Mapping the distribution, biomass and tissue nutrient levels of a marine benthic cyanobacteria bloom (Lyngbya majuscula)

Ahern, Kathleen S.; Ahern, Colin R; Savige, Greg M.; Udy, James

doi:10.1071/mf07065

Cited by 20 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Our results show that the availability of P in post-flood benthic sediments is likely to limit the growth of L. majuscula in Deception Bay, a notion supported by other studies such as Elmetri and Bell (2004) and Ahern et al (2007a). Note that given L. majuscula is diazotrophic, N demands can be met by atmospheric sources, and therefore N supply is not a limiting factor for its growth.…”

Section: Contribution Of Benthic Phosphorus and Iron Fluxes To L Majsupporting

confidence: 69%

Biogeochemical processes in permeable estuarine sediments following benthic community change: implications for system dynamics & Lyngbya majuscula blooms in Deception Bay, Queensland

Hanington¹

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Estuaries are productive and dynamic ecosystems that provide a wide range of environmental services to human society, many of which contribute to people's livelihoods and wellbeing. However, many of these coastal ecosystems have become degraded by the impacts of human activity. Such degradation is often manifested in changes to an ecosystem's structure and function. Such changes impact on the resilience of these ecosystems to recover from natural disasters and maintain essential services that human and ecological communities rely upon.In shallow-water estuarine ecosystems, sediment-based processes often play a significant role in ecosystem function, such as the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nutrients. This thesis examines the importance of benthic community composition on key biogeochemical processes that underpin local phenomena such as blooms of the toxic cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula and materials cycling at ecosystem-wide scales.The research presented here shows that changes in benthic community composition have implications for system-wide functions such as biogeochemical cycling.In Deception Bay, 100 % of the seagrass community dominated by Syringodium isoetifolium was lost after a major flood event in January 2011. The loss of S. isoetifolium from Deception Bay was shown to fundamentally change the structure and function of the seagrass meadow from a net heterotrophic seagrass dominated benthic community to a net autotrophic seagrass-microphytobenthic community. Such a change in function has implications for system-wide biogeochemical budgets.This study has quantified a benthic release of Fe(II) from sediments sampled from northern Deception Bay. To our knowledge, this study represents the first documented benthic release of Fe(II) from permeable sandy sediments of a shallow subtropical embayment. The results suggest that sandy sediments that are relatively low in organic carbon are capable of supplying bioavailable Fe at levels significant for the growth of benthic organisms. The results of this research show that the post-flood sediments of northern Deception Bay are capable of supplying >1700 % of the daily Fe demands and up to 10.6 % of daily P requirements for the growth of L. majuscula blooms. This result suggests that the growth of L. majuscula blooms in Deception Bay is likely to be P limited and that future management actions that are targeted towards reducing L. majuscula blooms in Moreton Bay need to include a strategy for reducing P loads to the Bay.

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Section: Contribution Of Benthic Phosphorus and Iron Fluxes To L Majsupporting

confidence: 69%

Biogeochemical processes in permeable estuarine sediments following benthic community change: implications for system dynamics & Lyngbya majuscula blooms in Deception Bay, Queensland

Hanington¹

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“…This usually high temperatures at the end of the year could favor the continuity of cyanobacteria blooms. Different studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between temperature increase and cyanobacterial growth , Watkinson et al 2005, Ahern et al 2007b, Paerl & Huisman 2008. The effect of temperature on increased cyanobacteria cover was documented by Ahern et al (2007a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Total coverage of cyanobacteria ranged between 7 % and 82 %, occasionally reaching a 100% cover. Likewise, Ahern et al (2007b) mapped and described the temporal dynamics of a Lyngbya majuscula bloom in Australia. The bloom was seasonal, ranging from a cover of less than 10 % (49 hectares) up to 40 % (329 hectares).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there are also reports of these events in isolated places such as the Fijian Islands (Yamamuro 1999), Guam (Pennings et al 1997, Nagle & Paul 1998 and French Polynesia (Charpy et al 2012). Besides occurring in shallow waters, factors such as high temperature, low wave action, increased nitrogen, phosphorus, and iron availability are related to bloom formation (O'Neil et al 2000, Kuffner & Paul 2004, Albert et al 2005, Ahern et al 2007b, Ahern et al 2008. While the causes for CyanoHABs (harmful algal blooms) in fresh and brackish waters have been thoroughly studied (reviewed in Paerl et al 2011, Leão et al 2012, Paerl & Paul 2012, blooms of marine cyanobacteria are less understood.…”

