The contribution of volunteer-based monitoring data to the assessment of harmful phytoplankton blooms in Brazilian urban streams.

Urban streams are vulnerable to a range of impacts, leading to the impairment of ecosystem services. However, studies on phytoplankton growth in tropical lotic systems are still limited. Citizen science approaches use trained volunteers to collect environmental data. We combined data on urban streams collected by volunteers with data obtained by professional scientists to identify potential drivers of phytoplankton community and determine thresholds for Cyanobacteria development. We combined datasets (n=117) on water quality and environmental observations in 64 Brazilian urban streams with paired data on phytoplankton. Sampling activities encompassed dry (July 2013 and July 2015) and warm (February and November 2014) seasons. Volunteers quantified phosphate (PO43-), nitrate (NO3-) and turbidity in each stream using colorimetric and optical methods and recorded environmental conditions in the immediate surroundings of the sites through visual observations. We used non-parametric statistics to identify correlations among nutrients, turbidity and phytoplankton. We also looked for thresholds with respect to high Cyanobacteria abundance (>50,000cells/mL). The streams were characterized by relatively high nutrient concentrations (PO43-: 0.11mg/L; NO3-: 2.6mg/L) and turbidity (49 NTU). Phytoplankton densities reached 189,000cells/mL, mainly potentially toxic Cyanobacteria species. Moderate but significant (p<0.05) correlations were observed between phytoplankton density and turbidity (ρ=0.338, Spearman) and PO43- (ρ=0.292), but not with NO3-. Other important variables (river flow, temperature and light) were not assessed. Volunteers' observations covaried with phytoplankton density (p<0.05, Kruskal-Wallis), positively with increasing number of pollution sources and negatively with presence of vegetation in the riparian zone. Our results indicate that thresholds for PO43- (0.11mg/L) can be used to separate systems with high Cyanobacteria density. The number of pollution sources provided a good indicator of waterbodies with potential cyanobacteria problems. Our findings reinforced the need for nutrient abatement and restoration of local streams and highlighted the benefits of volunteer-based monitoring to support decision-making.

A Prospective Study of Marine Phytoplankton and Reported Illness Among Recreational Beachgoers in Puerto Rico, 2009.

BACKGROUND: Blooms of marine phytoplankton may adversely affect human health. The potential public health impact of low-level exposures is not well established, and few prospective cohort studies of recreational exposures to marine phytoplankton have been conducted. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the association between phytoplankton cell counts and subsequent illness among recreational beachgoers. METHODS: We recruited beachgoers at Boquerón Beach, Puerto Rico, during the summer of 2009. We conducted interviews at three time points to assess baseline health, water activities, and subsequent illness. Daily water samples were quantitatively assayed for phytoplankton cell count. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age and sex, were used to assess the association between exposure to three categories of phytoplankton concentration and subsequent illness. RESULTS: During 26 study days, 15,726 individuals successfully completed all three interviews. Daily total phytoplankton cell counts ranged from 346 to 2,012 cells/mL (median, 712 cells/mL). The category with the highest (≥ 75th percentile) total phytoplankton cell count was associated with eye irritation [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.30; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.66], rash (OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.57), and earache (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 0.88, 1.77). In phytoplankton group-specific analyses, the category with the highest Cyanobacteria counts was associated with respiratory illness (OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.67), rash (OR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.66), eye irritation (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.62), and earache (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 0.95, 1.93). CONCLUSIONS: We found associations between recreational exposure to marine phytoplankton and reports of eye irritation, respiratory illness, and rash. We also found that associations varied by phytoplankton group, with Cyanobacteria having the strongest and most consistent associations. CITATION: Lin CJ, Wade TJ, Sams EA, Dufour AP, Chapman AD, Hilborn ED. 2016. A prospective study of marine phytoplankton and reported illness among recreational beachgoers in Puerto Rico, 2009. Environ Health Perspect 124:477-483; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409558.

