Blue Green Algae Research Paper

Economically speaking, these algal blooms are responsible for millions of dollars in losses annually. Local economies prosper thanks to the millions of recreation tourists who benefit from this vacation destination, but in 2011 alone, Lake Erie algal blooms cost Ohio’s recreation fishing industry and Maumee Bay State Park an estimated combined total loss of 3.7 million dollars US (McLean et al., 2014). Not to mention, treating the toxic water to make it potable again has costly demands, as well (Yeoman, 2011).

Algae blooms have been an issue in the Chesapeake Bay, especially in the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Algae is a natural and critical part of the ecosystem, however in large doses it is harmful to the plants and organisms within the ecosystem. Algae blooms can block out sunlight and kill other plants in the water. Algae depends on various factors such as water, nutrients and carbon dioxide to grow. Eutrophication of the Inner Harbor has lead to algae blooms that have caused large fish kills in the past. When there is an over abundance of certain chemical nutrients eutrophication can occur. Runoff from land and farms is the main cause of excess nutrients into the water. The most common nutrients that are related to algae outbreaks are nitrate nitrogen and phosphate. In addition, a lack of dissolved oxygen can also be an indicator for the process of eutrophication and risk of an algae outbreak. A particular type of algae commonly found in Maryland is known as Prorocentrum minimum. Prorocentrum tends to cause “mahogany tides” causing water to be brown and have an odor. There has been a campaign launched by the Healthy Harbor

The size of this algae ranges from microscopic, to macroalage, which is large, visible pieces of algae that form on the bottom of sediments.Certain types of algae can produce dangerous chemicals which are harmful to humans, wildlife, and aquatic creatures. Although these different algae are harmful, there aren’t enough of them to make a dent in the amount of life there is in the Chesapeake Bay. With such little amounts of toxic algae, much of it becomes a vital food source, which could cause an issue if the amount of it were to drop. Without this algae, many of the animals would begin to die off because there would not be be enough food for all of them. If this does happen, there would be many dead animals floating and decomposing in the water. The main animals that feed off the algae are smaller fish. Which, with these smaller fish dying, the larger fish and other animals would also begin dying off since the smaller fish are their food source.

Effects on the local Great Lake biosphere have accumulations of toxins within the food chain. For instance, fish. Consuming a large amount of fish exposed to these toxic chemicals can expose you to DDT, dioxin, and PCVs, these chemicals are known for being carcinogenic, and can cause neurological disorders and a weakened immune system. Being exposed to the Water by swimming can also cause immune problems if swallowed. These chemicals also are known for causing skin cancer if exposed to the external body.

The SEA Phage Project is a national project that keeps in account of different phage discoveries across the country. This research course for the two semester starts with digging up soil to find rare and similar phages (http://seaphages.org/). Started by the Howard Hughes Medical, it helps students get the experience of being in an advance lab session and also helps with advancing in their science career of their choice in genome annotation and bioinformatic analysis (http://seaphages.org/). The program requires a set of protocols used into completing this research. Its components are 1. Isolation, purification and amplification, 2. Bioinformatic and genomic features (Poxleitner, M, et al). The purpose of this research is to learn different lab techniques and experience a real- life lab work that is able to stay with students and use it for future references.

There are several environmental concerns affecting the community of Lusby, Maryland, but of main concern is the cyanobacteria growing in the Chesapeake Bay. The blue-green algae called cyanobacteria is infesting the waterways in and around Lusby causing a hazard to the community. According to National Geographic (n.d.), the Chesapeake Bay was one of the first waterways recognized in the 1970s having overgrowth of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria contains both an algae and a bacteria and when growth exceeds space and the algae begins to die, two issues occur: toxins are produced and released which are harmful to both humans and animals and hypoxia follows as oxygen is consumed in excessive creating a dead zone in the water for all other living

Contaminated water poses health risks on humans, pets, wild animals, and farm animals. (Mcdermott-Levy 2013)

The chemicals found in water can be dangerous toward our health. We live near the Great Lakes which supplies 20% of the World’s fresh water. It also has chemicals that threaten the life evolving around the fresh water. There are medical drugs that are being introduced to the fresh water lakes. Stuff like antibiotics and steroids. These pharmaceuticals are posing danger for the environment. This could affect the lake life,s growth.

There are several environmental concerns affecting the community of Lusby, Maryland, but of main concern is the cyanobacteria growing in the Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake Bay and Patuxent River surrounded the peninsula town on Lusby and numerous lakes and creeks are embedded in the town as well, creating breeding ground for the blue-green algae, cyanobacteria and a hazard for the community. According to National Geographic, the Chesapeake Bay was one of the first waterways recognized in the 1970s that had overgrowth of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria contains both an algae and a bacteria and when growth exceeds space and the algae begins to die, two issues occur: toxins are produced and released which are harmful to both humans and animals and hypoxia follows as oxygen is consumed in excessive creating a dead zone in the water for all other living organisms in the bay (“U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Health and Ecological Effects, Nutrient Pollution Policy and Data,” n.d.).

In addition, the nutrients from these sources cause harm to the Gulf of Mexico because they cause an increase of algae growth in the area usually known as red tide. The algae releases toxins in the water, killing many of the marine mammal life

The rise in phosphorus causes algae to bloom, and the toxins from the algae bloom result in unsafe water conditions for humans and animals. Phosphorus pollution appears everywhere in the state from individual wastewater facilities in urban areas to farmland water runoffs in Lower and Central Minnesota. It is a danger because it causes algae to thrive and algae bloom can be toxic to humans and animals. Phosphorus pollution affects people and pets such as fishermen, swimmers, and boaters. It also affects urban and suburban communities such as Mounds View that are built around lakes and freshwater bodies. Therefore phosphorus pollution is a danger to the population of Mounds View Minnesota, but can be reduced by use of alternative fertilizers and use of phosphorus free

The United States of America’s west coast is home to a diverse population of aquatic creatures. Amongst those sea-dwellers is a kind of mammal called a California sea lion. The website Scientific American has published an article on how the amount of naturally occurring algae in the California sea lions’ habitats has reached an all-time record high in 2015. Though one may not see algae as a necessarily bad thing, when grown in excess amounts, the toxins in algae can accumulate and cause harm to the ecosystem. Some may ask, how does this affect west coast sea lions?

This is a major issue, as some algae releases a deadly liver toxin into the water called microcystin, while consuming oxygen to fuel this process. We’ve found ourselves digging another grave for Lake Erie, so let’s try not to dig it any

Livestock and pets can also be affected by skin contact or swallowing harmful algae and some algae can be lethal to fish either as a result of the release

In Lake Erie, there is out-of-control algae growth that created dead zones. The problem has become critical in the western Lake because of harmful chemicals. Contaminants in fish certainly are causing health problems. At present, the solution is to make