Citation:

Tatters, A., C. Clevenger, W. Strangman, S. Oehrle, R. Kudela, J. Aukamp, AND Y. Wan. Benthic cyanobacterial accumulations and associated cyanotoxins in coastal urban stormwater pond networks. Harmful Algae. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, 144:102833, (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2025.102833

Impact/Purpose:

Benthic cyanobacterial assemblages are often associated with low nutrient concentrations and good water clarity. These organisms are common sources of a myriad of cyanotoxins with a range of bioactivities and often proliferate under conditions that do not favor other species. As stormwater ponds/networks are often located adjacent to residential/population centers, the probability of exposure (human, domesticated and wild animals) is heightened. This work represents our first year (2021) of a multi-year investigation into a coastal urban stormwater pond network located in northwest Florida. We are working towards an expanded effort to compare stormwater treatment ponds with a focus on cyanobacterial, cyanotoxin, and selected pathogen dynamics.  It is anticipated that the focal study parameters will change with event-driven hydrology and seasonal temperature fluctuations encountered during this study, providing the opportunity to explore global change influence.

Description:

Extensive cyanobacteria-dominated mats were observed during late summer of 2021 within coastal urban stormwater retention pond networks in northwest Florida. Common in residential communities across the region, such ponds may be routinely visited by humans, domestic and wild animals, and often contain a variety of aquatic life. To begin examining correlations between environmental factors and mat characteristics, we investigated the temporal heterogeneity of these networks with regards to presence of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, associated toxins, and other putative cyanobacterial compounds throughout the fall at several sites within the networks. Multiple toxin classes were detected in whole water and passive SPATT samples using targeted analysis including levels of cylindrospermopsin that exceeded national recreational guidelines. Nontargeted analysis also revealed a collection of potential cyanobacteria-associated compounds. Our results suggest that the benthic proliferations may be, at least in part, correlated with the intended functions of the stormwater treatment networks, which are nutrient and sediment removal. Furthermore, these retention ponds may serve as an episodic source of cyanotoxins to estuarine waters.

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