Estudio comparativo de la estructura del bacterioplancton en aguas del Mar Argentino mediante el método de pirosecuenciación 454 tag / A comparative study of bacterioplankton structure in Argentinian Sea waters by the 454 - tag pyrosequencing method

El presente estudio brinda la primera información sobre diversidad y abundancia de las comunidades microbianas en dos ambientes del Mar Argentino obtenida mediante la técnica de pirosecuenciación tag ribosomal 454. Dentro del dominio Bacteria, se observaron más de 4 600 secuencias únicas a partir de 36 188 amplicones de tags y se identificaron 280 filotipos. Además, se detectaron cerca de 2 700 secuencias únicas a partir de más de 47 700 tags pertenecientes al dominio Archaea, lo que definió sólo 5 filotipos diferentes. La distancia de Jaccard presentó valores de 0,6 para bacterias y de 0,2 para arqueas, esto indica mayor diferencia entre las bacterias en los dos sitios. En el ambiente marino los filotipos más dominantes fueron Bacteroidetes Flavobacteriaceae, Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria, Proteobacteria Rhodobacteraceae y Proteobacteria Rickettsiales SAR11, mientras que en el estuario predominaron Pseudoalteromonadaceae Pseudoalteromonas, Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria, Proteobacteria Shewanella y Proteobacteria Rickettsiales SAR11. Los 2 filotipos de arqueas encontrados en mayor proporción fueron Archaea Euryarchaeota y Archaea Crenarchaeota. Las secuencias tag más numerosas representaron taxa caracterizados previamente, aunque también se halló un elevado número de filotipos de gran diversidad y de baja abundancia, que forman parte de la denominada "biosfera rara", aún no explorada, que pueden tener un papel ecológico crucial.

The present study provides the first information about diversity and abundance of microbial communities in two environments of the Argentinian Sea by the 454 - tag pyrosequencing technique. We observed more than 4,600 unique bacterial sequences from 36,188 tag amplicons, forming 280 phylotypes. In addition, nearly 2,700 unique sequences from more than 47,700 tags identified as Archaea, defined only 5 different phylotypes. The Jaccard distance (0.6 for Bacteria and 0.2 for Archaea) indicated higher differences among Bacteria rather than among Archaea in both studied sites. The dominant phylotypes in marine environment were Bacteroidetes Flavobacteriaceae, Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria, Proteobacteria Rhodobacteraceae and Proteobacteria Rickettsiales SAR11; and Pseudoalteromonadaceae Pseudoalteromonas, Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria, Proteobacteria Shewanella, Proteobacteria Rickettsiales SAR11 in the estuary sampling site. Archaea Euryarchaeota and Archaea Crenarchaeota were the major archaeal phylotypes found. The most abundant tag sequences included previously characterized taxa, although we also retrieved a large number of highly diverse, low-abundant phylotypes which constitute a largely unexplored "rare" biosphere. These microorganisms could have a crucial ecological role.

[A comparative study of bacterioplankton structure in Argentinian Sea waters by the 454-tag pyrosequencing method]. / Estudio comparativo de la estructura del bacterioplancton en aguas del Mar Argentino mediante el método de pirosecuenciación 454 tag.

The present study provides the first information about diversity and abundance of microbial communities in two environments of the Argentinian Sea by the 454 - tag pyrosequencing technique. We observed more than 4,600 unique bacterial sequences from 36,188 tag amplicons, forming 280 phylotypes. In addition, nearly 2,700 unique sequences from more than 47,700 tags identified as Archaea, defined only 5 different phylotypes. The Jaccard distance (0.6 for Bacteria and 0.2 for Archaea) indicated higher differences among Bacteria rather than among Archaea in both studied sites. The dominant phylotypes in marine environment were Bacteroidetes Flavobacteriaceae, Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria, Proteobacteria Rhodobacteraceae and Proteobacteria Rickettsiales SAR11; and Pseudoalteromonadaceae Pseudoalteromonas, Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria, Proteobacteria Shewanella, Proteobacteria Rickettsiales SAR11 in the estuary sampling site. Archaea Euryarchaeota and Archaea Crenarchaeota were the major archaeal phylotypes found. The most abundant tag sequences included previously characterized taxa, although we also retrieved a large number of highly diverse, low-abundant phylotypes which constitute a largely unexplored "rare" biosphere. These microorganisms could have a crucial ecological role.

