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Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are occurrences where blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) has ideal conditions and can form harmful blooms. Cyanobacteria can produce toxins (cyanotoxins) that harm human and animal health. Blooms will typically occur during the summer months when the water is warm, there is high levels of nutrients (phosphorous or nitrogen), and the water is calm. When humans ingest water that contains HABs it can cause asthma-like symptoms, difficulty breathing, vomiting, weakness, headaches, or dizziness. Frequently swallowing or swallowing a large amount of cyanotoxins can harm the liver/kidneys.  Symptoms in animals/livestock can be vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, staggering, excessive drooling, convulsions, and may result in death. 

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Our Work

Our work with HABs is focusing on community level changes of blooms in Muskegon Lake . In 2024, the project will explore the community dynamics along inland public beaches using DNA sequencing in addition to abiotic factors and toxin output to assess recreational risk related to harmful algal blooms. We are primarily interested in exploring spatial and temporal pattern to see how they vary throughout the lake. In collaboration with the EPA in Cincinnati, OH & the Steinman lab at AWRI, we are using a metagenomics approach to explore how HABs treatments alter the microbial community composition present within Muskegon Lake.

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