Cyanobacterial Blooms: Tastes, Odors, and Toxins

Transcription

1 Cyanobacterial Blooms: Tastes, Odors, and Toxins Jennifer L. Graham and Keith A. Loftin U.S. Geological Survey Kansas Water Science Center New Jersey Water Monitoring Council September 23, 2015

2 Overview Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms USGS Capabilities Occurrence Spatiotemporal Patterns Environmental Influences

3 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms What Are Cyanobacteria? Cyanobacteria are true bacteria, but have chlorophyll-a like algae. Structurally the cyanobacteria are bacteria-like, but functionally they are algae-like. Gloeotrichia echinulata Because cyanobacteria function like algae in aquatic ecosystems, they typically are considered to be part of algal communities (this is why they often are called blue-green algae). Microcystis aeruginosa Images from Rosen and others, OFR

4 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms What is an Algal Bloom? The definition of a bloom is somewhat subjective. Common definitions include: Algae have high cell densities (20,000 to 100,000 cells/ml). Proliferation of algae is dominated by a single or a few species. There is a visible accumulation of algae. South Dakota - green algae bloom Idaho - cyanobacteria bloom photo courtesy of F. Wilhelm

5 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms What Causes Algal Blooms? Many environmental factors influence the occurrence of algal blooms. In general, an algal bloom indicates an ecosystem imbalance. Courtesy of Hans Paerl

6 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms What Makes Some Algal Blooms Harmful? Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can occur anytime water use is impaired by excessive accumulations of algae. Ecologic Concerns Texas golden algae bloom Photo courtesy of TPWD and G. Turner Economic Concerns Public Health Concerns Kansas cyanobacterial bloom

7 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms Why Are Cyanobacterial Blooms Unique?

8 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms What Cyanobacteria Produce Toxins and Taste-and-Odor Compounds? Hepatotoxins Neurotoxins Dermatoxins Taste/Odor CYL MC ANA SAX GEOS MIB Anabaena X X X X X X? Aphanizomenon X? X X X X Microcystis X X Oscillatoria/Planktothrix X X X X X X Anabaena Aphanizomenon Microcystis Planktothrix Photos courtesy of A. St. Amand After Graham and others, 2008, TWRI Chapter 7.5

9 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms Are There Regulations for Cyanotoxins? USEPA Health Advisory Levels for Cyanotoxins in Finished Drinking Water: Microcystin: 0.3, 1.6 µg/l Cylindrospermopsin: 0.7, 3.0 µg/l State Recreational Guidance Varies, Most Based on World Health Organization provisional guidelines for microcystin-lr: Low Risk: <10 µg/l Moderate Risk: µg/l High Risk: 20-2,000 µg/l Very High Risk: >2,000 µg/l

10 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms How Common Are Toxic Cyanobacterial Blooms? 24 States in August 2015 Had Toxic Algal and Health Advisories for Cyanobacteria Data Compiled from EPA Freshwater HAB News

11 USGS Capabilities Consistent Guidelines for Study Design and Sample Collection are Essential for Nationally Comparable Data SIR Guidelines for Design and Sampling for Cyanobacterial Toxin and Taste-and-Odor Studies in Lakes and Reservoirs (Graham and others) USGS National Field Manual Chapter 7.5 Cyanobacteria in Lakes and Reservoirs: Toxin and Taste-and-Odor Sampling Guidelines (Graham and others)

12 USGS Capabilities Robust and Quantitative Analytical Methods are Essential to Adequately Characterize Cyanotoxin Occurrence, Fate, and Transport USGS Organic Geochemistry Research Laboratory Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) Loftin and others, 2008 LC/MS/MS Toxicity Assays Ongoing research to evaluate efficacy of: Autoclaving Boiling Freeze-Thaw Sonication QuikLyse

13 USGS Capabilities Total Microcystin Concentrations Measured by LC/MS/MS and ELISA are Generally Comparable (But Comparability Varies Depending on the ELISA Kit Used) Total Microcystin by ELISA (µg/l) rs=0.76, p< Total Microcystin by LC/MS/MS (µg/l) 1:1 Relation After Graham and others, 2010