Qualidade da água e composição fitoplanctônica de um viveiro de piscicultura utilizado para fins de pesca esportiva e irrigação / Water quality and phytoplankton composition in a portsfishery and irrigation pond

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade da água com base em algumas variáveis limnológicas e a composição fitoplanctônica de um viveiro de piscicultura para fins de pesca esportiva e irrigação. Foram pesquisados quatro pontos do viveiro durante o período de um ano, sendo P1=entrada de água no viveiro, P2=entrada de água proveniente da carcinicultura, P3=local de retirada de água para irrigação e P4=saída de água (desaguamento diretamente em outro viveiro). Os dados ambientais mostram que o viveiro apresentou elevada carga de nutrientes, altos teores de clorofila-a e valores elevados de condutividade elétrica, dureza total e sólidos totais solúveis provenientes da descarga do viveiro anterior, influenciando, portanto, a dinâmica de variáveis biológicas, como clorofila-a e fitoplâncton. Em P3, a classe Zygnematophyceae foi a de maior riqueza em número de indivíduos, contribuindo com 34,01%, porém a classe Chlorophyceae, que apresentou o maior número de gêneros, teve uma representatividade de 33,52% sobre o total de indivíduos registrados. A utilização deste viveiro para fins de irrigação deve ser reavaliada, em razão das condições eutróficas da água, presença de cianobactérias potencialmente tóxicas e do próprio manejo empregado. (AU) /

Water quality of a fish pond used by UNESP, at Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, for both fishing and irrigation has been evaluated according to certain limnological parameters and to its phytoplankton composition. During the year, four sampling sites were assigned at the pond: P1=inlet water in the pond; P2=inlet water from a shrimp pond; P3=irrigation spot; and P4=outlet water (water flowing directly into another pond). The collected data show a water pond with high concentration of nutrients and chlorophyll-a, and high values of electrical conductivity, total hardness and total dissolved solids, proceeding from the above pond. These factors affected substantially some biological parameters, such as chlorophyll-a and phytoplankton. In P3, whereas class Zygnematophyceae showed the highest specimens richness, with 34.01%, the Chlorophyceae, that had the highest number of genera, comprehended 33.52% of the total number of individuals. The use of the water fish pond for irrigation must be re-evaluated, due to eutrophic conditions of the water, the presence of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, so as the proper management employed. (AU)

Qualidade da água e composição fitoplanctônica de um viveiro de piscicultura utilizado para fins de pesca esportiva e irrigação / Water quality and phytoplankton composition in a portsfishery and irrigation pond

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade da água com base em algumas variáveis limnológicas e a composição fitoplanctônica de um viveiro de piscicultura para fins de pesca esportiva e irrigação. Foram pesquisados quatro pontos do viveiro durante o período de um ano, sendo P1=entrada de água no viveiro, P2=entrada de água proveniente da carcinicultura, P3=local de retirada de água para irrigação e P4=saída de água (desaguamento diretamente em outro viveiro). Os dados ambientais mostram que o viveiro apresentou elevada carga de nutrientes, altos teores de clorofila-a e valores elevados de condutividade elétrica, dureza total e sólidos totais solúveis provenientes da descarga do viveiro anterior, influenciando, portanto, a dinâmica de variáveis biológicas, como clorofila-a e fitoplâncton. Em P3, a classe Zygnematophyceae foi a de maior riqueza em número de indivíduos, contribuindo com 34,01%, porém a classe Chlorophyceae, que apresentou o maior número de gêneros, teve uma representatividade de 33,52% sobre o total de indivíduos registrados. A utilização deste viveiro para fins de irrigação deve ser reavaliada, em razão das condições eutróficas da água, presença de cianobactérias potencialmente tóxicas e do próprio manejo empregado. /

