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Using High Frequency Monitoring of Environmental Factors to Predict Cyanotoxin Concentrations in a Multi-use, Inland Reservoir

Varner, Mia
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4231-2454
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1525171037880198

Abstract Details

2018, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Environmental Engineering.
Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are photosynthetic bacteria found naturally in marine, freshwater, and estuarine ecosystems. An increase in nutrient input and changes in the climate have contributed to the proliferation of cyanobacteria, forming harmful algal blooms, or HABs. In addition to the ecosystem effects, loss of recreational lake use, and economic impact, a serious issue associated with these blooms is the production and release of cyanotoxins. While some factors that influence the proliferation of HABs have been identified, how these factors affect blooms and the resulting production of toxins are still unknown. In order to investigate the environmental factors and nutrient concentrations that influenced the changes of total Microcystin (MC) in an inland reservoir, high frequency environmental data and discrete water sampling were compared to toxin analysis for the 2015 and 2016 sampling season at William H. Harsha Lake in Clermont County, Ohio. For toxin determination, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used. In-vitro spectrophotometric analysis was used alongside in-vivo relative fluorescence for pigment analysis. Nutrients were determined by Lachat Quikchem. Weather and water quality observations were recorded by a weather station and YSI sonde. Methods for toxin determination and pigment analysis were compared. Correlations between environmental parameters and MC concentrations were also investigated. Data suggested that multiple methods of chlorophyll-a analysis do not provide comparable results. In-vivo readings did not show a significant correlation with toxins, while in-vitro analysis did. The collection effort and processing time necessary for in-vitro analysis does not provide the immediate knowledge that is necessary for decision making and management actions. The use of real-time pigments such as phycocyanin provides a real-time alternative for Harsha Lake. Results also showed that MC concentrations were significantly correlated to parameters such as in-vivo phycocyanin (Lr=0.455, p=0.0003), in-vitro chlorophyll-a (Lr=0.481, p<0.01), pH (Lr=0.312, p=0.029), and temperature (Lr=0.136, p=0.034). These correlations suggest that multiple environmental factors influence the concentration of MC on Harsha Lake. While these relationships are evident, the combination of these factors should be further investigated in order to better understand the interactions occurring and use the known relationships for predictive monitoring that will aid in drinking water treatment and recreational advisories.
Dionysios Dionysiou, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
H. Joel Allen, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Soryong Chae, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
133 p.
Environmental Science
cyanobacteria; cyanotoxin; harmful algal blooms; microcystin; HAB; monitoring

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Varner, M. (2018). Using High Frequency Monitoring of Environmental Factors to Predict Cyanotoxin Concentrations in a Multi-use, Inland Reservoir [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1525171037880198

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Varner, Mia. Using High Frequency Monitoring of Environmental Factors to Predict Cyanotoxin Concentrations in a Multi-use, Inland Reservoir. 2018. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1525171037880198.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Varner, Mia. "Using High Frequency Monitoring of Environmental Factors to Predict Cyanotoxin Concentrations in a Multi-use, Inland Reservoir." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1525171037880198

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1525171037880198
173
© 2018, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Using High Frequency Monitoring of Environmental Factors to Predict Cyanotoxin Concentrations in a Multi-use, Inland Reservoir by Mia Varner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.