine the performance and nutrient removal effectivity of seaweeds species, namely Ulva fasciata., Sargassum illicifolium, Gelidium sp., and Dictyota sp. as a biofilter in hybrid grouper aquaculture wastewater at low salinity (14-17 ppt). This study used a Completely Randomized Design with 3 replications. The statistical analysis was carried out by Analysis of Variance continued with the Least Significance Difference test, and the Kruskal-Walis test with the Mann-Whitney analysis, and T-test with a confidence level of 95%. The concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, and water quality parameters were observed every 4 days. The seaweeds removal of N and P in water, and Specific Growth Rate were also observed. The results showed that U. fasciata was able to remove or reduce ammonia by 75.95% and nitrate by 79.53%, which were the highest compared to other treatments, while Dictyota sp. was able to reduce the highest phosphate by 87.5% for 20 days. The highest SGR was achieved by U. fasciata at 1.91 %day -1 . The highest N content uptake by seaweeds was 104.4%, and the total P of 182.3% occurred in U. fasciata . Overall, U. fasciata has the highest performance and effectiveness as a biofilter that is able to reduce nutrient waste in low-salinity from grouper aquaculture, for re-circulation or before being discharged into the environment to reduce eutrophication and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in open water system. The highest growth rate of U. fasciata can be used as food with highly nutritional and economical value. Keywords : seaweeds, biofilter, hybrid grouper, wastewater, nutrient removal

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.

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