Real-Time Monitoring of Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms with the Panther Buoy

Abstract

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) are a growing problem in aquatic environments. Here, a new data buoy system is described (i.e., “the Panther buoy”) for monitoring cyanoHABs and associated conditions. The system uses a custom open-source data logger, an embedded modem, and a solar charge regulator with off-the-shelf sensors on a compact platform. Panther buoys were deployed in Green Bay, USA, and Lake Superior at the Apostle Islands, USA, to monitor water temperature with depth and chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin fluorescence. Additional Panther buoys were deployed in Sturgeon Bay and Summerfest Lagoon, Milwaukee, to monitor wind and water temperature with depth. Cellular data were transmitted every 2–10 min in 98 ± 10% of data transmissions of 10–30K sampling events per deployment. A new temperature chain is described and shown to have high precision (R = 0.99 and P < 0.001) and accuracy within 0.31 °C of commercial sensors. Panther buoys in Lake Superior and Green Bay detected increases in phycocyanin or chlorophyll-a fluorescence, indicative of moderate bloom events. Wind measurements in Summerfest Lagoon and Sturgeon Bay were significantly correlated with commercial wind sensors. Altogether, these deployments indicate that the Panther buoy system is a reliable device for monitoring cyanoHABs and associated conditions.

Modeling- and Simulation-Driven Methodology for the Deployment of an Inland Water Monitoring System

“…Traditionally, since the 20th century, assessing water body health and HACBs prediction relied upon sample collection by specialists or automatic instruments positioned at set locations [7]. These samples would subsequently undergo laboratory analysis.…”

Sub-Liquid and Atmospheric Measurement Instrument To Autonomously Monitor the Biochemistry of Natural Aquatic Ecosystems

“…Monitoring the physicochemical parameters of the liquid body, such as temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, oxygen reduction potential, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, salinity, total dissolved solids, and atmospheric parameters such as temperature, pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, have been generally implemented to assess the water quality to study the water-atmosphere fluxes of CO 2 and coastal ocean acidification in shallow environments, evaluate the permissible limits for human and animal consumption and agricultural uses, ,, monitor cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms, and conduct field investigations for highly polluted and/or shallow high-risk waters . This has several implications if the quality of our drinking water, agriculture and aquaculture, and biochemical exchanges induced by microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems is monitored systematically.…”