Mitigating a global expansion of toxic cyanobacterial blooms: confounding effects and challenges posed by climate change

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans W. Paerl ◽  
Karl. E. Havens ◽  
Nathan. S Hall ◽  
Timothy G. Otten ◽  
Mengyuan Zhu ◽  
...  

Managing and mitigating the global expansion of toxic cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) is a major challenge facing researchers and water resource managers. Various approaches, including nutrient load reduction, artificial mixing and flushing, omnivorous fish removal, algaecide applications and sediment dredging, have been used to reduce bloom occurrences. However, managers now face the additional challenge of having to address the effects of climate change on watershed hydrological and nutrient load dynamics, water temperature, mixing regime and internal nutrient cycling. Rising temperatures and increasing frequencies and magnitudes of extreme weather events, including tropical cyclones, extratropical storms, floods and droughts, all promote CyanoHABs and affect the efficacy of ecosystem remediation measures. These climatic changes will likely require setting stricter nutrient (including both nitrogen and phosphorus) reduction targets for bloom control in affected waters. In addition, the efficacy of currently used methods to reduce CyanoHABs will need to be re-evaluated in light of the synergistic effects of climate change with nutrient enrichment.

Author(s):  
Guotao Peng ◽  
Zhengqiu Fan ◽  
Xiangrong Wang ◽  
Chen Chen

<p>The frequent outbreak of cyanobacterial blooms has become a worldwide phenomenon in freshwater ecosystems. Studies have elucidated the close relationship between harmful algal blooms and nutrient contents, including the loading of nitrogen and the ratios of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). In this study, the effect of inorganic (nitrate and ammonium) and organic (urea) nitrogen at varied N/P ratios on the <em>Microcystis</em> <em>aeruginosa</em> FACHB-905 accumulation and photosynthesis was investigated.  The optimal NO<sub>3</sub>/P in this study were 30~50 indicated by the cell abundance (4.1×10<sup>6</sup>/mL), pigment concentration (chlorophyll a 3.1 mg/L,  phycocyanin 8.3mg/L), and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (<em>rETR</em>, <em>E<sub>k</sub>, α, φPSII</em> and <em>F<sub>v</sub>/F<sub>m</sub> </em>values), while too high NO<sub>3</sub>-N (N/P=100:1) would cause an intracellular nitrate inhibition, leading to a decrease of photosynthetic activity. In addition, low concentration of NH<sub>4</sub>-N (N/P=4:1) would favor the <em>M. aeruginosa </em>growth and photosynthesis, and high NH<sub>4</sub>/P ratio (&gt;16) would rise the ammonium toxicity of algal cells and affect the N assimilation. In urea treatments, <em>M. aeruginosa </em>responded similarly to the NH<sub>4</sub>-N treatments both in growth curves and pigment contents, and the favorable N/P ratio was between 16~30, suggested by the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The results demonstrated that the various chemical forms of N and N/P ratios have a significant impact on <em>Microcystis</em> abundance and photosynthesis. More work is needed to figure out the mechanism of nitrogen utilization by <em>Microcystis</em> and  the photosynthetic response to nutrient stress at the molecular level.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 3668-3672
Author(s):  
M. Nazari Sharabian ◽  
S. Ahmad ◽  
M. Karakouzian

Water resources are vital not only for human beings but essentially all ecosystems. Human health is at risk if clean drinking water becomes contaminated. Water is also essential for agriculture, manufacturing, energy production and other diverse uses. Therefore, a changing climate and its potential effects put more pressure on water resources. Climate change may cause increased water demand as a result of rising temperatures and evaporation while decreasing water availability. On the other hand, extreme events as a result of climate change can increase surface runoff and flooding, deteriorating water quality as well. One effect is water eutrophication, which occurs when high concentrations of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are present in the water. Nutrients come from different sources including agriculture, wastewater, stormwater, and fossil fuel combustion. Algal blooms can cause many problems, such as deoxygenation and water toxicity, ultimately disrupting normal ecosystem functioning. In this paper, we investigate the potential impacts of climatic factors affecting water eutrophication, how these factors are projected to change in the future, and what their projected potential impacts will be.


Dead Zones ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 106-123
Author(s):  
David L. Kirchman

As this chapter explains, one approach to evaluate nutrient limitation is to compare nutrient concentrations with the Redfield ratio. Alfred Redfield had no formal background in oceanography, yet he made one of the most fundamental discoveries in the field. He found that the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus in marine microorganisms is the same as the ratio of the two elements in nutrients dissolved in the oceans. Because of work with the ratio, the current Hypoxia Action Plan for the Gulf of Mexico mentions phosphorus as well as nitrogen. In the Baltic Sea, it was argued that the focus should be solely on phosphorus to limit toxic cyanobacterial blooms, but other work demonstrates the importance of limiting nitrogen for minimizing eutrophication. Once considered to be a dead lake, Lake Erie improved after the construction of wastewater-treatment plants and the banning of phosphorus-rich detergents, as the chapter shows. But the lake continues to have problems with hypoxia and harmful algal blooms, because of continuing inputs of phosphate and organic nitrogen. The chapter ends by arguing that both nitrogen and phosphorus must be considered in efforts to solve the dead-zone problem.


