...Lake Erie : Causes and Effects of the Algal Blooms Over the years, Ohio’s largest body of water has been plagued with a plethora of environmental issues. Lake Erie has suffered from invasions of nonnative species, harmful factory pollutants, and waste water from nearby coal industries. Each form of pollution has depleted the the lake’s environment in some way, but none of these environmental hazards have been equal in severity to Lake Erie’s immense algal blooms. These blooms are caused by rainwater that drains into nearby streams, rivers, and eventually Lake Erie. This draining water is referred to as runoff. Not all rainwater runoff that makes its way into Lake Erie will cause algae to bloom at a quicker rate. It is the runoff from...
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...which contain harmful toxin to human. Cause: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning is caused by the in take of contaminated seafood, which, as an example, when algae increase in a huge numbers, it would cause the formation of harmful algal Bloom. Algal blooms happened in marine environments which an algal species reproduces rapidly a large number of algal cells in a short period of time. An Algal Bloom would normally kill aquatic life by blocking the sunlight to the water and or using up all of the oxygen in the water, but a harmful algal bloom would even produces detrimental toxins called saxitoxin. It could cause poison within 30 minutes, faster than most of the others toxins. When the shellfish fed by those multiple, toxic microorganisms, they would pass the toxin though the food chain, and eventually, transfer to human. The Affection of Human Activities: Although harmful algae blooms are not directly caused by human activities, some events like runoff from agricultural fields would lead into algae blooms indirectly. Due to the fact that when wash fertilizers into the water, it can provide nutrient loading that create a favorable conditions for the growth of algae. Other events such as the incidence of The Pacific Ocean, an algal bloom produced due to the rise of water temperature from storm events, as an example, El...
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...Toxic Algae in Lake Erie – There Appears to be More Questions Than Answers A Review of “Huge toxic algae bloom expected for Lake Erie: Blue-green algae feeding off phosphorus from farm fertilizer that runs into lake” INTRODUCTION Blue-green algae blooms continue to be a problem for the ecosystem of Lake Erie and Raj Bejankiwar, a scientist with the International Joint Commission, estimates that there is a 99% chance that algae will once again be an issue this summer. Blue-green algae remove the oxygen from the lake, which contributes to the deaths of other plant and animal life in the lake. Blue-green algae require phosphorus to survive and thrive, and phosphorus has become increasingly available due to the use of large amounts of fertilizer on farms and the subsequent run-off that enters Lake Erie. It is important for farmers to use soil tests and do as much as possible to retain the phosphorus in their soil with minimal leakage. However without laws in place, it is up to individual farmers to decide how they will contribute to decreasing the phosphorus waste. The article’s objective is to provide information on the cause of the blue-green algae boom and indicate certain ways to reduce the excess phosphorus that contributes to the large amount of algae in Lake Erie. REVIEW The article, targeted at a general audience, provided the basic information on the issue of blue-green algae and their necessary food source of phosphorus, focusing on fertilizer as the primary...
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...encouraging algal growth and increasing the frequency and geographic range of high density dinoflagellate blooms. Public health and economic impacts, as well as negative ecological effects of the aquatic environment are increasing the scientific research done on toxic dinoflagellate species. Contaminated bivalves are causing paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and diarrhetic shellfish poisoning in humans (DSP); with the number of cases increasing steadily in the last 40 years. Toxins released by certain species of the phylum dinoflagellate are the cause of this spreading contamination. Algal bloom locations are dictated by water currents and synaptic weather patterns, and their movement makes it difficult to pinpoint the origin of these blooms. Measuring the level of toxins in shellfish is currently the best way to chart the growing density of these blooms, and to prove the masses of algae are of growing concern. In this review the negative impact dinoflagellate algal blooms are having on aquaculture, human health hazards, and reasons for the increasing frequencies/densities of blooms will be covered; additional information on the shortcomings of incomplete scientific data complied on algal blooms and why scientific research is now being sought after will be reviewed. BACKGROUND Few species of phytoplankton produce toxins, but dinoflagellates have species that release two different types of toxins. Dinoflagellates are forming large aggregations called algal blooms with increasing...
