1. Team Sweetness (by Andrea)
Relationships between algae blooms and water temperature
Team Sweetness (by Andrea)

2. Research Question
To what extent has algae and plankton populations changed as a result of warmer water?

4. Diatoms Prolific producers
Most important food source for aquatic animals
Pseudo-nitzscia seriata
Widespread
Potential producers of toxin domoic acid
Shellfish accumulate the toxin, then humans can get ASP(amnesiac shellfish poisioning) 4

5. Dinoflagellates Have 2 flagella Able to move Photosynthetic Dinophysis
Animal-like
Photosynthetic
Plant-like
Dinophysis
Blooms can lead to toxic red tides
Acculumate toxin in shellfish, which causes DSP (diarrhetic shellfish poisioning) 5

6. Cyanobacteria Blue green algae Blooms in fresh water and low salinity
Toxic when ingested by pets and livestock
Most recent bloom:
June 2010 6

7. Mahogany Tide Reddish brown color
Produced by high density of dinoflagellates
Severely reduces amount of oxygen in water (DO)
Most recent bloom:
May 2009
Prorocentrum
Blooms in mid salinity
Delivered into mid and upper bay from HIGH salinity areas
Potentially toxic
Causes fish kills, invertebrate kills
Leads to loss of habitat due to extremely low DO 7

8. Brown Tide Coffee color No known human effects
Serious impacts on shellfish, fishes, and bay grasses
Caused by
Low rainfall
Elevated salinities
Elevated nutrients
Not well understood 8

9. Red Tide Better described as harmful algae blooms (HAB)
Blocks sunlight to plants
Consumes oxygen
Produces surface scum and odors
Interferes with filter feeders
Of more than 700 species found in the CB, less than 2% have the ability to produce toxins. 9

10. Causes and Predictability of HABs
Mostly correlated to :
Warmer temperature
Greater than 15C but optimal is 20-25C
Moderate to higher salinity
Approximately 15ppt
Causes of HABs:
Nutrient enrichment
Warm water
Overfish of algae eating fish
Pollution from use of excess fertilizers and nutrients 10

11. History of HABs HABs are a natural phenomenon
Past 3 decades, HABs seem to be getting:
More frequent
More intense
More widespread 11

12. Effects of Climate Change on HABs
Greenhouse effect will cause warmer water and sea level rise
Increases/Changes range of distribution of organisms – pushing north cold water species into headwaters and warm water species into the CB from the ocean
Warmer air and water temperatures will
Alter the composition of species that live in the CB
Contribute to worsening dead zones and HABs
Enhance marine diseases
Encourage the expansion of harmful invasive species 12

13. Effects of Climate Change on HABs
More precipitation will cause more nutrients and sediments to flow into the bay
More extreme weather events will:
Lead to more polluted runoff
Hurt water quality
Make outdoor experiences increasingly unacceptable to people 13

14. Players Players Players Beliefs The Value Fisherman
Concern about fish population
How will it effect my livelihood?
Economic
Recreational Users
Want the Bay to look nice
Do not feel as though the water will be safe for swimming and sports if water becomes contaminated
Aesthetic
Recreational
Doctors, Nurses
In favor of preventative measures to help maintain healthy living conditions
Health
Safety

15. Players Players Players Beliefs The Value Gov’t officials
Is this something that we can include in our budget?
Does this put the administration in a positive light if we support this issue?
What are the legal ramifications of action versus inaction?
Economic
Political
Legal
Scientists
Take all steps necessary to preserve the natural conditions of the environment
Environmental
Land owners
A beautiful lawn is important to my family
Crop production is how I support my family
Aesthetic

16. Survey Results
We sampled the participants in the survey and received 12 results
Rate your familiarity with the following terms:
Plankton are microscopic organisms that live in the bay. Because of their small size, they are _______ important than larger organisms in the bay.
Never heard of it
Heard of it, but not sure what it is
Basic Understanding, need more information
Highly Familiar
Algae Bloom 1 6 5
Phytoplankton 3
Zooplankton 2
Eutrophication
Dead zone 4

17. Data Sheet Sampling Site: Horn Point Pier Weather: Partly Cloudy
Date of Sample: 6/29/2010
Time of Sample: 2:00 pm
Water Temperature (°C): 28
Air Temperature (°C): 33
Salinity: 11 ppt
pH: 7.7
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l): 5.6
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Wind Direction: Variable
Wind Speed (mph): 0-5
Barometric pressure (mmHg): 29.90
Tides: Low
Secchi Disk: 96 cm

18. Our Findings Organisms Count Ceratium lineatum 1 Dinophysis spp.
Dinophysis horvegica
Procentrum lima 3
Chatetoceros
Pseudonitzcia seriata 2
Nariculas spp.

19. Conclusions
Optimal temperature for HAB is 20-25C, our water was 28C, perhaps the water is too hot for dangerous plankton
The amount of construction may be adding chemicals to the water around the dock that inhibits growth of plankton
Temperature and plankton collection was done at the surface, finds may be different lower in the water column.

20. Recommendations Players Recommendation Fisherman
Keep your eyes open for algae blooms, contact DNR at the Fish Health Hotline (877)
Recreational Users
Limit all types of pollution in the bay, nutrient and non-nutrient.
Fish Health Hotline (877)
Doctors, Nurses
Keep informing patients and their families of the risks of swimming in open water and what algae can do to people

21. Recommendations Players Recommendation Gov’t officials
Assemble working groups to maintain communication between scientists and policy makers
Hold town hall meetings to discuss direct impacts of HAB
Study policies of other states and jurisdictions.
Scientists
Continue studying HAB to find trends in blooms for forecasting blooms.
Attempt to find ways to control blooms once they begin
Land owners
Minimize use of nutrient fertilizer
Take steps to mitigate nutrient runoff; don’t use fertilizer near storm drains or bodies of water, make sure you have a buffer area between use area and water.

22. Next Steps Collect more samples of plankton at different environments
Time of day
Location
Depth of water
Season of the year
Check for chemicals in the water near the construction site vs. other area of the Choptank

23. Bibliography http://mddnr.chesapeakebay.net/hab/HAB_maps.cfm 23