14 USGS Capabilities Microcystin Results May Vary Depending on the ELISA Used for Analysis ELISA Response (µg/l as MCLR) AM BP EP Abraxis-ADDA ELISA Response (µg/l as MCLR) Abraxis-DM (AM) Beacon (BP) Envirologix (EP) Loftin and others, in preparation

15 USGS Capabilities New Methods will Enhance Understanding and Characterization of Occurrence, Fate, and Transport USGS Ohio Microbiology Laboratory Molecular qpcr DNA and RNA assays for: Total cyanobacteria Total Microcystis Microcystis-specific microcystin genes Anabaena-specific microcystin genes Planktothrix-specific microcystin genes Stelzer and others,

16 Occurrence High Microcystin Concentrations (> 1 µg/l) in the 2007 National Lake Assessment Were Most Common in the Upper Midwest 33% of lakes had detections (n=1,028) Maximum concentration: 230 µg/l Median: <0.10 µg/l (0.52 µg/l * ) Mean: 1.0 µg/l (3.0 µg/l * ) * Detections only After Beaver and others, 2014

17 Occurrence Cylindrospermopsins Were Detected by ELISA in About 5% (n=659) of Analyzed Lakes; Occurrence was Most Common in the South Loftin and others, submitted

18 Occurrence Saxitoxins Were Detected by ELISA in About 8% (n=678) of Analyzed Lakes; Occurrence was Most Common in the Upper Midwest and the South Loftin and others, submitted

19 Occurrence Microcystins are Widespread and Common in the Midwest 78% of lakes had detections (n=359) Maximum concentration: 52 µg/l After Graham and others 2004, 2006, and 2009

20 Occurrence Multiple Toxins and Taste-and-Odor Compounds Frequently Co-Occur in Cyanobacterial Blooms After Graham and others, 2010

21 Occurrence Cyanotoxins and Taste-and-Odor Compounds Co-Occur Less Frequently in Routinely Collected, Non-Bloom Samples Indianapolis, IN Reservoirs Cheney Reservoir, Kansas n= n=145 Detection Frequency (%) Detection Frequency (%) NONE MC GEOS MIB MC, GEOS MC, MIB GEOS, MIB MC, GEOS, MIB 0 NONE MC GEOS MIB MC, GEOS MC, MIB GEOS, MIB MC, GEOS, MIB Graham and others, in preparation

22 Occurrence Occurrence of Cyanotoxins and Taste-and-Odor Compounds is Not Necessarily Tightly Coupled to Cyanobacterial Abundance or Community Composition Harsha Lake, OH Cyanobacterial Biovolume (micrometers cubed per milliliter) 10,000,000,000 1,000,000, ,000,000 10,000,000 1,000, ,000 10,000 1, Relative Community Composition (percent) Cyanotoxin Concentration ( g/l) 05/01/14 05/14/14 05/27/14 06/09/14 06/22/14 07/05/14 07/18/14 07/31/14 08/13/14 08/26/14 09/08/14 09/21/14 10/04/14 10/17/14 10/30/14 Anabaena Microcystis Planktothrix Other Microcystin Producers Non-Toxic Cyanobacteria Cyanobacterial Biovolume Microcystin Francy and others, in publication

23 Occurrence Genetic Data Help Identify Systems with the Potential for Cyanotoxin Production Ohio Lakes, Summer 2013 Microcystis mcye DNA Planktothrix mcye DNA Microcystis mcye (DNA), in log copies/100 ml Bay View % 100% 100% 62% 100% 20% 88% 71% Buck Creek Buckeye Crystal Deer Creek Harsha MBSP Inland MBSP Lake Erie Port Clinton Planktothrix mcye (DNA), in log copies/100 ml Bay View % 100% 100% 100% 88% 20% 25% 0% Buck Creek Buckeye Crystal Deer Creek Harsha MBSP Inland MBSP Lake Erie Port Clinton Francy and others, in publication