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...photomicrographs of the samples using Image Tool (Version 3.00) developed by the University of Texas Health Science in San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Lyngbya filaments in all cultures enriched with the Hughes medium obtained significantly higher TL and TW over those of the control treatment. But enrichment of the agar medium did not result in an increase of sheath widths. Filaments cultured in 1.5% and 2% enriched agar showed contamination. Those in 1% nutrient concentration had comparable growth, but no contamination. Furthermore, Lyngbya cultured in enriched agar did not grow beyond the area of inoculation. Isolation was also more difficult in agar than in the liquid control medium. INTRODUCTION As early as the 1900s, Lyngbya sp. blooms were documented in the areas of Eastern Moreton Bay and Bribie Island in Australia (Abal & Lawn, 2004). Lyngbya is a genus which is composed of species which are usually inhabitants of the sea. Numerous species reside in estuarine places and in brackish channels. Others are found in freshwater areas and thermal springs (Harvey, 1857). Lyngbya has been found to be a nuisance in the areas of South Eastern United States. It is a cyanobacteria which lives naturally in the benthic zone (Gross & Martin, 1996). In recent studies,...
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...Dangers of Chemicals Found in Household Products SD Western Governors University Student ID Dangers Of Chemicals Found In Household Products Many household products that we use daily and are very important in our homes, work environments and schools have become a health risk. This is because many of these household products we use to keep these places clean and to maintain a good health contain toxic chemicals. If fact, some cleaners are among the most toxic products found in the home. Many of us using these products are unaware of the dangers and the health risk they pose. There are agencies, organizations and a variety of groups that are working towards making the consumer aware of the dangers through research. This research has shown that chemicals in our household products are dangerous and should be closely regulated because accidental poisonings continue to increase, exposure can lead to failing health and there are links to slow brain development in fetuses and children. Accidental poisonings are on the increase in the United States. Every 13 seconds, a poison control center in the United States answers a call about a possible poisoning. More than 90% of these exposes occur in the home. The most common causes of poisoning among young children are cosmetics and personal care products, household cleaning products and pain relievers (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). These statistics can be very frightening. We often don’t...
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...Effect of the Amount of Detergent on Algal Color Change After a factory that produces various types of phosphate containing products opened near a neighborhood, the residence began to notice a change in the rivers color. They noticed that a green film was covering areas of the river and some residents blamed pollution from the factory. This seemed like a reasonable claim since phosphates and nitrates are nutrients that increase algae growth and help cause blooms. So we decided to test if these claims could be true. We set up our experiment by setting up 7 cups, then we labeled them 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, and control. Next we filled each cup with 50ml of algae infused water. Now to act as runoff from the factory we put...
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...The Common Carp Is this species a producer, consumer, scavenger, or decomposer? What was the original source of the species? Carp originate from Asia but primarily China. In Asia, they were bread for food from as early as 1000 BC. How did the organisms gain entry into the region or country? Carp now live in most continents and an estimated 59 different countries. In most countries, carp were introduced for sporting and food such as in Europe, but sometimes carp were imported illegally. In Australia, carp were brought for sporting reasons and released in the early 1850’s. During the 1960’s, carp were illegally imported into Victoria, Australia from Germany. In the late 1800s, carp were distributed widely throughout the USA by the government as a food-fish, but they are no longer used as a food-fish. It is said that carp are believed to have been introduced into the Canadian province of British Colombia from Washington. They were first noted in the Okanagan Valley in 1912. Describe the organism’s life cycle and other general information about organisms that you were able to find. The common carp is part of the minnow family but can be easily identified by two pairs of barbells on each side of its upper jaw. The colours that it can be found in are: brass, bronze or yellow. Most common carp grow 12-25 inches in length and 1-10 pounds in weight. The common carp is a warm water species and likes to live in muddy areas. Mating season normally occurs in May through July...
