Identification and mitigation of cyanobacterial blooms - (NERC GW4 FRESH CDT)

The occurrence of dense blooms of microorganisms, particularly toxic cyanobacteria, in freshwater lakes and reservoirs is a serious and widespread water management issue. Where blooms occur the resource may become unusable for its intended application, with hazards for both recreation and water supply. Water managers need to monitor for hazardous organisms and develop both short-term and long-term mitigation measures. Identification of potentially toxic cyanobacteria is a particular problem: morphologically similar or identical strains may exhibit quite different properties in relation to toxin production, and mitigation measures may need to be tailored for different species, especially planktonic vs. benthic species of cyanobacteria.

The Canal & River Trust manages 72 water bodies across the UK. The Leeds and Liverpool canal is one system they manage, the summit of which is fed by a series of five reservoirs that frequently develop seasonal blooms of cyanobacteria. Depending on the water level of the reservoirs and outlet valve height, the presence of blooms can prevent abstraction from the reservoirs to the canal. The closed canal system with a series of five reservoirs provides a good opportunity to study bloom formation and the effectiveness of mitigation.

The project aims to:
1) Develop DNA-based identification methods for bloom-forming cyanobacteria in tandem with flow cytometry and a new smartphone app “Bloomin’ Algae" to monitor bloom development and species identities.
2) Use these novel rapid methods, alongside current standard microscopy procedures, to test the efficacy of a range of mitigation measures.
3) Develop guidance for the Canal & River Trust on the most cost-effective approaches for monitoring and managing harmful algal blooms.