Section: Spatial Scale Of Cyanobacterial Blooms In Old Providence Islmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial scale of cyanobacterial blooms in Old Providence Island, Colombian Caribbean

Puyana

Acosta²,

Bernal-Sotelo³

et al. 2014

Univ. Sci.

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Cyanobacterial blooms have increased in coastal waters worldwide, facilitated by excessive nutrient input and apparently global warming. They exert negative consequences in marine ecosystems, communities and habitats. Although reports of these events are frequent, their spatial extent and affected habitats are not completely recognized, hence restricting regional management actions. We examined the presence, spatial scale and cover of cyanobacterial blooms in different habitats of the reef systems off Old Providence Island, and identified the main bloom forming taxa. Cyanobacteria were registered in four different ecosystems, six geomorphological zones and nine habitats. Benthic cyanobacteria reached 18 to 72 % of the total cover in five habitats, particularly at the northwest, east and southeast portions of the island. These blooms consisted of complex consortia belonging to the genera Okeania, Lyngbya, Symploca, Phormidium, Oscillatoria or Spirulina. A bloom of planktonic cyanobacteria was dominated by Trichodesmium and developed on the fore reef of the island (NW), following heavy rains. These results suggest a potential new stressor for the island's reef complex. Future research should focus on the environmental factors that enable cyanobacterial blooms and their local impact on ecosystems and services.

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“…Cyanobacteria produce many active metabolites, some of which induce toxic responses,in human, fish, crabs, and other animals (Arthur et al, 2006;Ahern et al, 2007). These blooms, also have been linked to ecosystem and human health issues including smothered corals and seagrass, reduced grazing by fish and invertebrates, as well as dermatitis and breathing difficulties in humans who comes into contact with them (Panek, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health problems related to algal bloom among seaweed farmers in coastal areas of Tanzania

Aziza¹,

Flower²,

Margareth³

et al. 2018

J. Public Health Epidemiol.

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There is a scarcity of research-based data on the factors associated with skin irritation due to algal blooms in seaweed farming. Changes in temperature with an increase in nutrients levels lead to the growth of harmful algal blooms, which produce many active metabolites, some of which induce toxic responses in human including skin irritation. The objective of this study was to identify health problems experienced by seaweed farmers and the seasons when they occur, and how these are treated. A crosssectional study design was used to gather data using structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The study was conducted between June and August 2015, in six villages, two from Mainland, and four from Zanzibar Islands, Tanzania. Study revealed that seaweed more than 50% of farmers experienced skin irritation problem, followed by 30.4% who had eye related problems, and only 19.6% had respiratory disorders as the most serious. Hot season, which is associated with algal blooms, was the period with the highest occurrence of skin irritation. No specific medication was used to treat the health problems reported. In some severely affected areas, farmers could not tend to their farms for months, a situation which affected their income. It is suggested that the findings from this study would reduce this knowledge gap and motivate stakeholders especially the policy makers to implement measures, which reduce the health problems observed due to algal blooms in the seaweed farmers.

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Mapping the distribution, biomass and tissue nutrient levels of a marine benthic cyanobacteria bloom (Lyngbya majuscula)

Cited by 20 publications

References 36 publications

Biogeochemical processes in permeable estuarine sediments following benthic community change: implications for system dynamics & Lyngbya majuscula blooms in Deception Bay, Queensland

Biogeochemical processes in permeable estuarine sediments following benthic community change: implications for system dynamics & Lyngbya majuscula blooms in Deception Bay, Queensland

Spatial scale of cyanobacterial blooms in Old Providence Island, Colombian Caribbean

Health problems related to algal bloom among seaweed farmers in coastal areas of Tanzania

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