Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasingly a global concern because HABs pose a threat to human and aquatic ecosystem health and cause economic damages. Toxins produced by some species of cyanobacteria (called cyanotoxins) can cause acute and chronic illnesses in humans and pets. Aquatic ecosystem health also is affected by cyanotoxins, as well as low dissolved oxygen concentrations and changes in aquatic food webs caused by an over-abundance of cyanobacteria. Economic damages related to HABs include loss of recreational revenue, decreased property values, and increased drinking-water treatment costs.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been confirmed in inland reservoirs and lakes in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, in the Ohio River, and in Lake Erie. Our research focuses on identifying the potential environmental factors that may drive HAB formation, documenting the effects of changing environmental conditions on HAB occurrence, determining the presence of naturally-occurring microcystin-degrading bacteria, and developing models to estimate toxin concentrations in recreational and drinking-water source waters.
HABs are affected by a complex set of physical, chemical, biological, hydrological, and meteorological conditions, including excessive nutrients, primarily phosphorus and nitrogen. The most frequently proposed hypothesis relating to increased HABs in freshwater is an increase in nutrients from anthropogenic nutrient enrichment (human activities introduce excessive nutrients into a body of water).
An Algal Bloom may be called harmful because of resulting reductions in dissolved oxygen concentrations, alterations in aquatic food webs, unsightly scums along shorelines, production of taste-and-odor compounds that cause unpalatable drinking water and fish flesh, or the production of toxins potent enough to poison aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Many different types of algae can cause harmful algal blooms in freshwater ecosystems. However, the most frequent and severe blooms typically are caused by cyanobacteria, the only freshwater “algae” with the potential for production of toxins potent enough to adversely affect human health (From Graham and others, 2016).
To better understand and predict cyanobacterial toxin production, the USGS Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (OWML) in Columbus, Ohio, developed the capability to analyze samples by several molecular assays.
Related Projects:
- Using continuous water-quality measurements and discrete data to identify the drivers of HABs in lakes and tailwaters In Kentucky and Indiana
- Using models to estimate microcystin concentrations in Ohio recreational and source waters
- Biodegradation Of Microcystins In Lake Erie Source Waters And Filters From Drinking-Water Plants
Related Projects
Using continuous water-quality measurements and discrete data to identify the drivers of HABs in lakes and tailwaters In Kentucky and Indiana
USGS Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory - Cyanobacteria and toxin gene molecular assays
Using models to estimate microcystin concentrations in Ohio recreational and source waters
Biodegradation Of Microcystins In Lake Erie Source Waters And Filters From Drinking-Water Plants
- Overview
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasingly a global concern because HABs pose a threat to human and aquatic ecosystem health and cause economic damages. Toxins produced by some species of cyanobacteria (called cyanotoxins) can cause acute and chronic illnesses in humans and pets. Aquatic ecosystem health also is affected by cyanotoxins, as well as low dissolved oxygen concentrations and changes in aquatic food webs caused by an over-abundance of cyanobacteria. Economic damages related to HABs include loss of recreational revenue, decreased property values, and increased drinking-water treatment costs.
Harmful algae sample Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been confirmed in inland reservoirs and lakes in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, in the Ohio River, and in Lake Erie. Our research focuses on identifying the potential environmental factors that may drive HAB formation, documenting the effects of changing environmental conditions on HAB occurrence, determining the presence of naturally-occurring microcystin-degrading bacteria, and developing models to estimate toxin concentrations in recreational and drinking-water source waters.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A 2015 cyanobacterial bloom on the Ohio River extended more than 650 miles and affected drinking water supplies and recreational activities in five States. (From Graham and others, 201 6). Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. HABs are affected by a complex set of physical, chemical, biological, hydrological, and meteorological conditions, including excessive nutrients, primarily phosphorus and nitrogen. The most frequently proposed hypothesis relating to increased HABs in freshwater is an increase in nutrients from anthropogenic nutrient enrichment (human activities introduce excessive nutrients into a body of water).
An Algal Bloom may be called harmful because of resulting reductions in dissolved oxygen concentrations, alterations in aquatic food webs, unsightly scums along shorelines, production of taste-and-odor compounds that cause unpalatable drinking water and fish flesh, or the production of toxins potent enough to poison aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Many different types of algae can cause harmful algal blooms in freshwater ecosystems. However, the most frequent and severe blooms typically are caused by cyanobacteria, the only freshwater “algae” with the potential for production of toxins potent enough to adversely affect human health (From Graham and others, 2016).
To better understand and predict cyanobacterial toxin production, the USGS Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (OWML) in Columbus, Ohio, developed the capability to analyze samples by several molecular assays.
Related Projects:
- Using continuous water-quality measurements and discrete data to identify the drivers of HABs in lakes and tailwaters In Kentucky and Indiana
- Using models to estimate microcystin concentrations in Ohio recreational and source waters
- Biodegradation Of Microcystins In Lake Erie Source Waters And Filters From Drinking-Water Plants
- Science
Related Projects
Using continuous water-quality measurements and discrete data to identify the drivers of HABs in lakes and tailwaters In Kentucky and Indiana
In September 2015, Kentucky Water Science Center scientists, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), began investigations on two Kentucky lakes and tailwaters. Continuous water quality is collected at both lake and tailwater sites and gage height is monitored at the tailwater sites.USGS Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory - Cyanobacteria and toxin gene molecular assays
Harmful cyanobacterial “algal” blooms and associated toxins are of concern in many parts of the world because of their effects on drinking water, water-based recreation, and watershed ecology. Cyanotoxins are a diverse group of compounds that include hepatotoxins, neurotoxins, cytotoxins, dermatotoxins, and irritant toxins (Wiegand and Pflugmacher, 2005). Numerous incidents of animal and human...Using models to estimate microcystin concentrations in Ohio recreational and source waters
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated toxins, such as microcystin, are a major global water-quality issue. In Lake Erie and inland lakes in Ohio, elevated microcystin concentrations have caused water-resource managers to issue recreational water-quality advisories, and detections of microcystin in source waters have caused drinking-water plant managers to increase...Biodegradation Of Microcystins In Lake Erie Source Waters And Filters From Drinking-Water Plants
Harmful cyanobacterial “algal” blooms (cyanoHABs) and associated toxins, such as microcystin, are a major global water-quality issue. In Lake Erie, researchers and local health officials have identified the presence of cyanobacterial blooms during the summer and early fall seasons. This is especially pronounced in the Lake Erie Western Basin, where the City of Toledo was forced to issue a do-not... - Publications