Persistent Cyanobacteria Blooms in Artificial Water Bodies—An Effect of Environmental Conditions or the Result of Anthropogenic Change

Paulina Nowicka-Krawczyk, Joanna Żelazna-Wieczorek, Izabela Skrobek, Maciej Ziułkiewicz, Michał Adamski, Ariel Kaminski and Paweł Żmudzki
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Paulina Nowicka-Krawczyk: Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Joanna Żelazna-Wieczorek: Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Izabela Skrobek: Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
Maciej Ziułkiewicz: Department of Geology and Geomorphology, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, University of Lodz, Narutowicza 88, 90-139 Lodz, Poland
Michał Adamski: W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512 Cracow, Poland
Ariel Kaminski: Laboratory of Metabolomics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Cracow, Poland
Paweł Żmudzki: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Cracow, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: Algal blooms are an emerging problem. The massive development of phytoplankton is driven partly by the anthropogenic eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems and the expansion of toxic cyanobacteria in planktonic communities in temperate climate zones by the continual increase in global temperature. Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) not only disturb the ecological balance of the ecosystem, but they also prevent the use of waterbodies by humans. This study examines the cause of an unusual, persistent bloom in a recreational, flow-through reservoir; the findings emphasize the role played by the river supplying the reservoir in the formation of its massive cyanobacterial bloom. Comprehensive ecosystem-based environmental studies were performed, including climate change investigation, hydrochemical analysis, and bio-assessment of the ecological state of the river/reservoir, together with monitoring the cyanobacteria content of phytoplankton. Our findings show that the persistent and dominant biomass of Microcystis was related to the N/P ratio, while the presence of Aphanizomenon and Dolichospermum was associated with the high-temperature end electric conductivity of water. Together with the increase in global temperature, the massive and persistent cyanobacterial bloom appears to be maintained by the inflow of biogenic compounds carried by the river and the high electric conductivity of water. Even at the beginning of the phenomenon, the reservoir water already contained cyanobacterial toxins, which excluded its recreational use for about half the year.

Keywords: artificial reservoir; CyanoHABs; eutrophication; global warming; human impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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