Bluegreen Algae the basics Washingtons monitoring program Jenifer
Blue-green Algae -the basics & -Washington’s monitoring program Jenifer Parsons Lizbeth Seebacher, Ph. D. Joan Hardy, Ph. D
What are Blue-Green Algae? Bacteria, called Cyanobacteria Photosynthesize like plants and green algae Found in fresh and marine water Many different species Lake Steilacoom
Aphanizomenon sp. Microcystis sp. Botryococcus sp. Anabaena sp.
What causes a ‘bloom’ Rapid reproduction = ‘bloom’ or HAB Many things can contribute Weather Temperature Wind Rain Nutrients Light Flow Fiorito Lake
Why They Thrive Nitrogen fixation – use atmospheric nitrogen Colony formation inhibits predation Carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen storage mechanisms Gas vesicles for vertical migration Akinete formation (“spores”) Toxin production
About those Toxins Some species sometimes produce toxins (poisons) When toxic can cause illness or death of people, pets, livestock and wildlife that drink the water. Can also cause rashes on people.
Cyanobacteria & Associated Toxins Strains produce different toxins at different amounts Toxins can have multiple variants Over 80 known microcystin variants Toxin Group Primary Target organ in mammals Cyanobacterial genera Microcystins Liver Microcystis, Anabaena, Planktothrix (Oscillatoria), Nostoc, Hapalosiphon, Anabaenopsis Nodularian Liver Nodularia Anatoxin-a Nerve Synapse Anabaena, Planktothrix (Oscillatoria), Aphanizomenon Aplysiatoxins Skin Lyngbya, Schizothrix, Planktothrix (Oscillatoria) Cylindrospermopsins Liver Cylindrospermopsis, Aphanizomenon Lyngbyatoxin-a Skin, G. I. Tract Lyngbya Saxitoxins Nerve Axons Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Lyngbya, Cylindrospermopsis Lipopolysaccharide Potential irritant; affects any exposed tissue ALL
DOH established statewide provisional recreational guidance values for Washington Toxins Guidance level Microcystin 6 µg / L Anatoxin-a 1 µg / L Cylindrospermopsin 4. 5 µg / L Saxitoxin 75 µg / L Drinking water – • No federal standards • WHO – 1 µg/l microcystin and cell count levels that trigger toxin analysis Lake Mac. Donald photo credit M. Murphy
Toxin levels vary Within a lake and over time, even hourly
Some Signs of Poisoning Neurotoxins (nerve) Fast acting, signs appear within 15 -20 min People – numbness of lips, tingling in fingers and toes, dizziness Animals – weakness, staggering, difficulty breathing, convulsions, death Hepatotoxins (liver) Slower, hours or days People – abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting Animals - death
What Washington is Doing Small program funded by boat registration fees Established in 2005, administered by Ecology ID and toxicity testing program Small grant program (50 k max) Partnership with DOH Algae list-serve, website Lone Lake Silver Lake
ID and Toxicity Testing Reactionary Partner with King County lab Sample analysis Use ELISA and HPLC-FD Database Lake Ketchum
https: //www. nwtoxicalgae. org/
https: //fortress. wa. gov/ecy/coastalatlas/tools/Lake. Detail. aspx
High Levels: Microcystin 26, 400 µg/l Anatoxin-a 7, 951 µg/l
Three tiered lake management protocol Anabaena sp. Microcystis
Current Freshwater Algae Projects ♦ Hicklin Lake Floating Islands Installation and Water Quality Investigation ♦ Lake Ketchum Algae Control Implementation ♦ Anatoxin-a Threat in Puget Sound Lakes – unique genetic strain? ♦ Heart Lake Management Plan (FY 2016) ♦ Fish Lake Management Plan (FY 2016) ♦ Upper Joe’s Creek Watershed Nutrient Reduction (FY 2016)
Contacts Dept of Ecology: Lizbeth Seebacher - Lizbeth. Seebacher@ecy. wa. gov Dept of Health: Joan Hardy – joan. hardy@doh. wa. gov
- Slides: 19