BLUE GREEN ALGAE IN LAKE ERIE

BY: TEAM NEPTUNIUM- NEIL PAREKH, GORDON WEISS, BROOKE BLODGETT

AGENDA

• INTRODUCE BLUE GREEN ALGAE• THE PROBLEM AT HAND• WHAT IT AFFECTS• HOW THE PROBLEM IS BEING SOLVED• CONCLUSION

WHAT IS BLUE-GREEN ALGAE?

• FIRST SIGHTING IN MAUMEE BAY• BLUE GREEN PAINT RESEMBLANCE• BLUE GREEN ALGAE LIES ON THE TOP OF LAKE ERIE AND POSES A PROBLEM

FOR THE ECOSYSTEM AROUND THEM• FEEDS OFF THE PHOSPHORUS RUN-OFF FROM THE FARMERS CROP

AGRICULTURAL TRENDS/ METROLOGICAL TRENDS

• WEATHER AFFECTING GROWTH SEASONS OF ALGAE• GROWTH SEASONS FOR PLANTS AND PEAK CONDITIONS• MODEL OF LAKE ERIE IN FUTURE

PROBLEMS INVOLVING ALGAE

• PHOSPHORUS RUN-OFF INCREASE IN 2006• CREATES DEAD ZONES• ECOSYSTEMS SURROUNDING LAKE ERIE

INCREASE IN PHOSPHORUS LEVELS

• FIRST MAJOR INSTANCE PHOSPHORUS LEVELS INCREASED IN 2006 • CAUSED BY THE FARMING FERTILIZERS RUNNING OFF INTO THE LAKE• OVERSATURATING SOIL WITH FERTILIZERS

DEAD ZONES

• OXYGENS LEVELS ARE SMALL BECAUSE OF THE ALGAE ON THE SURFACE• WILDLIFE UNDER AND ABOVE THE SURFACE SEVERELY HURT OR DYING• DEAD ALGAL MATTS SINKING TO BOTTOM OF LAKE AND EXPANDS DEAD

ZONE

ECOSYSTEMS SURROUND LAKE ERIE

• TOLEDO TAP WATER TURN OFF• TARGETING LIVER AND THROAT AREA IN HUMANS• WATER TOXIC ON SURFACE LEVEL• REQUIRING EXTENSIVE FUNDS FOR NEW WATER SOURCES

FIXING THE PROBLEM

• OHIO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CREATED GROUP CALLED LAKE ERIE PHOSPHOROUS TASK

• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PASSED $1.75 MILLION GRANT TO TRAIN FARMERS IN OHIO, MICHIGAN, AND ONTARIO CANADA

• PASSING LAWS TO DECREASE LEVELS IN FUTURE• SATELLITES USED TO SEE BLUE GREEN ALGAE POPULATIONS

CONCLUSION

• WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?LAKE ERIE IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF WATERBLUE GREEN ALGAE IS INVASIVE SPECIESDESTROYING ECOSYSTEMSAFFECTING HUMAN LIFE

ANY QUESTIONS?

REFERENCES

• WEATHERINGTON-RICE, JULIA, COMP. "DECLINING WATER QUALITY IN THE WESTERN LAKE ERIE BASIN: INCREASING INVASION OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE (CYANOBACTERIA), AND INCREASING LEVELS OF SOLUBLE REACTIVE PHOSPHOROUS." THE OHIO JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 108.1 (2008): A5-A8. PRINT.

• WELLS, CHRISTOPHER E. ANALYSIS OF SEALIFTS OCEAN COLOR ALGORITHMS FOR LAKE ERIE. THESIS. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, 2005. N.P.: N.P., N.D. PRINT.

• LANGE, WILLY. "BACTERIA-ASSAILABLE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, PHOSPHATE, AND ENHANCED GROWTH OF BACTERIA-ASSOCIATED BLUE-GREEN ALGAE." JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 9.4 (1973): 507-09. WEB. 29 SEPT. 2015.

• STAUTH, DAVID. "NEWS & RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS." TOXIC BLUE-GREEN ALGAE POSE INCREASING THREAT TO NATION'S DRINKING, RECREATIONAL WATER. OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, 12 AUG. 2015. WEB. 29 SEPT. 2015.

• WEATHERINGTON-RICE, JULIE. "DECLINING WATER QUALITY IN THE WESTERN LAKE ERIE BASIN: INCREASING INVASION OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE (CYANOBACTERIA), AND INCREASING LEVELS OF SOLUBLE REACTIVE PHOSPHORUS." THE OHIO JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 108.1 (2008): A-5--7. EBSCO HOST. OHIO FRACTURE FLOW WORKING GROUP, 1 MAR. 2008. WEB. 19 SEPT. 2015.