Ecology and

Management for Public Beaches

Webster Lake, Franklin, NH

Cyanobacteria Overview

What are cyanobacteria?

Previously referred to as bluegreen algae Single-Celled organisms lacking a nuclear membrane Contain photosynthetic pigments

Chlorophyll-a and Phycobilins (produce the characteristic bluegreen color)

Many different forms: filaments,

colonies

Common Cyanobacteria in NH Lakes

Merismopedia Microcystis

Aphanizomenom

Gleotrichia

Oscillatoria

Anabaena

Adaptations and Advantages

Nitrogen Fixation

Heterocysts: specialized cells containing nitrogenase enzyme able to convert gaseous nitrogen (N2) to ammonium (NH4+) Advantage-cyanobacteria are able to use a nutrient not readily available to other algal genera

Heterocyst

Adaptations and Advantages

Gas Vesicles

Some genera have gas vesicles to control buoyancy Advantage-allows cyanobacteria to optimize growth based on sunlight and nutrients

N P

N P

N P

P N

N P

N P

P N

N P

N P

P N

Adaptations and Advantages

Akinetes:

Resting cells. The cells function as an asexual resting state capable of resisting harsh environments (winter) and can germinate to form new cells when conditions improve
Advantage-cyanobacteria can adapt to any situation and grow only when conditions are optimal

Germinating Akinetes

Growth Requirements

Sunlight
Warm water (hot summer days)

Calm, stagnant conditions

Phosphorus

Potentially Harmful Algal Blooms

When conditions are right, algae may form blooms, scums, or masses

Problems with Blooms

Unsightly Taste Problems: algae can lead to bad tastes in the water including bitter, fishy, and sweet. Odor Problems: algae can cause water to smell fishy, grassy, like geraniums, or musty. Fish Kills Toxins

Toxins

Cyanobacteria produce biotoxins

Biotoxins are any toxins produced by a living organism (plant, fungi, animal, bacterium)

The toxins produced by cyanobacteria are collectively referred to as cyanotoxins Toxins are stored in cells and released upon cell lysis or death t
t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t

Toxins

Common toxin producers in New Hampshire

Annie, Phannie, Mike and Ozzy the fearsome foursome

Mike
Annie Phannie Ozzy

Toxins
Common Cyanotoxins in New Hampshire
Toxin
Microcystin (Hepatotoxin)

Target Organ
Liver

Cyanobacteria
Microcystis Oscillatoria Anabaena Anabaena Oscillatoria Aphanizomenon Anabaena Lyngbya Oscillatoria

Anatoxin (Nuerotoxin)

Nerve synapses

Saxitoxin (Neurotoxin)

Nerve axons

Dermatotoxin (Aplysiatoxin)

Skin

Toxins

Focus on microcystins in drinking and recreational waters Many different forms of microcystins Most frequent and most toxic form is microcystinLR

Toxins

Lethal dose (LD-50) of microcystin = 25 150 g/kg of body weight (0.025 - 0.150 mg/kg)

Common Name
Coastal Taipan Fields Horned Viper Many Banded Krait Indian Krait

LD-50 (mg/kg)
0.009 0.02 0.08 0.089

Compared with some of the most venomous snakes in the world

Beaked Sea Snake

0.107

Note: this comparison based on route of exposure (intraperitoneal). LD-50 can differ among different exposure routes

Toxins
Animal Health Effects Country

Species Killed

Argentina Australia Canada England USA

cattle cattle, sheep cattle, waterfowl dogs, fish dogs, cattle, human?

In July 2002, a Wisconsin teenager died two days after swimming in a golf-course pond that had a bloom of Anabaena flos-aquae. A year later, an autopsy reported the death was due to cyanotoxins in the pond water (Anatoxin-a).

Toxins
Human Effects
ACUTE

CHRONIC

Gastrointestinal effects

Liver damage

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Tumor growth

Hepatic illness (liver)

Dermatitis
Ear and mouth irritation

Beach Management

World Health Organization (WHO) standard for microcystin-LR drinking water = 1.0 g/L Currently there are no recommended standards for recreational waters

Beach Management
Protection Against Recreational Exposure to Cyanobacteria
1. Publish Advisory 2. Reduce TP Load

Secchi Depth <2 meters

[TP]>20ug Cyanobacteria dominance Chl-a > 40 ug/m3 Chl-a > 150 ug/m3 Measure Microcystins Microcystins > 100 ug Close Beach

Problem: Long process need quick response

Close Beach

Beach Management
NHDES Quick Response Approach
Observed Algal Scum at Beach

Cyanobacteria dominant in sample

Post Beach Advisory

Beach Management

Beach Management
NHDES Microcystin Studies

Algal scum samples collected

Species identified Freeze/thaw process

Microcystin Tube Kit analysis

Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) 2 standards Add reagents to all samples and standards Several steps

Spectrophotometric Measurement and Analysis

Beach Management

2005 Microcystin Results

Waterbody, Town Species Identified
Oscillatoria Microcystis

Microcystin Concentration (ppb)

> 0.5 > 3.0

Baboosic Lake, Amherst Country Pond, Newton

Greenwood Pond, Kingston

Harris Pond, Nashua Harvey Lake, Northwood Robinson Pond, Hudson Showell Pond, Sandown

Oscillatoria
Anabaena Anabaena Oscillatoria Anabaena

> 3.0
< 0.5 > 3.0 < 0.5 < 0.5

Beach Management

Long-term management options

Reduce nutrient loading!

Watershed studies: identify and remediate point and non-point sources of pollution Education and outreach initiatives: provide educational materials to homeowners within the watershed

Beach Management

Long-term management options

Utilize best management practices (BMPs) Promote low impact development (LID) Establish watershed ordinances

Thank You
Jody Connor Limnology Center Director NH Department of Environmental Services 603-271-3414 jconnor@des.state.nh.us