Water quality of a fish pond used by UNESP, at Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, for both fishing and irrigation has been evaluated according to certain limnological parameters and to its phytoplankton composition. During the year, four sampling sites were assigned at the pond: P1=inlet water in the pond; P2=inlet water from a shrimp pond; P3=irrigation spot; and P4=outlet water (water flowing directly into another pond). The collected data show a water pond with high concentration of nutrients and chlorophyll-a, and high values of electrical conductivity, total hardness and total dissolved solids, proceeding from the above pond. These factors affected substantially some biological parameters, such as chlorophyll-a and phytoplankton. In P3, whereas class Zygnematophyceae showed the highest specimens richness, with 34.01%, the Chlorophyceae, that had the highest number of genera, comprehended 33.52% of the total number of individuals. The use of the water fish pond for irrigation must be re-evaluated, due to eutrophic conditions of the water, the presence of potentially toxic cyanobacteria, so as the proper management employed.

La marea roja causada por el dinoflagelado Alexandrium tamarense en la costa Pacífica colombiana (2001) / The red tide caused by the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense in the Colombian Pacific coast (2001)

El 26 de marzo de 2001 se registró por primera vez en las aguas del Pacífico colombiano, en el área de la Ensenada de Tumaco, la aparición de una marea roja producida por la especie Alexandrium tamarense con valores que superaron las 7.5 x 106 céls l-1 , la marea se mantuvo hacia la región oceánica, derivando en sentido sur-norte por efecto de las corrientes, hasta ser vista por ultima vez cerca a la Isla Gorgona, casi tres semanas después. Un año mas tarde, en marzo de 2002, una segunda proliferación, conformada por la misma especie, se reportó cerca de Cabo Corrientes con una concentración de 1.6 x 106 céls l -1 . Ambos casos estuvieron relacionados con la presencia de bajas temperaturas en la superficie del mar y no estuvieron asociadas con fenómenos de intoxicación y mortalidad

From April 26th to May 15th 2001, a large algae bloom was observed off Tumaco Bay on the Pacific coast of Colombia. This was the first harmful algae bloom (HAB) reported in the region, and reached Gorgona Island, about 120 km north. Ayear later, starting March 2002, an offshore HAB developed from Cabo Corrientes North to Solano Bay. The typical abundance during the blooms reached 7.5 x 106 cells l-1 for the 2001 event and 1.6 x 106 cells l-1 for the 2002 event. During both events, low temperature and high salinity were recorded. Typical measurements in the area are 27-27.5°C and 30-31.5 psu. Values observed during the two events were 24-24.6°C and 33-34 psu; 3°C below normal and more than 2.5 psu above average values. These conditions are indicative of local upwelling processes at the time of the events. On both occasions, cells corresponding to the Alexandrium catenella/fundeyense/tamarense complex represented 99-100% of the biomass. It was difficult to differentiate the cells from A. catenella, but the presence of short chains of only 4 cells (single cells represented most of the biomass) was suggestive of A. tamarense. Shape, dimensions, and detailed structure of the apical pore complex, first apical plate, posterior sulcal plate, and position of the ventral pore on plate 1’ of cells were consistent with the description of A. tamarense, which has not been reported in the tropical East Pacific. The Control Center of Pacific Contamination of the Maritime General Direction of the Colombian Navy has been monitoring the area since 1994 without finding this species or HABs. This leads us to consider the two events as caused by recently introduced species, where local upwelling processes favor permanent and cyclic HABs. However, during these two events, there were no reports of effects on marine biota or of human poisoning, probably because the blooms occurred some distance offshore and far from exploited shellfish beds

[The red tide caused by the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense in the Colombian Pacific coast (2001)]. / La marea roja causada por el dinoflagelado Alexandrium tamarense en la costa Pacífica Colombiana (2001).

