Poster Details
USING LANDUSE TO PREDICT AT-RISK INLAND LAKES FOR HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM (HABS)
The emergence of harmful cyanobacteria threatens freshwater ecosystems and a risk for human health. The rapid growth of blue-green algae can cause rapid decline of water quality if left unchecked. For a large scale study on harmful algal blooms (HABs), detection with quick, robust, and cheap methods is needed. A survey of 28 inland lakes was conducted using three analytical methods. Quanititative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) was used to detect and quantify the 16s rRNA for cyanobacteria. QPCR was also used to detect mcyE, cyrA, and sxtA gene which is responsible for microcystin, cylindrospermonsin, and saxitoxin respectively. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in tandem (LC-MS/MS) was used in identifying and quantifying the toxin variants. Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) kit from Abraxxis was used in parallel. The results shown a positive correlation with percentage of developed areas within the watershed, and a negative correlation with forested areas. QPCR results shown various levels of mcyE gene, however no detectable levels of cyrA and sxtA. Using geographic information system (GIS), analysis of land use, nutrient levels, and quantification of microcystins can enable a classification method of ranking other water-bodies for HABs.
Hamzah Ansari (Primary Presenter/Author), Oakland University, hdansar2@oakland.edu;
David Szlang (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Oakland University, szlag@oakland.edu;