Algal blooms occur when algae populations grow quickly and become very abundant. Blooms are sometimes visible and turn the water green, blue, brown, or red. Surface blooms can look like spilled paint, surface scums, grass clippings, paint chips, or pea soup.
Algae is considered harmful when they have negative effects on lake organisms or impede the use of the lake. These types of blooms are called Harmful Algal Blooms, or HABs. Algal blooms can cause problems in lake ecosystems and for people living on or recreating in lakes. Blooms can be unsightly and can smell unpleasant. Blooms of filamentous algae can clog motors and water intakes. Blooms can also cause oxygen depletion, or anoxia. While algae produce oxygen through photosynthesis, the process of decomposition uses oxygen. So when an algal bloom senesces, or dies, the decomposition of the dead algal cells can decrease the oxygen concentration in the water, leading to oxygen stress for other lake organisms and even fish kills in some cases. HABs can also be harmful to humans and pets. Cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) are a type of bacteria often grouped with algae. Some types of cyanobacteria are capable of producing toxins that are harmful to people and pets. When these bacteria bloom, they can form a toxic HAB. |
Images of HABs taken from 2018-2022 from lakes in the Poconos. Photos provided by PLEON.
An introduction to HABs by Lauren Knose, PhD. Candidate at Miami University of Ohio.
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Learn more about HAB research at Lacawac, the Ohio River, and Lake Erie in this Live From The Field presentation featuring Lauren Knose and other field station researchers. Note: the Lacawac portion starts at time stamp 12:27.
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Learn more about a survey of HABs in Pocono lakes during 2019.
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When visiting your local lake, look out for advisory and warning signs that may be found at your lake. It is recommended to avoid contact with water that may have a harmful algal bloom.
Some observations of potential HABs may include:
If you suspect a HAB:
If contact or ingestion with water occurs for either a pet or human:
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The Pocono Lakes Ecological Observatory Network, or PLEON, is Lacawac Sanctuary's lake monitoring and education program. PLEON seeks to better understand lakes within the Pocono region and to help lake communities become effective lake stewards. PLEON has a citizen-led, volunteer water quality monitoring program on Lake Wallenpaupack. This program is a great way to get involved in lake stewardship and HAB monitoring.
Walllenpaupack is a cornerstone of tourism and recreation in the Pocono region. PLEON's Water Quality in Action program trains volunteers to collect water quality data and to visually assess algal conditions off their Wallenpaupack boat or dock. Volunteers and PLEON interns currently monitor 30 sites along the shoreline of this vitally important natural resource. |
To learn more about the history and origin, identification in the field, unique morphology, growth of colonies, specialization of cells in colonies, lab applications, and predation of cyanobacteria watch this episode of Pondlife published by the American Museum of Natural History! Algae collected in the video come from ponds in New York City.
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Special look at algal blooms in Lake Erie and consequences from blooms: half a million people were left without usable water due to an algal bloom. For more information on this particular Great Lake, its blooms, and ecological impacts of HABs across the United States watch this video published by NBC News Learn.
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For more information on the chemistry of cyanotoxins and harmful algal blooms check out this video published by Reactions!
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