Cyanobacteria from 2016 Lake Okeechobee Harmful Algal Bloom Photo-Documented Completed
Microscope Image of Dolichospermum Circinale Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacterial Bloom on Lake Okeechobee in 2016
New report provides photographic documentation and identification of the cyanobacteria present in Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee River, and St. Lucie Canal during an extensive algal bloom in 2016.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) include numerous species of algae and bacteria including cyanobacteria, which are also known as blue-green algae. HABs produced by cyanobacteria (cyanoHABs) pose a range of health risks to humans, wildlife and companion animals.
Lake Okeechobee, the largest inland lake in Florida frequently experiences HABs. Starting May 2016, there was an extensive cyanoHAB in Lake Okeechobee, which didn't start to dissipate untill the end of July. High water levels during that time resulted in transport of algal-laden water from the lake to coastal areas through a series of canals and rivers, which resulted in beach closures in several Florida counties.
While the algal blooms have been observed in the lake, little is known about the types of algae present during the blooms. It is important to understand the composition of the algal community, as some cyanobacteria can produce a variety of cyanotoxins, including neurotoxins and hepatotoxins such as anatoxins, cylindrospermopsins, and saxitoxins, in addition to microcystins and other potentially harmful metabolites.
In this study, scientists collected samples prior to, during, and after the extensive 2016 cyanoHAB event in Lake Okeechobee. The study report provides digital photographic documentation and taxonomic assessment of the cyanobacteria present in study samples. The majority of the images were of live organisms, allowing capture of their natural pigmentation.
Scientists identified 28 different types of algae in Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee River and the St. Lucie Canal. In addition to the dominant organism, Microcystis aeruginosa, several other cyanobacteria known to produce toxins were present at lower numbers.
This study is part of a larger effort of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Environmental Health Mission Area to provide information that will help land managers to understand how to effectively minimize potential risks to the health of humans and other organisms exposed to cyanotoxins and other biogenic toxins through recreational, drinking water, and other exposure routes.
This study was funded by the USGS Priority Ecosystem Study Program and the USGS Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology Program).
See below for related research.
Toxins and Harmful Algal Blooms Science Team
Satellite Data Used to Estimate and Rank Cyanobacterial Bloom Magnitude in Florida and Ohio Lakes—Developing Tools to Protect Human and Wildlife Health from Cyanotoxin Exposure
Mixtures of Algal Toxins Present Prior to and After Formation of Visible Algal Blooms—Science to Inform the Timing of Algal Toxin Exposure
Understanding Drivers of Cyanotoxin Production in the Lake Okeechobee Waterway
Understanding Associations between Mussel Productivity and Cyanotoxins in Lake Erie
New Method Developed to Quantify Spatial Extent of Cyanobacterial Blooms
Satellite Imagery Used to Measure Algal Bloom Frequency—Steps Toward Understanding Exposure Risk
Evaluating Linkages Between Algal Toxins and Human Health
- Overview
New report provides photographic documentation and identification of the cyanobacteria present in Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee River, and St. Lucie Canal during an extensive algal bloom in 2016.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) include numerous species of algae and bacteria including cyanobacteria, which are also known as blue-green algae. HABs produced by cyanobacteria (cyanoHABs) pose a range of health risks to humans, wildlife and companion animals.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsCyanobacterial bloom in Lake Okeechobee, FL. Lake Okeechobee, the largest inland lake in Florida frequently experiences HABs. Starting May 2016, there was an extensive cyanoHAB in Lake Okeechobee, which didn't start to dissipate untill the end of July. High water levels during that time resulted in transport of algal-laden water from the lake to coastal areas through a series of canals and rivers, which resulted in beach closures in several Florida counties.
While the algal blooms have been observed in the lake, little is known about the types of algae present during the blooms. It is important to understand the composition of the algal community, as some cyanobacteria can produce a variety of cyanotoxins, including neurotoxins and hepatotoxins such as anatoxins, cylindrospermopsins, and saxitoxins, in addition to microcystins and other potentially harmful metabolites.