24 Spatiotemporal Patterns Seasonal Patterns in Microcystin Concentration are Unique to Individual Lakes and Peaks May Occur Anytime Throughout the Year 2.0 Bilby Stratified Period 2.0 Mozingo Total Microcystin (µg/l) Forest Harrison Marceline Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 2004 Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Nodaway Paho Sterling Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul 2004 Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec After Graham and others, 2006

25 Spatiotemporal Patterns Vertical Migration or Wind Movement of Surface Accumulations May Rapidly Change the Areal Distribution of Cyanobacteria Rock Creek Lake, Iowa 2006 Beach Closure Event Beach Area Monday July 31 Beach Area Thursday August 3 Photo Courtesy of IA DNR Boat Ramps Friday August 11 Photos Courtesy of IA DNR

26 Spatiotemporal Patterns Vertical Migration or Wind Movement of Surface Accumulations May Rapidly Change the Aerial Distribution of Cyanobacteria Rock Creek Lake, Iowa 2006 Beach Closure Event Beach Area Thursday Beach Area August 3 Monday WHERE DID July THE 31 CYANOBACTERIA GO? Most likely explanation is redistribution in the water column Photo Courtesy of IA DNR Boat Ramps Friday August 11 Photos Courtesy of IA DNR

27 Spatiotemporal Patterns Sample Concentrations Can Vary Considerably Depending on When, Where, and How Samples Are Collected Microcystin (ng/l) Depth (m) Mozingo Lake, MO July 1-2, Microcystis aeruginosa colonies Time Surface Sample Type and Microcystin Concentration (ng/l) Integrated Photic Zone Integrated Epilimnion Integrated Water Column After Graham and others, 2006

28 Spatiotemporal Patterns Sample Concentrations Can Vary Considerably Depending on When, Where, and How Samples Are Collected Microcystin: 13 µg/l Geosmin: 0.25 µg/l Microcystin: 4 µg/l Geosmin: Not Detected

29 Spatiotemporal Patterns Sample Concentrations Can Vary Considerably Depending on When, Where, and How Samples Are Collected Cheney Reservoir August 30, ,000,000 9, Cyanobacterial Biovolume (mm 3 /ml) 10,000,000 1,000,000 Geosmin (ng/l) 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 Geosmin Microcystin Cyanobacteria Microcystin ( g/l) 100,000 0 Cheney 41 Cheney 33 Cheney 27 Cheney 23 Cheney 9 Cheney Downstream

30 Spatiotemporal Patterns Sample Concentrations Can Vary Considerably Depending on When, Where, and How Samples Are Collected

31 Spatiotemporal Patterns Satellite (and Other Aerial) Imagery Captures Spatial Variability Across an Entire Lake Surface Absorption by phycocyanin c. 625 nm Absorption by chlorophyll-a c. 680 nm Cheney Reservoir, KS July 2014 HICO Imagery

32 Spatiotemporal Patterns Ground Truth Data Are Required to Develop Models to Estimate Cyanobacterial Abundance Using Satellite Imagery 6 MPH 6 MPH Cheney Reservoir, KS June 2014

33 Spatiotemporal Patterns Cyanobacterial Toxins and Taste-and-Odor Compounds May Be Transported for Relatively Long Distances Downstream from Lakes and Reservoirs TOTAL MICROCYSTIN, IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER 1,000, ,000 10,000 1, KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT GUIDELINE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION PROVISIONAL GUIDELINE FOR FINISHED DRINKING WATER ANALYTICAL METHOD DETECTION LIMIT 09/01 09/06 09/11 09/16 09/21 09/26 10/01 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2011 MILFORD RESERVOIR NORTH OF DAM MILFORD RESERVOIR OUTFLOW TOTAL MICROCYSTIN ( g/l) SMOKY HILL REPUBLICAN BIG BLUE SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 WHO PROVISIONAL DRINKING-WATER GUIDELINE ANALYTICAL DETECTION THRESHOLD DELAWARE WAKARUSA TRIBUTARY CONCENTRATION MAIN-STEM CONCENTRATON ESTIMATED CONCENTRATION DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM CONFLUENCE WITH MISSOURI RIVER, IN MILES Graham and others, 2012

