Blue Green Algae Sensors, Marine & Fresh Flashcards
What is blue green algae?
Blue-green algae are microscopic, plant-like organisms that occur naturally in ponds, rivers, lakes and streams. Although often blue-green, they can also be olive-green or red.
What does the term bloom refer to?
Blue-green algae are not normally visible in the water, but populations can rapidly increase to form a large mass or scum called a bloom when conditions are favourable.
Dense blue-green algae blooms may make the water look bluish-green, or like green pea soup or turquoise paint. Very dense blooms may form solid-looking clumps.
Fresh blooms often smell like newly mown grass, while older blooms may smell like rotting garbage.
When do algae blooms most commonly occur?
Blooms most commonly occur in late summer and early fall. They thrive in areas where the water is shallow, slow moving and warm, but they may be present in deeper, cooler water.
What is a key contributing factor to the growth of blue green algae?
High levels of phosphorus and nitrogen are big contributing factors. *add further
Where are some areas on PEI where blue-green algae has been an issue in the past?
There are a few, the most recent of which are; Clark’s Pond , Cavendish (PEI National Park) in 2016, MacLure’s Dam, in Murray River August 2018, and the Treatment Lagoon, O’Leary in October 2018.
Both the area in Cavendish and in Murray River have had bloom events a few time before. (Recurring issue?)
What are a few effective methods for lowering the risk of a blue green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom?
Take these simple steps to prevent the growth of blue-green algae:
- use phosphate-free detergents, personal care and household cleaning products
- avoid using fertilizers on lawns, especially fertilizers that contain phosphorus
- maintain a natural shoreline on lake and riverfront properties; native plants naturally filter water
- reduce agricultural runoff by planting or maintaining vegetation along waterways and minimizing fertilizer use
- check septic systems to ensure they do not leak into the water source
What is the name “blue-green algae” misleading?
Blue green algae, whether salt or fresh water type, is not in fact an algae, but rather a bacteria.
The bacteria contains chloroplasts which give them colour, and they belong to the group of organisms called cyanobacteria.
What are some negative effects of a blue green algae bloom?
Blooms can cause; discoloured water, reduced light penetration, dissolved oxygen penetrations during die-off, and toxin production. A reduction in light penetration affects other aquatic organisms in the habitat, such as phytoplankton and aquatic plants that need light for photosynthesis. In extreme cases, fish and land animal death.
How do blue green algae sensors operate?
The sensors are fluorometers which emit light and measure the light returned by the bacteria. THis works because the bacteria are fluorescent, meaning they both absorb and emit light.
The blue green algae sensor measures the amount of light emitted by the algae, which indicates the concentration of algae in the water sample.
For example: the AquaLife optical sensor can measure phycocyanin in the range of 0 – 300,000 cells/mL and phycoerythrin in the range of 0 – 200,000 cells/mL.
How does a blue green algae sensor work in fresh water, such as lakes and rivers?
Using freshwater settings for phycocyanin, an orange light is emitted by the device. The algae absorbs the energy from the light and emits, or fluoresces, red light.
How does a blue green algae sensor work in salt/marine water, such as estuaries and oceans?
For marine blue green algae (phycoerythrin), a green light is transmitted and the algae fluoresces orange light.
What is phycocyanin, and what is phycoerythrin?
Phycocyanin is the blue pigment found in blue-green algae and cyanobacteria.
Phycoerythrin is a red protein-pigment complex from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family, present in red algae and some cyanobacteria.
What is the best method for obtain the most precise blue green algae measurements?
It is possible to obtain more accurate results by post-calibrating the data obtained using the fluorometer in the field with data from standard lab analysis of grab samples acquired during the study. The blue green algae testing electrode must be calibrated carefully to maximize accuracy and ensure consistent, reliable results.
What are you options with AquaLife for obtaining a blue green algae sensing device?
The multi parameter probes include standard parameters and additional sockets, to allow users to mix and match and create the instrument that best meets their needs.
Alternatively, if you don’t need a multi parameter device we have designed the AP-LITE that has just one socket for an optical electrode.