In this study, scientists collected samples prior to, during, and after the extensive 2016 cyanoHAB event in Lake Okeechobee. The study report provides digital photographic documentation and taxonomic assessment of the cyanobacteria present in study samples. The majority of the images were of live organisms, allowing capture of their natural pigmentation.
Scientists identified 28 different types of algae in Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee River and the St. Lucie Canal. In addition to the dominant organism, Microcystis aeruginosa, several other cyanobacteria known to produce toxins were present at lower numbers.
This study is part of a larger effort of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Environmental Health Mission Area to provide information that will help land managers to understand how to effectively minimize potential risks to the health of humans and other organisms exposed to cyanotoxins and other biogenic toxins through recreational, drinking water, and other exposure routes.
This study was funded by the USGS Priority Ecosystem Study Program and the USGS Environmental Health Program (Contaminant Biology and Toxic Substances Hydrology Program).
- Science
See below for related research.
Toxins and Harmful Algal Blooms Science Team
The team develops advanced methods to study factors driving algal toxin production, how and where wildlife or humans are exposed to toxins, and ecotoxicology. That information is used to develop decision tools to understand if toxin exposure leads to adverse health effects in order to protect human and wildlife health.Satellite Data Used to Estimate and Rank Cyanobacterial Bloom Magnitude in Florida and Ohio Lakes—Developing Tools to Protect Human and Wildlife Health from Cyanotoxin Exposure
Cyanobacterial bloom magnitude during 2003–11 was quantified and ranked in Florida and Ohio lakes with a newly developed modelling tool that allows for the use of multiple satellite data sources and user-defined thresholds. This tool was designed to identify the magnitude of algal blooms, but one metric alone cannot adequately represent the severity of a bloom of interest in terms of toxicity. The...Mixtures of Algal Toxins Present Prior to and After Formation of Visible Algal Blooms—Science to Inform the Timing of Algal Toxin Exposure
Cyanobacteria with toxin-producing potential, genes indicating an ability for toxin synthesis, or cyanotoxins were present before and after formation of a visible algal bloom in Kabetogama Lake, a popular recreation area in Voyageurs National Park that lies along the border of Minnesota and Canada. The temporal patterns observed in this study indicate that sampling only when there is a visible...Understanding Drivers of Cyanotoxin Production in the Lake Okeechobee Waterway
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other researchers combined field and laboratory approaches in two studies to understand the factors that drive cyanobacterial bloom development and associated cyanotoxin production in Lake Okeechobee, the St. Lucie River and Estuary, and the Indian River Lagoon in response to the large-scale Lake Okeechobee cyanobacteria bloom in 2016.Understanding Associations between Mussel Productivity and Cyanotoxins in Lake Erie
Study findings indicate that cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins were not associated with mussel mortality at the concentrations present in Lake Erie during a recent study (2013-15), but mussel growth was lower at sites with greater microcystin concentrations.New Method Developed to Quantify Spatial Extent of Cyanobacterial Blooms
This study provides a method for quantifying changes in the spatial extent of cyanobacterial blooms at local and regional scales using remotely sensed data to determine if bloom occurrence and size are increasing or decreasing for inland water resources.Satellite Imagery Used to Measure Algal Bloom Frequency—Steps Toward Understanding Exposure Risk
Study explores the utility and limitations of currently available remotely sensed satellite data for identifying the frequency of algal blooms in the Nation's lakes and reservoirs. This information provides a first step toward the goal of understanding exposure risk to protect the health of humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife.Evaluating Linkages Between Algal Toxins and Human Health
The amino acid β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is produced by cyanobacteria and has been suggested by human health researchers as a causal factor for degenerative neurological diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinsonism, and dementia. An objective review concluded that this hypothesis is not supported by existing data. - Publications