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Relationships between algae blooms and water temperature Team Sweetness (by Andrea) Research Question To what extent has algae and plankton populations changed as a result of warmer water? Diatoms • Prolific producers • Most important food source for aquatic animals • Pseudo-nitzscia seriata – Widespread – Potential producers of toxin domoic acid – Shellfish accumulate the toxin, then humans can get ASP(amnesiac shellfish poisioning) Dinoflagellates • Have 2 flagella • Able to move – Animal-like • Photosynthetic – Plant-like • Dinophysis – Blooms can lead to toxic red tides – Acculumate toxin in shellfish, which causes DSP (diarrhetic shellfish poisioning) Cyanobacteria • Blue green algae • Blooms in fresh water and low salinity • Toxic when ingested by pets and livestock • Most recent bloom: – June 2010 Mahogany Tide • Reddish brown color • Produced by high density of dinoflagellates • Severely reduces amount of oxygen in water (DO) • Most recent bloom: – May 2009 • Prorocentrum – Blooms in mid salinity – Delivered into mid and upper bay from HIGH salinity areas – Potentially toxic – Causes fish kills, invertebrate kills – Leads to loss of habitat due to extremely low DO Brown Tide • Coffee color • No known human effects • Serious impacts on shellfish, fishes, and bay grasses • Caused by – Low rainfall – Elevated salinities – Elevated nutrients • Not well understood Red Tide Of more than 700 species found in the CB, less than 2% have the ability to produce toxins. • Better described as harmful algae blooms (HAB) • Blocks sunlight to plants • Consumes oxygen • Produces surface scum and odors • Interferes with filter feeders Causes and Predictability of HABs Mostly correlated to : – Warmer temperature – Greater than 15C but optimal is 20-25C – Moderate to higher salinity – Approximately 15ppt Causes of HABs: • Nutrient enrichment • Warm water • Overfish of algae eating fish • Pollution from use of excess fertilizers and nutrients History of HABs • HABs are a natural phenomenon • Past 3 decades, HABs seem to be getting: – More frequent – More intense – More widespread Effects of Climate Change on HABs • Greenhouse effect will cause warmer water and sea level rise • Increases/Changes range of distribution of organisms – pushing north cold water species into headwaters and warm water species into the CB from the ocean Warmer air and water temperatures will • Alter the composition of species that live in the CB • Contribute to worsening dead zones and HABs • Enhance marine diseases • Encourage the expansion of harmful invasive species Effects of Climate Change on HABs • More precipitation will cause more nutrients and sediments to flow into the bay • More extreme weather events will: • Lead to more polluted runoff • Hurt water quality • Make outdoor experiences increasingly unacceptable to people Players Players Fisherman Players Beliefs •Concern about fish population •How will it effect my livelihood? Recreational •Want the Bay to look nice Users •Do not feel as though the water will be safe for swimming and sports if water becomes contaminated Doctors, •In favor of preventative measures Nurses to help maintain healthy living conditions The Value •Economic •Aesthetic •Recreational •Health •Safety Players Players Players Beliefs The Value Gov’t officials •Is this something that we can include in our budget? •Does this put the administration in a positive light if we support this issue? •What are the legal ramifications of action versus inaction? •Economic •Political •Legal Scientists •Take all steps necessary to preserve the natural conditions of the environment •Environmental Land owners •A beautiful lawn is important to my family •Crop production is how I support my family •Aesthetic •Economic Survey Results • We sampled the participants in the survey and received 12 results • Rate your familiarity with the following terms: Never heard of it Heard of it, but not sure what it is Basic Understanding, need more information Highly Familiar Algae Bloom 1 0 6 5 Phytoplankton 0 3 3 6 Zooplankton 1 3 2 6 Eutrophication 3 3 1 5 Dead zone 0 2 4 6 • Plankton are microscopic organisms that live in the bay. Because of their small size, they are _______ important than larger organisms in the bay. 0 More 5 Equally 7 Less Data Sheet • Sampling Site: Horn Point Pier • Date of Sample: 6/29/2010 • Time of Sample: 2:00 pm • Water Temperature (°C): 28 • Air Temperature (°C): 33 • Salinity: 11 ppt • pH: 7.7 • Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l): 5.6 • • • • Weather: Partly Cloudy Wind Direction: Variable Wind Speed (mph): 0-5 Barometric pressure (mmHg): 29.90 • Tides: Low • Secchi Disk: 96 cm Our Findings Organisms Count Ceratium lineatum 1 Dinophysis spp. 1 Dinophysis horvegica 1 Procentrum lima 3 Chatetoceros 1 Pseudonitzcia seriata 2 Nariculas spp. 3 Conclusions • Optimal temperature for HAB is 20-25C, our water was 28C, perhaps the water is too hot for dangerous plankton • The amount of construction may be adding chemicals to the water around the dock that inhibits growth of plankton • Temperature and plankton collection was done at the surface, finds may be different lower in the water column. Recommendations Players Fisherman Recommendation •Keep your eyes open for algae blooms, contact DNR at the Fish Health Hotline (877) 224-7229 Recreational Users •Limit all types of pollution in the bay, nutrient and nonnutrient. •Fish Health Hotline (877) 224-7229 Doctors, Nurses •Keep informing patients and their families of the risks of swimming in open water and what algae can do to people Recommendations Players Recommendation Gov’t officials •Assemble working groups to maintain communication between scientists and policy makers •Hold town hall meetings to discuss direct impacts of HAB •Study policies of other states and jurisdictions. Scientists • Continue studying HAB to find trends in blooms for forecasting blooms. •Attempt to find ways to control blooms once they begin Land owners •Minimize use of nutrient fertilizer •Take steps to mitigate nutrient runoff; don’t use fertilizer near storm drains or bodies of water, make sure you have a buffer area between use area and water. Next Steps • Collect more samples of plankton at different environments – Time of day – Location – Depth of water – Season of the year • Check for chemicals in the water near the construction site vs. other area of the Choptank Bibliography • http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.ne t/hab/HAB_maps.cfm • http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.ne t/eyesonthebay/index.cfm • http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/ hab/index.html • http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epid emiology/DZEE/Waterborne/HA BS/ • http://www.scitopics.com/Impac ts_of_Climate_Change_on_Har mful_Algal_Blooms.html • http://www.oceanandair.coas.or egonstate.edu/index.cfm?fusea ction=content.display&pageID= 174 • http://www.nwf.org/GlobalWarming/Effects-on-Wildlifeand-Habitat/Estuaries-andCoastalWetlands/ChesapeakeBay.aspx • http://smithsonianscience.org/2 009/11/climate-change-maydrastically-alter-chesapeakebay-scientists-say/ • http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/res ources/oceanographybook/harmfulagalblooms.htm • http://people.westminstercolleg e.edu/faculty/tharrison/emigrati on/diatoms.htm