34 Environmental Influences Globally, Microcystin Occurs in Lakes of All Trophic Status, But Occurrence and Concentration Increase with Trophic Status TP µg/l 10,000 1, <6 µg/l of microcystin 6-20 µg/l of microcystin >20 µg/l of microcystin TN:TP = 7 TN:TP = 30 TN:TP = ,000 10, ,000 TN µg/l After Harris and others 2014

35 Environmental Influences There is No Single Environmental Variable that is Consistently Associated with Microcystin Occurrence and Concentration Reservoir Strongest Correlate r s p-value n Bilby Conductance < Forest Chlorophyll > 35 µm 0.67 < Harrison Total Nitrogen 0.78 < Marceline Dissolved Organic Carbon 0.66 < Mozingo Magnesium < Nodaway Nitrate < Paho Ceriodaphnia abundance 0.81 < Sterling Sodium Graham and others, in preparation

36 Environmental Influences Regional Associations Between Microcystin and Environmental Variables May Not Be Linear Total Microcystin (µg/l) n=100 n=431 n=438 n=297 n=66 n=38 n=20 n=7 n=1 n= % Microcystin Detection Total Nitrogen (µg/l) Total Microcystin (µg/l) n=164 n=485 n=302 n=166 n=115 n=63 n=51 n= n=11 n=6 n=5 n=4 n=2 n=2 n=1 n= % Microcystin Detection Secchi Depth (m) After Graham and Jones, 2009

37 Environmental Influences Thresholds and Probabilities May Better Define Relations Between Environmental Variables and Microcystin Occurrence and Concentration and Provide Insight into Potential Management Scenarios After Harris and others 2014 After Harris and others 2014

38 Environmental Influences Seasonal Patterns and Environmental Influences May Be Relatively Consistent Between Years in Some Lakes Median Normalized Values Cheney Reservoir, KS Geosmin Microcystin Cyanobacteria -0.5 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

39 Environmental Influences Continuous Water-Quality Monitors Can Be Used to Develop Models to Compute Microcystin and Geosmin Concentrations in Real Time Recorded and transmitted hourly Specific conductance Dissolved oxygen and water temperature ph Data available online: Turbidity Dissolved organic matter Chlorophyll and blue-green algae Develop relations to estimate concentrations of variables that cannot be measured in real time

40 Environmental Influences The Logistic Regression Model for Probability of Microcystin Concentrations > 0.1 µg/l in Cheney Reservoir Includes a Seasonal Component and Chlorophyll as Explanatory Variables Probability of Exceeding 0.1 g/l /13 02/13 03/13 04/13 05/13 Stone and Graham, 06/13 07/13 08/13 09/13 10/13 11/13 12/13 01/14 02/ Microcystin ( g/l)

41 Environmental Influences Continuous Water-Quality Models are Site Specific 10 4 Maumee Bay State Park Microcystin, in µg/l On-site measurements Continuous monitor 7-day average Phycocyanin, in RFU Francy and others, in publication

42 Environmental Influences Anomalous Events, Such as Large Summer Inflows, May Disrupt Typical Seasonal Patterns 8 60 Cheney Reservoir January-December Microcystin ( g/l) Geosmin (ng/l) Geosmin Reservoir Storage Microcystin Reservoir Storage (acre-feet) 0 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

43 Conclusions Cyanobacterial blooms and associated toxins and taste-and-odor compounds commonly occur throughout the United States. Several relatively new approaches are available to help describe the spatiotemporal variability and environmental factors driving the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms and associated compounds. Much more study is needed to develop reliable means of predicting and responding to cyanobacterial blooms to ensure public health protection. Milford Lake, Kansas September 2011

44 Additional Information: