Survival of cyanobacteria in rivers following their release in water from large headwater reservoirs

Williamson, N.; Kobayashi, Teiichi; Outhet, David; Bowling, Lee C.

doi:10.1016/j.hal.2018.04.004

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Aphanizomenon is also susceptible to shorter residence and was less abundant in 2011 . Differing levels of turbulent flow have also been reported to determine the presence of cyanobacteria in river systems (Williamson, Kobayashi, Outhet, & Bowling, 2018 Descy, 1993;Ha et al, 1999;Mitrovic et al, 2011;Williamson et al, 2018). During the low discharge of 2009, it is likely that backwater areas, upstream of the main channel transect, served as a seed source to the main channel (Sommer, Harrell, & Swift, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental factors controlling phytoplankton dynamics in a large floodplain river with emphasis on cyanobacteria

Giblin

Gerrish

2020

River Research & Apps

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Harmful algal blooms are occurring in large river ecosystems and at the mouth of large rivers with increasing frequency. In lentic systems, the chemical and physical conditions that promote harmful algal blooms are somewhat predictable but tracking prevalence and conditions that promote harmful algal blooms in lotic systems is much more difficult. We captured two of the most extreme discharge years within the last 20 years occurring in the Upper Mississippi River, allowing a natural experiment that evaluated how major shifts in discharge drive environmental variation and associated shifts in phytoplankton. Statistical models describing significant environmental covariates for phytoplankton assemblages and specific taxa were developed and used to identify management‐relevant numeric breakpoints at which environmental variables may promote the growth of specific phytoplankton and/or cyanobacteria. Our analyses supported that potentially toxin‐producing cyanobacteria dominate under high phosphorus concentration, low nitrogen concentration, low nitrogen‐to‐phosphorus ratio, low turbulence, low flushing, adequate light and warm temperatures. Cyanobacteria dominated in 2009 when low discharge and low flushing likely led to optimal growth environments for Dolichospermum, Aphanizomenon and Microcystis. Rarely will a single factor lead to the dominance, but multiple positive factors working in concert can lead to cyanobacteria proliferation in large rivers. Certain isolated backwaters with high phosphorus, low nitrogen, warm water temperatures and low potential for flushing could benefit from increased connection to channel inputs to reduce cyanobacterial dominance. Numerous examples of this type of habitat currently exist in the Upper Mississippi River and could benefit from reconnection to channel habitats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental factors controlling phytoplankton dynamics in a large floodplain river with emphasis on cyanobacteria

Giblin

Gerrish

2020

River Research & Apps

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“…However, we note that extreme water‐level reduction and the implementation of proactive water‐level drawdowns will require carefully considering potential negative impacts (e.g., overgrowth of macrophytes, loss of littoral habitats, and methane emissions) (Hamabata & Kobayashi, 2002; Harrison et al, 2017; Yamamoto et al, 2006). We also caution that water‐level drawdowns in hypereutrophic lakes and reservoirs may cause many nutrients and cyanobacteria to be discharged and lead to the degradation of downstream water quality (Williamson, Kobayashi, et al, 2018). We emphasise the need to develop an effective integrated water‐level management strategy to achieve a balance between water quality improvement, water supply and demand, flood mitigation, and conservation of biodiversity at the catchment scale.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Water‐level drawdowns can improve surface water quality and alleviate bottom hypoxia in shallow, eutrophic water bodies