Author(s):  
Maryna Tavrel ◽  

Introduction. Increasingly, due to excessive growth of nutrients and decomposition of plants and animals in the reservoir, low turbulence, increased temperature, and due to this decrease in the solubility of oxygen in water, leads to eutrophication and as a consequence – “blooming” of the reservoir. It is the signal of trouble in a hydrosphere that needs immediate permission. Problem Statement. For today processes and conformities to law of growing speed of distribution of eutrophication of reservoirs, is studied not enough and there is not the only setting, the structural parameters of that will be able to provide optimal terms that will assist breeding of industrial fish, both in summer and in a winter period of year, and thus it is the issue of the day of present time. Purpose. Exposure on the basis of analysis of existing for today methods and facilities of prevention of excessive increase of reservoirs by cyanobacterias, to execute the review of methods airing of reservoir, that answer the requirements of seasonal temperature condition, the capable normalized necessary concentration of oxygen, as in a summer period of year so in winter. Id est creation of such terms an eutrophication will not develop at that. Materials and methods. Methods of analysis of literature sources, laboratory studies of the effect of nutrient concentration in water on the development of algae, microscopic control of the number of cyanobacteria in experimental vessels, chemical analysis of the presence of dissolved oxygen in water were used. Water samples from the Pokrovsk pond were selected as research material. Results. Excessive growth of cyanobacteria is observed at a water temperature of 15 ° C. And when exposed to elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus, the growth rate increases several times, as evidenced by a number of laboratory experiments. The results of the experiment showed that even a small concentration of fertilizers in the pond can lead to rapid flowering of algae, to a critical decrease in oxygen concentration, which in turn will lead to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms. The general analysis of modern methods and methods of combating eutrophication allowed us to identify their main advantages and defects. Different methods of preventing and combating eutrophication have their advantages, but they mainly have a unidirectional effect, low efficiency, some use toxic reagents that are unacceptable in fisheries. Conclusions. A review of recent studies on the occurrence of eutrophication of water bodies and as a result – harmful algal blooms, investigated the main environmental factors that mediate the expansion of cyanobacterial blooms. At present, there is no single way or means to combat eutrophication processes that can completely clean the reservoir, but their use in the complex can be effective. Of particular interest is the deep aeration, which can be used both in the warm season and in winter. Eutrophication today is mainly a consequence of human activity, and which requires mainly a comprehensive solution. It includes both preventive and regulatory methods. Promising is the use of aeration, the result of which is achieved in the fight against “blooming” of the reservoir by cyanobacteria, including those that produce toxins, both in the warm season and cold, preventing the formation of ice crusts. Keywords: cyanobacteria, algae, eutrophication, aeration, oxygen saturation, conditioning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-411
Author(s):  
Ewa Kołaczkowska

Average global temperatures have been rising extremely rapidly over recent decades, with all the side-effects that may denote, including increased risks of both drought and flood, prolongation of the growing season, intensification of other extreme weather events, potentially enhanced erosion and sediment transport through river basins, and even invasions of pests and diseases. Against that factual background, this paper presents a review, and in essence a summary, of existing scientific literature as it pertains to the functioning of the riparian ecosystems present within agricultural landscapes, as well as the former’s potential role in mitigating climate change. Riparian ecosystems of course constitute areas of transition between the aquatic and terrestrial environments, and are in a position to serve as buffers, as they filter and neutralise nutrients and pesticides descending from areas at higher elevations, provide shade (that may limit the spread of light-demanding alien species), moderate stream temperatures, and work to sequester atmospheric CO2 in both plant biomass and soil. They also support water retention in river valleys, and protect banks against erosion. Zoned buffer strips consisting of one strip of trees and one of grassy or herbaceous vegetation are shown to be among the most-effective measures deployable in the mitigation of diffuse pollution. A search through 2 bibliographical databases (the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus) was undertaken in respect of the terms: ” riparian buffer” OR” riparian corridor” OR” riparian zone” OR” riparian strip” AND” agricultural” AND” climate change”. Such a procedure allowed for the identification of 76 separate scientific papers, albeit with 12 of these warranting exclusion from further analyses on account of their actual irrelevance. The largest body of literature on this topic is seen to concentrate on highly-developed countries of North America and Europe, notably the USA, Canada and France. Deeper analysis of the papers found points to a growing interest in mathematical modelling of the effects of agricultural best-mangement practices (BMPs), in regard to future streamflow, supply of water, the transport of sediment through a basin, rates of export of nitrogen and phosphorus, etc. – with both current climatic conditions and various future scenarios for climate being taken account of. The results of all this modelling tend to show how riparian buffers may serve in a basin-based strategy for climate adaptation, by which change may actually be mitigated more effectively than it can through other BMPs, even as no full offsetting of impacts is likely to prove achievable. Many of the authors in publications selected also choose to underline the multifunctional nature of riparian ecosystems, and the specific nature of the services they have to offer. 69% of the publications analysed address implications for practice, e.g. by offering guidelines as regards conservation strategies, and/or recommendations for managers of basins or other key decision-makers when it comes to restoring or improving both the ecological health of rivers, and levels of human well-being in general.


Author(s):  
Sergio A. Molina Murillo

Most scenarios indicate that people in developing countries are more vulnerable and less capable of adapting to climate change. Since our public understanding of risk toward climate change in developing countries is limited, this article presents results from Costa Rica and Nicaragua, two countries which are socio-economically distinct, but which are expected to suffer similar extreme weather events. From October of 2008 until May 2010, a total of 1,047 respondents were surveyed in cities of both countries. The main results indicate that climate change is a widely known concept but other notions such as “carbon footprint” are foreign to most respondents. Despite the general concern with its negative consequences, respondents’ foremost concern is linked to their socioeconomic situation, and how it will be impacted by climate change in such aspects as poverty and social security. The results presented here contribute to advance national and international policies aiming to support mitigation or adaptation strategies in developing countries.


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