issue: harmful algal blooms hema, christine, bettina, joanne

ISSUE: Harmful Algal Blooms

HEMA, CHRISTINE, BETTINA, JOANNE

ALGAL BLOOM

SALINITY

HEALTH HAZARD

NUTRIENT RUNOFF

DISSOLVED OXYGEN

WATER TEMPERATURE

CURRENTS TURBIDITY

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF WATER QUALITY ( SALINITY, DO, pH) ON THE DIVERSTIY OF PHYTOPLANKTON IN THE CHOPTANK RIVER – HORN POINT?

Research Question

Harmful Algal BloomsHarmful algal blooms may

cause harm through the production of toxins or by

their accumulated biomass. Algal blooms are natural

occurrences.

A Noctiluca bloom in Hong Kong

To the human eye, blooms can appear greenish, brown, and even reddish- orange depending upon the algal species, the aquatic ecosystem, and the concentration of the organisms.

Appearance

Rhizosolenia bloom in the Hood Canal, Washington.

ImpactImpacts include human illness and mortality following consumption of or indirect exposure to HAB toxins, substantial economic losses to coastal communities and commercial fisheries, and HAB-associated fish, bird and mammal mortalities.

Some algal blooms are non-toxic but aesthetically unpleasant or noxious.

Nutrient runoff is the major cause of all algal blooms, and causes blooms in all types of algae, HABs as well as cyanobacteria due to the increase of nutrients.

Causes:

Warmer water temperatures increase the incidence of HABs because HABs can survive in warmer water, while the more important helpful type of phytoplankton (cyanobacteria – blue green algae) are compromised.

Causes:

Salinity is a limiting factor that affects the growth of all algae species, different species are adapted to different ranges of salinity. For example after a strom surge or storm, the increase of fresh water will reduce the salinity of the bay, impacted the growth of endemic species.

Causes:

Algeas bloomsA Noctiluca bloom in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico.

Harmful algal blooms: 1) Species which are harmless in small

amounts, cause fish kills when large colonies decompose and deplete dissolved oxygen.

2) Species which produce toxins that can cause illness or death in organisms which eat them; also cause illness or death further up the food chain through bioaccumulation.

3) Species that are not toxic, but can irritate and damage gills of fish and tissues of other organisms with their microscopic spines.

Noctiluca bloom in China.

A bloom of Nodularia spummigena, a blue green algae.

These outbreaks are commonly called red tides, but scientists prefer the term "harmful algal blooms"

(or HABs).

Red Tide??

Red Tide

Symptoms range from the mild: diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain memory loss, disorientation, respiratory irritation skin irritation, muscle aches, headaches

To severe:reversal of temperature and dizziness.

Rarely: paralysis or death can occur.

Probable algal bloom in Australia as viewed from the ISS.

Players Beliefs ValuesLocal government •Want public

support•Want a well managed community•Want to make decisions for the community

PoliticalEconomic

Environmental regulation(MDE)

•Want to implement and regulate environmental legislations

Legal

Health department •Want to make sure people are healthy•Want to make sure public are aware of health hazards

Health & safetyEducational

Players Beliefs ValuesFishermen •Want to make profit

•Do not want to harm the environment

EconomicEnvironmental

Scientists • Want to collect information/research•Want to share the information with the public

EducationalScientificEcologicalEnvironmental

Public •Want to be safe•Want a safe environment for you’re their family•Want the tax payer money to be put to good work•Want beautiful water bodies

EgocentricAestheticHealth and safetyRecreation

Physical survey conducted at Horn Point pier on 6/29/10.

Samples were

collected at 3 different

sites on the pier.

Collected data on pH, salinity and DO with probes.

Weather conditions and water turbidity were also collected.

Plankton were sampled by standard plankton tow method.

Samples were taken to the lab, examined and plankton identified and counted.

Samples were .

1. Have you ever swam in a body of water? Y N2. Can we get sick by swimming in a body of water? Y N

3. Have you been sick after swimming in a body of water? Y N

4. What do you think can make you sick when you swim in a body of water?

5. Do you know what in algae are? Y N

6. Do you know what algae blooms are? Never heard of it Heard of it Know what it is Know more about it

Expert

7. What are some things that can cause algal bloom?

Questionnaire

Yes No13 0

Have you ever swam in a body of water?

Yes NO0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Yes No12 1

Can we get sick by swimming in a body of water?

Yes NO0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Yes No1 12

Have you been sick after swimming in a body of water?

Yes NO0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Yes No12 1

Do you know what algae are?

Yes NO0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Never heard of it

Heard of it Know what it is

Know more about it

Expert

2 3 6 2 0

Do you know what algae blooms are?

Never heard of it Heard of it Know what it is Know more about it Expert 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Bacteria, septic Algae, microorganisms Poop, Poop E.coli, Streptococci Septic, chemical runoff Excess chemicals Stagnant water, trash Sewage Microorganisms

What do you think can make you sick when you swim in a body of water?

NA Temperature, salinity NA Not sure Sexual reproduction- “Mommy Daddy Bloom” Temperature Nutrients, warm water Fertilizer Runoff Nutrients, runoff Pollutants

What are some things that can cause algal bloom?

PHYSICAL SURVEY DATA SHEET

SAMPLING SITE: Horn Point Pier, Choptank River

Date: 6/29/10 Secchi Disk (cm): 77.5 cmWater Temperature: 27.60 Weather: mostly cloudy

Air Temperature: 830 Wind Direction: NW

Salinity (ppt): 11 ppt Wind Speed: 5 mph

pH: 7.7 Barometric Pressure: 29.90

DO (ppm): 5.4 mg/L Tide: low

Pleurosigma - 3

Distribution: Every ocean and body of water.One of the most abundant phylum of algae. Swims freely as well as attaching to organisms.

CocinodiscusDistribution: Every ocean and body of water.One of the most abundant phylum of algae. Swims freely as well as attaching to organisms.

Protoperidinium General: known for producing dangerous toxins, particularly when in large numbers, called "red tides" because the cells are so abundant they make water change color. Also they can produce non-fatal or fatal amounts of toxins in predators (particularly shellfish) that may be eaten by humans.Open oceanboth heterotrophic (eat other organisms) and autotrophic (photosynthetic)

Karenia brevisDistribution: NE Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean waters. Respiratory irritations in humans and marine mammals

Prorocentrum LimaDistribution: European waters and NE AtlanticSecretes fast acting toxin and diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning.

Crab larvae

Data analysisSimpson's Diversity Index

Simpson's Diversity Index is a measure of diversity which takes into account the number of species present, as well as the relative abundance of each species. As species richness and evenness increase, so diversity increases.

n = the total number of organisms of a particular species N = the total number of organisms of all speciesThe value of D ranges between 0 and 1. With this index, 1

represents infinite diversity and 0, no diversity.

Simpson IndexSpecies Number (n) n(n-1)

Pleurosigma 4 12Thalassiosira 1 0Kareniabreis 1 0Protoperdinium 1 0Prorocentrum lima 1 0Cocinodiscus 1 0Total 9 12

N = 9 ∑n(n-1) =12

12/9(8)Simpson's Index of Diversity = 0.17

Putting the figures into the formula for Simpson's Index:

ConclusionWater quality Background Data Simpson’s Index

Temperature May to October: 22 to 35°C, November to April: 2 to 27°C

27

pH Optimal =7 and 8 Suitable=6.5 and 8.5 is Poor = Below 6.5 .

7.7

DO Optimal level = 9 mg/l. Acceptable7-8 mg/l Poor=3.5-6 mg/l is considered

5.4

Salinity Fresh water < 0.5pptBrackish water 0.5 – 30pptSaline water 30 – 50 pptBrine > 50 ppt

11ppt

0.17

Inference The low DO could be due to- Construction- Little mixing- Shallow water Low Simpson’s index could be due to- Low sample size

Recommendations Include nutrient study Conduct background research on the identified

harmful algae.

Action Plan Educate the public about algal blooms, their

causes, impacts and significance. Educate our students about algal blooms by

participation in programs such as NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network, GLOBE, Creekwatchers, Bay Grasses in Classes.

Bibliography OzCoasts: Coastal Indicators - Frequency of Algal

Blooms." Information about Australias coast, �including its estuaries and coastal waterways and climate change impact. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 June 2010. <http://www.ozcoasts.org.au/in

"What are Harmful Algal Blooms." Virginia Department of Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July 2010. <http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epi

DNR State Website. (n.d.). Department of Natural resources. Retrieved July 1, 2010, from www.dnr.state.md.us/mydnr/as

Bibliography - images Name. (n.d.). Harmful Algae : Red Tide.

Home : Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Retrieved July 1, 2010, from http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/

DNR State Website. (n.d.). Department of Natural resources. Retrieved July 1, 2010, from www.dnr.state.md.us/mydnr