Strategies for monitoring and managing mass populations of toxic cyanobacteria in recreational waters: a multi-interdisciplinary approach.
Mass populations of toxin-producing cyanobacteria commonly develop in fresh-, brackish- and marine waters and effective strategies for monitoring and managing cyanobacterial health risks are required to safeguard animal and human health. A multi-interdisciplinary study, including two UK freshwaters with a history of toxic cyanobacterial blooms, was undertaken to explore different approaches for the identification, monitoring and management of potentially-toxic cyanobacteria and their associated risks. The results demonstrate that (i) cyanobacterial bloom occurrence can be predicted at a local- and national-scale using process-based and statistical models; (ii) cyanobacterial concentration and distribution in waterbodies can be monitored using remote sensing, but minimum detection limits need to be evaluated; (iii) cyanotoxins may be transferred to spray-irrigated root crops; and (iv) attitudes and perceptions towards risks influence the public's preferences and willingness-to-pay for cyanobacterial health risk reductions in recreational waters.
Tyler
Andrew N
AN
University of Stirling, UK. a.n.tyler@stir.ac.uk
Hunter
Peter D
PD
Carvalho
Laurence
L
Codd
Geoffrey A
GA
Elliott
J Alex
JA
Ferguson
Claire A
CA
Hanley
Nick D
ND
Hopkins
David W
DW
Maberly
Stephen C
SC
Mearns
Kathryn J
KJ
Scott
E Marion
EM
D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D057097:Harmful Algal Bloom; D006801:Humans; D052998:Microcystins / Q000032:analysis; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010465:Perception; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
D052998:Microcystins; D014873:Water Pollutants; C078588:microcystin