Citation:

Banerji, A., M. Bagley, E. Pilgrim, J. Martinson, S. Guglielmi, Dan Tettenhorst, J. Shoemaker, Joel Allen, C. Nietch, J. Santodomingo, J. Lu, AND Jim Lazorchak. Do Eukaryotic Species Interactions Drive Freshwater HAB Dynamics? SETAC World Congress/ SETAC North America 37th Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, November 06 - 10, 2016.

Impact/Purpose:

Showcasing of the use of new analytical methods and preliminary results.

Description:

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) constitute an increasingly frequent and severe threat to human health and the environment worldwide. The US EPA’s research into how to anticipate and mitigate HABs emphasizes the important role of abiotic factors such as nutrient pollution and temperature. Though informative, these research efforts may be insufficient by themselves. Accounting for the influences of biotic interactions such as predation, disease, and competition on HAB formation/dissipation may improve the power of HAB prediction and mitigation strategies. In the present study, we use a metabarcoding approach to profile changes in the aquatic community of a multipurpose reservoir in southeastern Ohio, USA, that has recently become prone to summertime blooms of toxic cyanobacteria. Our preliminary data indicate a consistent pattern in which HAB formation coincides with conspicuous spikes in the abundance of herbivorous crustacean zooplankton and rapid declines of green algae. Ongoing analyses are intended to elucidate key community dynamics foretelling HAB formation/dissipation. In addition, controlled laboratory experiments will be used to test hypotheses regarding mechanisms driving these dynamics.

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