TOXIC ALGAE BLOOM

Climate Change is a major contributor to the growth of algal blooms

The increasing amount of storms create an addition of phosphorus in the Algae.

Phosphorus support the growth of algae and also encourages a cyanobacteria to grow a certain type of algae which makes the tap water toxic.

The densest part of the algal bloom which is also considered the most harmful is situated right over the city's main water treatment plant

The drastic growth of the algal blooms is causing various issues including the contamination of drinking water for the people of Toledo

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Toledo's water was at 3ppb in 2014 while the World organizational standard for toxins in drinking water is 1ppb

Levels of phosphorus must be reduced by 45% in order for the algal to stop growing

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Caused by excess potassium nitrogen and other byproducts of fertilizers that are being utilized from the farms situated around Lake Erie

Team Number:22-10
Noor Qureshi
Nikita D'souza
Oneal Zecharia
Claire Liu

References

  1. Lisa E. Allinger, September 2013
  2. Thomas B. Bridgeman, March 2013
  3. Anna M. Michalak, April 2013
  4. Donald Anderson, August 2002

Microcystic is a type of cyanobacterium which is what the harmful algal blooms are dominated by. Data made by method quantifying microcystis using archived plankton tows will aid further investigation into underlying casual factors of blooms (reference 2)

This study indicates that the floatation method can be used to rapidly assess past and present microcystis to rapidly assess past and present microcystis levels in Lake Erier and intensity of the annual microcystis bloom over a ten year period of time.(Reference 2)

The increase in the number of storms led to a period of weak lake circulation, causing extended residence times that promoted blooming (Reference 3).

The increase in agricultural practices correlates with increasing phosphorus in fertilizer being loaded to the basin of the lake. Furthermore, the meteorological conditions in spring 2011 accentuated algae bloom (Reference 3).

Historical Reevaluation of Lake Erie: The lakes water has constantly changed since European settlement, this is due to the effects of invasive species, changing ecosystems and evolution. (Reference 1)

Going forward, Lake Erie will need to be monitored and compared to historical records so that changes can be established and reveal the extent of changes in algal blooms.

Nikita - As a lake swimmer, I personally connect with this because the lake by my house has had several algal blooms.

Noor: As someone who cares about climate change, these issues concern me deeply.

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Claire: As someone who goes to the cottage every summer, I personally connect with this because I care about the health of the lake ecosystems.

Oneal: I care about the environment; therefore, I wish it to be stable. Furthermore, these anomalies trouble me.

Eutrophication:one of the causes to algal blooms. increased in nutrient loads are linked to large biomass blooms, which leads to anoxia, toxic or harmful impacts on fisheries resources, ecosystem, and human health (Reference 4)

there have been a reduction of phyloplankton biomass blooms when nutrient controls were in place. This shifted the composition of species have been attributed to changes in nutrient supply ratios, N:P or N:Si (Reference 4).