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ISSUE: Harmful Algal Blooms HEMA, CHRISTINE, BETTINA, JOANNE. NUTRIENT RUNOFF. DISSOLVED OXYGEN. SALINITY. HEALTH HAZARD. ALGAL BLOOM. WATER TEMPERATURE. TURBIDITY. CURRENTS. Research Question. WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF WATER QUALITY
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ISSUE: Harmful Algal Blooms HEMA, CHRISTINE, BETTINA, JOANNE
NUTRIENT RUNOFF DISSOLVED OXYGEN SALINITY HEALTH HAZARD ALGAL BLOOM WATER TEMPERATURE TURBIDITY CURRENTS
Research Question WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF WATER QUALITY ( SALINITY, DO, pH) ON THE DIVERSTIY OF PHYTOPLANKTON IN THE CHOPTANK RIVER – HORN POINT?
Harmful Algal Blooms Harmful algal blooms may cause harm through the production of toxins or by their accumulated biomass. Algal blooms are natural occurrences.
Appearance 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.
Impact Impacts 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.
Causes: Nutrient runoff is the major cause of all algal blooms, and causes blooms in all types of algae, HABs as well as cyanobacteriadue 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.
Algeas blooms A Noctiluca bloom in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico.
Harmful algal blooms: Species which are harmless in small amounts, cause fish kills when large colonies decompose and deplete dissolved oxygen. 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. Species that are not toxic, but can irritate and damage gills of fish and tissues of other organisms with their microscopic spines.
Red Tide?? • These outbreaks are commonly called red tides, but scientists prefer the term "harmful algal blooms" (or HABs).
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.
Samples were taken to the lab, examined and plankton identified and counted.
Questionnaire • Have you ever swam in a body of water? Y N • Can we get sick by swimming in a body of water? Y N • Have you been sick after swimming in a body of water? Y N • What do you think can make you sick when you swim in a body of water? • Do you know what in algae are? Y N • 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?
What do you think can make you sick when you swim in a body of water? • Bacteria, septic • Algae, microorganisms • Poop, • Poop • E.coli, Streptococci • Septic, chemical runoff • Excess chemicals • Stagnant water, trash • Sewage • Microorganisms
What are some things that can cause algal bloom? • NA • Temperature, salinity • NA • Not sure • Sexual reproduction- “Mommy Daddy Bloom” • Temperature • Nutrients, warm water • Fertilizer • Runoff • Nutrients, runoff • Pollutants
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.
Cocinodiscus Distribution: Every ocean and body of water. One of the most abundant phylum of algae. Swims freely as well as attaching to organisms.
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 ocean both heterotrophic (eat other organisms) and autotrophic (photosynthetic) Protoperidinium
Kareniabrevis Distribution: NE Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean waters. Respiratory irritations in humans and marine mammals
Prorocentrum Lima Distribution: European waters and NE Atlantic Secretes fast acting toxin and diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning.
Data analysis Simpson'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 species The value of D ranges between 0 and 1. With this index, 1 represents infinite diversity and 0, no diversity.
Simpson Index • Putting the figures into the formula for Simpson's Index: 12/9(8) Simpson's Index of Diversity = 0.17