From April 26th to May 15th 2001, a large algae bloom was observed off Tumaco Bay on the Pacific coast of Colombia. This was the first harmful algae bloom (HAB) reported in the region, and reached Gorgona Island, about 120 km north. A year later, starting March 2002, an offshore HAB developed from Cabo Corrientes North to Solano Bay. The typical abundance during the blooms reached 7.5 x 10(6) cells l(-1) for the 2001 event and 1.6 x 10(6) cells l(-1) for the 2002 event. During both events, low temperature and high salinity were recorded. Typical measurements in the area are 27-27.5 degrees C and 30-31.5 psu. Values observed during the two events were 24-24.6 degrees C and 33-34 psu; 3 degrees C below normal and more than 2.5 psu above average values. These conditions are indicative of local upwelling processes at the time of the events. On both occasions, cells corresponding to the Alexandrium catenella/fundeyense/tamarense complex represented 99-100% of the biomass. It was difficult to differentiate the cells from A. catenella, but the presence of short chains of only 4 cells (single cells represented most of the biomass) was suggestive of A. tamarense. Shape, dimensions, and detailed structure of the apical pore complex, first apical plate, posterior sulcal plate, and position of the ventral pore on plate 1' of cells were consistent with the description of A. tamarense, which has not been reported in the tropical East Pacific. The Control Center of Pacific Contamination of the Maritime General Direction of the Colombian Navy has been monitoring the area since 1994 without finding this species or HABs. This leads us to consider the two events as caused by recently introduced species, where local upwelling processes favor permanent and cyclic HABs. However, during these two events, there were no reports of effects on marine biota or of human poisoning, probably because the blooms occurred some distance offshore and far from exploited shellfish beds.

[Annual distribution and abundance of Ceratium dens (Peridinales: Ceratiaceae) in the Gulf of California, Mexico]. / Distribución y abundancia anual de Ceratium dens (Peridinales: Ceratiaceae) en el golfo de California, México.

Ceratium dens distribution in the Gulf of California was studied based on three oceanographic campaigns, monthly abundance (1995-96) and during three red tide events in Mazatlán Bay. 52 phytoplankton samples with a Bongo net and 64 microns mesh light, during the year 120 water samples with a van Dorn bottle were collected in two sampling stations and from three red tide events. All samples were counted by the inverted-microscope method. The results showed that C. dens was present in the upper Gulf of California and surroundings of Cabo San Lucas. Two peaks were observed during spring and autumn in Mazatlán Bay during 1995-1996. The highest densities (20-360 cells.-l-1) were observed in coastal areas, whereas the lowest densities (1-14 cells.-l-1) were recorded in the open sea. During red tide events in 1985, 1989 and 1997, 144,000-256,000 cells.-l-1, 100,000-400,000 cells.-l-1, and 189,000-592,000 cells.ul-l was observed, respectively. During the red tide events C. dens varied, although sometimes was replaced by Skeletonema costatum or Pseudonitzchia spp and Ceratium furca. C. dens, seems to prefer areas with high productivity.

[Algal flora of Lake Amapá in Rio Branco, acre state, I: euglenophyceae]. / Ficoflórula do Lago Amapá em Rio Branco- Acre, I: Euglenophyceae.

The Euglenophyceae flora of Lake Amapá I, Rio Branco, Acre State, Brazil, constitutes a contribution to the phycological inventory of the State of Acre. It is based on the study of 15 samples collected with plankton net and by passing an open flask in areas with dense plankton concentrations. Samples were prepared and preserved with Transeau solution. Twenty five taxons were identified. Genera Euglena and Trachelomonas were the most frequently represented.