1. Understanding and Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms in Freshwaters Elena Litchman Michigan State University and Kellogg Biological Station

2. Fresh Water is a Limited Resource Only 2.5% of water on Earth is fresh 2/3 is locked in glaciers and polar ice caps http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/ftp_docs/water_litho.pdf http://www.unep.org/themes/Freshwater/Related_Links/index.asp

3. Fresh Water is a Limited Resource USA Today, October 19, 2007 Not only water quantity, but water quality! Water quality problem: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

4. Talk Outline General Information on HABs The role of global change in HAB proliferation Current research on global change and HABs in my lab

5. HAB Phytoplankton Cyanobacteria (freshwater and marine) Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) http://www.keweenawalgae.mtu.edu/ALGAL_IMAGES/cyanobacteria/ http://www.ab.lst.se/ Atmospheric nitrogen fixation http://www.botan.su.se/Fysiologi/CYANO/SUB-2.HTM

6. Cyanobacteria in Temperate Lakes Main Players Anabaena Aphanizomenon Microcystis Planktothrix

7. Cyanobacterial Toxins Microcystins - produced by Microcystis, Planktothrix (Oscillatoria), Anabaena Babica et al. J. Phycol. 2006 sigmaaldrich.com Hepatotoxins Neurotoxins Differ in toxicity LR YR

8. Global Change and HABs

9. Global Change Effects on Cyanobacteria Increased air and water temperature Directly stimulates growth Longer ice-free period Stimulates growth Increased stratification (stability of the water column) Increases competitive advantage (buoyancy) Decreased mixing Increases competitive advantage (buoyancy) Increased nutrient limitation May increase competitive advantage (N-fixers) Increased oxygen depletion (at the bottom)

10. Interaction of Multiple Global Change Stressors Invasive Species HAB-forming cyanobacteria Zebra mussels Increased Nutrient Inputs Increased Pesticide Inputs

11. Cyanobacteria in Temperate Lakes Invasive Newcomer Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii Invasive Fixes N Produces toxins Forms deep chlorophyll maxima cylindrospermopsin

12. Global Change and HABs Frequency and severity of HABs will likely increase in the future!

13. Current Work on HABs in my Lab

14. Lab members participating in HAB research Mary Anne Evans Kohei Yoshiyama Jarad Mellard Ally Morgan Pam Woodruff Kelly Amrhein Paula Tezanos

15. Current HAB Work in my Lab Field sampling of diverse lakes in MI Lab experiments (physiology, competitive interactions) Modeling interactions between HAB species and the rest of the plankton

16. Field Sampling –Monitor and sample diverse lakes in West Michigan –Characterize physical structure of the water column (temperature, light, turbulence) –Measure chemical parameters (nutrients) –Determine phytoplankton community structure (HAB species) –Measure toxins (microcystin)

17. Field Sampling and Monitoring Sites Current sampling Proposed sampling

18. Detailed Physical Structure of Diverse Lakes SCAMP (Self-Contained Autonomous Microprofiler) #46 Moored thermistor chains Temperature Light Chl fluorescence Turbulence Stratification/mixing

19. Seasonal Chl Distribution

20. Depth and Seasonal Variation in Turbulence Gull Lake. MI Lowest turbulence Highest Microcystis abundance

21. Monitoring Cyanobacteria Abundance Toxin concentration Presence of Invasive SpeciesPhysical processes Evans et al. in prep.

22. Lake Monitoring Networks GLEON (Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network) WATERS Network ( Water and Environmental Research System) CUAHSI (Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science) Parameters to measure: Physical, chemical and biological