et al. 2022

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Water‐level drawdowns are a management option for improving water quality in shallow, eutrophic lakes, but how much water levels should be reduced and what abiotic and biotic mechanisms can be expected to reduce the adverse effects of eutrophication are unclear. We conducted a study with two experimental pools (10 m wide, 30 m long, and approx. 2.5 m water depth) in a before‐after‐control‐impact design to examine whether water‐level drawdowns could influence surface water quality and bottom‐water conditions, as well as how physicochemical and biological variables contributed to improvements. In the experiment, we fertilised the pools to increase productivity and induce hypoxia, and then reduced water levels four times in increments of 0.5 m. Our experiment using high‐frequency sensors showed that water‐level drawdowns could decrease cyanobacterial blooms and alleviate hypoxia relatively quickly by changing physicochemical conditions. Water‐level reductions quickly increased bottom light illuminance, increased bottom‐water temperatures, and weakened stratification. The result was a dramatic increase in bottom‐water dissolved oxygen concentrations. Water‐level drawdowns also decreased the relative fluorescence of chlorophyll and phycocyanin, probably because of a decrease of internal nutrient loadings from sediment. Total nitrogen and NH4‐N concentrations in the water column decreased after water‐level reductions, and NH4‐N and PO4‐P concentrations in sediment pore waters were reduced in the water‐level treatment. Periphyton biomass did not change after the water‐level drawdowns. Water‐level manipulations increased the abundance of cyclopoids and calanoids but not large cladocerans. These biological processes responded slowly to water‐level drawdowns and are unlikely to have contributed to water quality improvement. Overall, the size of the water‐level reduction required to start changing water quality was 0.5–1.0 m. Our results suggested that a temporary reduction in water‐level of 20%–40% of the depth might help to suppress cyanobacterial blooms and hypoxia in shallow lakes, reservoirs, and agricultural ponds. Such water‐level management may help resolve conflicting demands for water and may be incorporated into management plans for flood control.

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“…The transportation of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins can range from a few to hundreds of kilometers (Bormans et al, 2019; Bowling et al, 2013; Davis et al, 2014; Graham et al, 2012; Miller et al, 2010; Otten et al, 2015; Preece et al, 2015; Rosen et al, 2018). Cyanobacteria have been shown to survive release from reservoirs through hydroelectric dams and to remain viable and capable of toxin production downstream (Bouma‐Gregson et al, 2017; Genzoli & Kann, 2017; Graham et al, 2012; Ingleton et al, 2008; Otten et al, 2015; Williamson et al, 2018). For Microcystis specifically, the transport of cells for long distances, as well as bloom development downstream, has been documented by applying molecular methods in several river, lake, and estuarine systems including the Kansas River, the Lower Great Lakes, and the Klamath River and Estuary (Davis et al, 2014; Graham et al, 2012; Otten et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrative monitoring strategy for marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and toxins across the freshwater‐to‐marine continuum

Howard¹,

Smith

Caron

et al. 2022

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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Many coastal states throughout the USA have observed negative effects in marine and estuarine environments caused by cyanotoxins produced in inland waterbodies that were transported downstream or produced in the estuaries. Estuaries and other downstream receiving waters now face the dual risk of impacts from harmful algal blooms (HABs) that occur in the coastal ocean as well as those originating in inland watersheds. Despite this risk, most HAB monitoring efforts do not account for hydrological connections in their monitoring strategies and designs. Monitoring efforts in California have revealed the persistent detection of cyanotoxins across the freshwater‐to‐marine continuum. These studies underscore the importance of inland waters as conduits for the transfer of cyanotoxins to the marine environment and highlight the importance of approaches that can monitor across hydrologically connected waterbodies. A HAB monitoring strategy is presented for the freshwater‐to‐marine continuum to inform HAB management and mitigation efforts and address the physical and hydrologic challenges encountered when monitoring in these systems. Three main recommendations are presented based on published studies, new datasets, and existing monitoring programs. First, HAB monitoring would benefit from coordinated and cohesive efforts across hydrologically interconnected waterbodies and across organizational and political boundaries and jurisdictions. Second, a combination of sampling modalities would provide the most effective monitoring for HAB toxin dynamics and transport across hydrologically connected waterbodies, from headwater sources to downstream receiving waterbodies. Third, routine monitoring is needed for toxin mixtures at the land–sea interface including algal toxins of marine origins as well as cyanotoxins that are sourced from inland freshwater or produced in estuaries. Case studies from California are presented to illustrate the implementation of these recommendations, but these recommendations can also be applied to inland states or regions where the downstream receiving waterbody is a freshwater lake, reservoir, or river. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:586–604. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

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Survival of cyanobacteria in rivers following their release in water from large headwater reservoirs

Cited by 11 publications

References 36 publications

Environmental factors controlling phytoplankton dynamics in a large floodplain river with emphasis on cyanobacteria

Environmental factors controlling phytoplankton dynamics in a large floodplain river with emphasis on cyanobacteria

Water‐level drawdowns can improve surface water quality and alleviate bottom hypoxia in shallow, eutrophic water bodies

Integrative monitoring strategy for marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and toxins across the freshwater‐to‐marine continuum

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