Field Identification of Algae

Transcription

1 Field Identification of Algae H. Dail Laughinghouse IV, Ph.D. Asst. Professor of Applied Phycology Ft Lauderdale Research & Education Center University of Florida / IFAS hlaughinghouse@ufl.edu

2 Outline Brief introduction on algae What is a bloom and what can trigger them Common bloom-forming and other nuisance algae

3 Attitude Pond scum Frog spittle Seaweed Green slime Pea soup

4 What are Algae?

5 What are Algae? Group of photosynthetic organisms Cyanobacteria ~3.8 billion years old Eukaryotic algae ~2 billion years old Many shapes and sizes Some capable to regulate position in the water column Some fix nitrogen Occur in many habitats

6 Why are they important? Primary producers of organic matter base of the food chain Provide oxygen for other aquatic life Food, cancer treatment, HIV treatment, medicine, etc. Biofertilizers Produce many different bioactive compounds (toxins)

7 What causes blooms and what are blooms?

8 Nutrient loading, eutrophication and blooms

9 Sources of nutrients Fertilizer Pet waste Wildlife Livestock/agriculture Municipal wastewater Industrial effluent Atmospheric deposition Septic tanks

10 What is a bloom? Toledo bans drinking water > 1 x 10 3 cells/ml Huge blooms in Florida Dense growth of microscopic algae Capable of producing toxins Able to harbor pathogenic bacteria on their mucilage Contain taste and odor compounds Florida-s-algae-bloom-Satellite-photos-reveal-clues

11 Warm weather, little mixing 5m * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4 * 000 * * * cells * * * ml * -1 * * * * * * mixing * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Vertical migration * **** **** **** **** **** **** * * cells ml -1 Stable condition Few centimeters Gas vacuole Dense blooms: increase ph of H 2 O to ±9 Release of phosphorus (P) from sediments Cell migration allows cyanobacteria to absorb this P also Photosynthesis increases ph increasing P release from sediment Allowing for more plant growth

12 Location of algal accumulation in waters

13 Are blooms a new phenomenon?

14 Toxic Bloom Timeline 1188: Observed (bright green = Microcystis, scarlet = Planktothrix rubescens) 1833: Livestock deaths 1870's: Recognized as cyanobacteria 1980 s: Toxins start being studied

15 Toxic bloom poisonings dogs cattle pigs water buffalo sheep cats poultry / birds humans deer muskrats frogs salamanders skunk mink squirrels Bats rhinoceros giraffe honeybees fish manatees dolphins crocodile turtles dinosaurs

16

17 Blooms In warm climates: intensity and duration of bloom events are high. Our future is blue-green In Florida, bloom-forming species have been found throughout the state Cyanotoxins detected in: surface waters post-treated drinking waters

18 Common bloom-forming and other nuisance algae

19 Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) Planktonic and benthic Blooms can be many colors Blue-green Brown Red Yellow Most species produce toxins Many different species Found all year Difficult to identify in the field

20 Microcystis & Radiocystis blooms Small clumps made by the microscopic colonies. Almost grainy-like Scum on the water s surface

21 Microcystis aeruginosa Light microscopy photo Surface of the water

22 Microcystis spp. Microcystis panniformis Microcystis protocystis Microcystis wesenbergii Microcystis aeruginosa

23 Radiocystis fernandoi

24 Planktothrix blooms Dark blue-green color No scums Bloom throughout the water column

25 Planktothrix Forms blooms in the water column due to light

26 Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii Considered an invasive species in Florida

27 Aphanizomenon blooms Forms characteristic flakes Grassy like

28 Dolichospermum ( Anabaena ) blooms

29 Dolichospermum & Sphaerospermopsis Dolichospermum crassum blooms Dolichospermum circinalis Sphaeropspermopsis torques-reginae Dolichospermum solitarium

30 Microseira (Lyngbya) wollei benthic bloom

31 Bloom pre-treatment Bloom post-treatment

32 Blooms are usually MIXED

33 Blooms are usually MIXED

34 Requires Expert ID

35 Chlorophyta (green algae) Planktonic and benthic Nuisance filamentous algae that form floating mats Blooms of grassy-green color Do not have toxins Can be detrimental by depleting oxygen

36 Blooms are usually MIXED

37 Spirogyra

38 Pithophora

39 Cladophora glomerata

40 Hydrodicyton (water net)

41 Chara (stoneworts)

42 Euglenophytes Planktonic Characteristic red blooms Can be confused with Archaea or bacterial blooms Some species have toxins lethal to fish

43 Euglena sanguinea

44 Planktonic and benthic over 250K species Diatoms Freshwater do not have toxins Can be detrimental consume O 2 Glass House

45 Diatoms Melosira varians Navicula Gomphonema Didymosphenia geminata Cymbella

46 Conclusions Color Algae Blue Green Cyanobacteria Red Euglenophytes Grass/Lime Green Green Algae Green Hair Mats Green Algae Dark Hair Mats Cyanobacteria Brown Hairy surfaces Diatoms Blooms: many species, requires expert ID targeted treatment methods

47 Laughinghouse Phycology Lab Thank you for your attention Contact information