Cyanobacteria pose a serious threat to water quality, aquatic wildlife and fisheries. The reduction of phosphorus in freshwaters is a widely used measure to control algal blooms caused by these bacteria. Although phosphorus reduction reduces the total biomass, it can lead to increased toxin production by cyanobacteria.
Reducing aquatic phosphorus eutrophication can increase toxins production
Cyanobacteria pose a serious threat to water quality, aquatic wildlife and fisheries. The reduction of phosphorus in freshwaters is a widely used measure to control algal blooms caused by these bacteria. Although phosphorus reduction reduces the total biomass, it can lead to increased toxin production by cyanobacteria.
Nº 18
Lake Erie
- Freshwater Resources
- Reduction of Freshwater Pollution
- Controlling Nutrient Levels
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made
None
Reducing aquatic phosphorus eutrophication can increase toxins production
Model predictions indicate that reductions in phosphorus in Lake Erie will lead to increased toxicity in the lake. These reductions are the result of an intervention to reduce the negative impact of nutrient-laden runoff from agricultural activities. In a situation with lower levels of phosphorus, cyanobacteria may produce more toxins. The debate on this issue is not yet settled, as another study has questioned the validity of the results, while the authors of the original study have defended their methodology.
- Facilitated the efforts to address the initial problem
- Cascading (far-reaching effects following each other)
Hellweger, F. L., Martin, R. M., Eigemann, F., Smith, D. J., Dick, G. J., & Wilhelm, S. W. (2022). Models predict planned phosphorus load reduction will make Lake Erie more toxic. Science, 376(6596), 1001-1005. https://doi-org.proxy.library.uu.nl/10.1126/science.abm6791
Huisman, J., Dittmann, E., Fastner, J., Schuurmans, J. M., Scott, J. T., de Waal, D. B. van, Visser, P. M., Welker, M., & Chorus, I. (2022). Comment on “Models predict planned phosphorus load reduction will make Lake Erie more toxic”. Science, 378(6620), eadd9959. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.add9959
Hellweger, F. L., Schampera, C., Martin, R. M., Eigemann, F., Smith, D. J., Dick, G. J., & Wilhelm, S. W. (2022). Response to Comment on “Models predict planned phosphorus load reduction will make Lake Erie more toxic”. Science, 378(6620), eade2277. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ade2277
Hellweger, F. L., Martin, R. M., Eigemann, F., Smith, D. J., Dick, G. J., & Wilhelm, S. W. (2022). Models predict planned phosphorus load reduction will make Lake Erie more toxic. Science, 376(6596), 1001-1005. https://doi-org.proxy.library.uu.nl/10.1126/science.abm6791
Paerl, H. W., Otten, T. G., & Kudela, R. (2018). Mitigating the expansion of harmful algal blooms across the freshwater-to-marine continuum. Environ. Sci. Technol., 52(10), 5519–5529. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b05950
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