Blooms of the cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula in coastal Queensland, Australia: disparate sites, common factors.
During the last decade there has been a significant rise in observations of blooms of the toxic cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula along the east coast of Queensland, Australia. Whether the increase in cyanobacterial abundance is a biological indicator of widespread water quality degradation or also a function of other environmental change is unknown. A bioassay approach was used to assesses the potential for runoff from various land uses to stimulate productivity of L. majuscula. In Moreton Bay, L. majuscula productivity was significantly (p<0.05) stimulated by soil extracts, which were high in phosphorus, iron and organic carbon. Productivity of L. majuscula from the Great Barrier Reef was also significantly (p<0.05) elevated by iron and phosphorus rich extracts, in this case seabird guano adjacent to the bloom site. Hence, it is possible that other L. majuscula blooms are a result of similar stimulating factors (iron, phosphorus and organic carbon), delivered through different mechanisms.
Albert
Simon
S
University of Queensland, Centre for Marine Studies, Brisbane, Qld. 4072, Australia. s.albert@uq.edu.au
O'Neil
Judith M
JM
Udy
James W
JW
Ahern
Kathleen S
KS
O'Sullivan
Cherie M
CM
Dennison
William C
WC
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D001717:Birds; D002244:Carbon; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005068:Eutrophication; D007501:Iron; D008372:Manure; D010758:Phosphorus; D011793:Queensland; D012307:Risk Factors; D014872:Water Movements; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*
D008372:Manure; D014873:Water Pollutants; D010758:Phosphorus; D002244:Carbon; D007501:Iron