title: Strategies for monitoring and managing mass populations of toxic cyanobacteria in recreational waters: a multi-interdisciplinary approach.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Stirling, UK. a.n.tyler@stir.ac.uk
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Geoffrey A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Codd
authors.forename: J Alex
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Claire A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Nick D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Maberly
authors.forename: Kathryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Mearns
authors.forename: E Marion
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins; D014873:Water Pollutants; C078588:microcystin