ALGAE BLOOMS

Algae range from unicellular to multicellular groups of organisms that produce organic compounds from inorganic molecules using energy from photosynthesis for example¹. Even in unfavourable conditions, algae can still produce and thrive by-products, such as lipids, carbohydrates and proteins that can be converted into biofuels or other useful materials¹. Anthropogenic activities, such as fertilizers and pesticides used for agricultural or recreational purposes, transporting sediments from different land uses into nearby water bodies, and over-development on shorelines were major contributors to increased concentrations of metals in rivers². Inappropriate nutrient loading within a watershed affects overall water quality and clarity. Therefore, it is important to be cautious with the use of fertilizers and pesticides that are full of harmful compounds and nutrients like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The misuse and mismanagement of fertilizers can cause nutrient pollution into surface water bodies that can result in eutrophication and the over-production of harmful algal blooms³.

Eutrophication is one of the major drivers of the increase of harmful, severe algal blooms, particularly due to the increase in total P concentration in aquatic ecosystems⁴. Specifically, P particulates deposited in bottom sediments that are released are most likely the cause of the production of harmful algae blooms⁴. This issue has become a dominant threat to the health of the aquatic ecosystem and the species that inhabit the ecosystem. As a result of eutrophication, this often leads to high bacterial populations and low oxygen levels and respiratory rates. In addition to poorly mixed waterbodies more prevalent in the Prairie region, this will lead to anoxic environments, where the loss of aquatic biodiversity and life can occur if not treated properly. Toxins from harmful algae blooms can affect food chains in fish, birds, and humans, and depletes oxygen⁵.

The severity of harmful algae blooms has become one of the greatest water quality challenges in our lake watersheds. When entering a lake that appears to have blue-green algae like the figure shown above, treat any algae bloom as toxic and do not swim or engage in recreational water activities with the surface of water that contains the scum on the surface. Do not ingest the contaminated water. Once the water transitions from blue to green, looks mouldy and has an unpleasant odour, this water is contaminated with toxic algae blooms and most likely causes freshwater deficiency. To lessen the frequent events of algae blooms occurring, continuously monitoring, and controlling algae growth is required. Regular monitoring of major algal bloom species before ecosystem-scale toxicity effects and degradation occurs⁶. If you see an algal bloom in your lake, be sure to report this concern at: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/environment-public-health-and-safety/environmental-health/healthy-beach-program/report-an-algal-bloom

Song: Algae Blooms (Super Bass Remix) – Vivian Nguyen

Lyrics:

This one goes out to the ecosystem
I’m talking about the water from the ecosystem
Over enrichment, water be (is) acting up
Got lots of nutrients like they savin’ (saving) up
And they (are) ill, aquatic animals gotta (got to) deal

We gotta (got to) clean it up so the system can heal
Fish swim, they breathe, with low energy
Cause of low O (oxygen) so we bring the synergy
Eutrophication is super toxic
This leads to low O (oxygen) which is anoxic
Aerobic is the condition we looking for
And yes, we’re working to restore it, yo
I said, excuse me, are you listening?
Aren’t all these issues concerning
I mean, we gotta (got to) learn and protect the water
Or the water won’t be clean for our sons and daughters, oh

Yes, we did, yes, we did
Let’s respect the water, no more excess Ps (phosphorus)
Or we can’t escape the toxicity
Let’s clean the water up, so we can fill a cup

Boy, the excess Ps (phosphorus) gotta (got to) move out the way
Lots of Algal blooms are coming your way
Can’t you see that
Bloom, bla-bloom, bloom, bloom, bla-bloom, bloom, bloom
The toxic algal blooms
Bloom, bla-bloom, bloom, bloom, bla-bloom, bloom, bloom
The toxic algal blooms

Menetrez, M. Y. (2012). An overview of algae biofuel production and potential environmental impact. Environmental science & technology, 46(13), 7073-7085.
Igwe, P. U., Chukwudi, C. C., Ifenatuorah, F. C., Fagbeja, I. F., & Okeke, C. A. (2017). A review of environmental effects of surface water pollution. International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research
Haig, H. A., Chegoonian, A. M., Davies, J. M., Bateson, D., & Leavitt, P. R. (2022). Marked blue discoloration of late winter ice and water due to autumn blooms of cyanobacteria. Lake and Reservoir Management, 38(1), 1-15.
Chirico, N., António, D. C., Pozzoli, L., Marinov, D., Malagó, A., Sanseverino, I., … & Lettieri, T. (2020). Cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Varese: analysis and characterization over ten years of observations. Water, 12(3), 675.
Fazal-ur-Rehman, M. (2019). Polluted Water Borne Diseases: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Prevention. Journal of Medicinal and Chemical Sciences, 2(3), 85-91.
Balaji-Prasath, B., Wang, Y., Su, Y. P., Hamilton, D. P., Lin, H., Zheng, L., & Zhang, Y. (2022). Methods to control harmful algal blooms: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 1-20.

Introduction to Blue-Green Algae (Video Credit: Nova Scotia Government)

Song: Algae Blooms (Super Bass Remix) – Vivian Nguyen

Fact Sheets

References