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...Marine Biology Marine biology and marine sciences have many avenues of research and there is always some kind of research going on in this area. One of the growing concerns of marine sciences and biology is the issue of harmful algae blooms in the seas. “Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are proliferations of algae that can cause massive fish kills, contamination of seafood with toxins, and/or ecological damage through the development of anoxia or habitat alteration”http://ioc.unesco.org/hab/GEOHABWhatare%20HABs.htm (Accessed March 26, 2006). These blooms have been known to cause many problems the world over. These HABs can have adverse effects on the society by economic and health risks. Many researches believe that the occurrence of HABs is growing throughout the world. Many researches are currently being undertaken on these creatures in order to find out more about their distribution, environmental impacts, and their effects on human health, but these researches have been greatly limited by critical gaps in the knowledge of the physiological, behavioral, and genetic characteristics of these things( Ibid). Normal algae are a critical part of the ecosystem. “Algae, like land plants, capture the sun’s energy and support the food web that leads to fish and shellfish. They occur in a size range from tiny microscopic cells floating in the water column (phytoplankton) to large mats of visible “macroalgae” that grow on bottom sediments”http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/hab/ (Accessed March...
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...Throughout the world's’ coastal ocean areas the reports of harmful algal blooms have increased. Every coastal region of the world is affected by a certain type of harmful algal blooms called Red Tides. Even though these harmful algal blooms are most common in the coastal regions of marine ecosystems they also occur and affect the open ocean. The scientific term for these harmful algal blooms is HABs. HABs are mostly associated with toxic microalgae. This toxic microalgae which is known as Red Tides lies on the surface of the water. Even though their is many different types of planktonic species that have toxic concentration they all can cause problems even the less toxic of them. Any types of blooms that cause injury to our health, or to...
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...Red Algal Blooms Coloring the Tides Raymond A Martin College of Central Florida Abstract There are large, toxic blooms of dinoflagellates that leave a red coloration in the water. This rouge discoloring has become known as a red tide. Red tides have many damaging effects on the coastal environment and the ecosystem of the seas. They occur naturally as far north as southern Alaska to date. This paper will discuss what a red tide is and some of its causes. It will also explore the environmental impacts as well as health risks associated with these large toxic blooms. Next, we’ll look at the economic effect and the sociological impact of a red tide. Lastly, we can examine what to do to protect yourself from its harmful effects. Red Tide/Red Algae Effects What is Red Tide? Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae—simple plants that live in the sea and freshwater—grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. The human illnesses caused by HABs, though rare, can be debilitating or even fatal. While many people call these blooms 'red tides,' scientists prefer the term harmful algal bloom. (NOAA 2012) Algal blooms, during which algae become so numerous that they discolor the coastal waters, visibly seen as reddish-brown. The algal bloom may also deplete oxygen in the waters and/or release toxins that may cause illness in humans and other animals. Species in the United States that release...
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...Unit 3. Assignment 1: Bacterial Growth Rates 1. Mediums that could be used to determine shigellosis include Btilliant Green Agar, and Triple Sugar-Iron Agar. Expected results in a confirmed case of shigellosis are as follows: Brilliant Green Agar – Isolated Shigella colonies which do not ferment lactose or sucrose and appear red or white in color with no growth to trace growth on the Agar plate will be present. Triple Sugar-Iron Agar – Presence of Shigella will manifest as a red slant with a yellow butt with no H2S present. In Brilliant Green Agar, E. coli O157 would present as isolated yellow to greenish colonies surrounded by yellow-green zones. In the Triple Sugar-Iron Agar, E. coli O157 will manifest as a red slant, red butt indicating no change and no sugar fermented. These growth results and their marked differences would allow for distinguishing between E. coli and shigellosis (Black, 2012). 2. To separate a mixed culture of S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and P. aeruginosa into three pure cultures, the following procedure should be used: a) Make an isolation plate by diluting the mixed culture until the individual organisms become separated or far enough apart on the agar surface to be distinguished. This will form visible colonies of each organism which will be isolated from the other colonies present. b) Flame the inoculation loop before each transfer to avoid contamination. c) Using the inoculation loop, aseptically “pick off” the individual...
