Determination of Algal Toxin Concentrations in Surface Waters at National Parks
The U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with the National Park Service began a project in 2012 exploring levels of the algal toxins in surface drinking water and recreational waters in 3 National Park Service Parks: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Produced by cyanobacteria, algal toxins such as microcystin can cause moderate to serious illness in humans and wildlife. Algal blooms are typically a result of high nutrient concentrations allowing for the proliferation of naturally occurring cyanobacteria. While typically found during intense algal bloom formations, algal toxins have also been associated with non-blooming conditions. In order to determine if algal toxins pose a risk to human or wildlife, water samples will be collected from 16 inland lakes and 4 Lake Michigan sites and analyzed for microcystin and nutrient concentrations. A subset of samples will be also be analyzed for cylindrospermopsin, and saxitoxin and other algal toxins in order to better understand the diversity of potential toxins that may be present particularly during a bloom.
Below are partners associated with this project.
The U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with the National Park Service began a project in 2012 exploring levels of the algal toxins in surface drinking water and recreational waters in 3 National Park Service Parks: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Produced by cyanobacteria, algal toxins such as microcystin can cause moderate to serious illness in humans and wildlife. Algal blooms are typically a result of high nutrient concentrations allowing for the proliferation of naturally occurring cyanobacteria. While typically found during intense algal bloom formations, algal toxins have also been associated with non-blooming conditions. In order to determine if algal toxins pose a risk to human or wildlife, water samples will be collected from 16 inland lakes and 4 Lake Michigan sites and analyzed for microcystin and nutrient concentrations. A subset of samples will be also be analyzed for cylindrospermopsin, and saxitoxin and other algal toxins in order to better understand the diversity of potential toxins that may be present particularly during a bloom.
Below are partners associated with this project.