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...fluorescent blue patches of water glimmering off Hong Kong's seashore are magnificent, disturbing and potentially toxic, marine biologists say. The glow is an indicator of a harmful algal bloom created by something called Noctiluca scintillans, nicknamed Sea Sparkle. It looks like algae and can act like algae. But it's not quite. It is a single-celled organism that technically can function as both animal and plant. These type blooms are triggered by farm pollution that can be devastating to marine life and local fisheries, according to University of Georgia oceanographer Samantha Joye, who was shown Associated Press photos of the glowing water. "Those pictures are magnificent. It's just extremely unfortunate that the mysterious and majestic blue hue is created by a Noctiluca," Joye wrote in an email Thursday. This is part of a problem that is growing worldwide, said Joye and other scientists. Noctiluca is a type of single-cell life that eats plankton and is eaten by other species. The plankton and Noctiluca become more abundant when nitrogen and phosphorous from farm run-off increase. (EUTROPHICATION) Unlike similar organisms, Noctiluca doesn't directly produce chemicals that can attack the nervous system or parts of the body. But recent studies show it is much more complicated and links them to blooms that have been harmful to marine life. Noctiluca's role as both prey and predator can eventually magnify the accumulation of algae toxins in the food chain, according to oceanographer...
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...Describe how the animal species richness found in the Galeolaria caespitose clump biotype could be affected by pollution Marine ecosystems are known to have rich biodiversity of species and therefore generally thought of as being stable and resilient to natural progressions of the earth (Johnson, Roberts, 2009) Disturbances in the habitat by unnatural means, such as pollution, can harm the balance of these ecosystems as the species are unable to adapt to the unusual contaminants that would not naturally encounter. One part of this ecosystem is the calcareous tubes secreted by the polychaete worm called Galeolaria caespitoa which are found in large clumps on pier pilings and in the intertidal zones of rocky shores (Ladiges et al. 2010). When viewing the calcareous tubes for the first time it appears that there is only one species, the Galeolaria caesplitoa, present but upon further inspection a diverse range of species can be found including annelids, molluscs and arthropods. These species all exist in this clump and benefit from the stability and protection that the clumps provide, but the introduction of a unnatural occurrence such as pollution can affect the way these animal feed, breed and breathe. The main source of pollution that comes into contact with marine ecosystems is sewerage which contains waste materials from everyday human activities such as slaughterhouse wastes, animal remains, domestic wastes, industrial wastes, faecal matter and many others (Islam, Tanaka...
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...Field Trip Summary Report Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Submitted by: C. Turner EAS 201, Spring 2012 INTRODUCTION New York City is home to a diverse grouping of species - a varied assembly of organisms, each with its own form, function, and range of desirable living conditions. The CUNY SPS course “The Nature of New York” invites learners to investigate urban ecosystems, and evaluate the relationship between humans, the environment, and the ability of all living systems to do well on the planet. JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE As part of the natural science program, students were offered a guided tour though Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, New York, led by Professors George Jackman and Dr. Kwesi Amoa. Wildlife refuges are generally legislatively-protected territories where nature is supported and meant to thrive without the threat of harmful interference.1 The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge was developed as part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s efforts to preserve and protect the nation’s natural resources in the early 1900’s. Currently managed by the National Park Service and part of the Gateway National Recreation Area2, the site is well known for its inhabitance of wild birds, and is home to various terrestrial and marine fauna. The park is surrounded by Jamaica Bay, and its landscape features two large fresh water ponds, a salt marsh and seasonal plant life.3 The weather for our winter field trip was mild (low to mid 40’s). The wind was brisk and the sun was shining...
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