Research In Action 2021

One of the most helpful things a private citizen can do is to demand action and support for improving water quality at both the state and federal level. This can be through writing letters, speaking at public forums or phone calls to voice your concerns.

Yes, the presentation is recorded and will be available here: https://www.fau.edu/research/community/research-in-action/

One of the main ways the algae can be harmful to livestock is when their drinking water sources (ponds or retention areas) become contaminated with algae that produce toxins (like many species of blue green algae). The livestock can then be exposed to the toxin through the drinking water and have negative health outcomes (much like humans when algal toxins get in our drinking water).

It was likely a species of blue green algae called Cylindrospermopsis which produces the toxin cylindrospermopsin. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/cylindrospermopsis).

Even individuals can make an impact if enough people take the action. Not using lawn and plant fertilizers during rainy parts of the year (or at all) can help. Keep lawn and yard clippings from getting into the watershed (they breakdown into nutrients). If you have a septic system, make sure it is regularly maintained and functioning correctly. Basically, think critically about the things you do that might pollute your environment and try to reduce your impact.

State agencies – Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Florida Department of Health (FDOH) – maintain water quality websites that might include your areas. They are a free resource and worth looking at. One of the main water quality resource pages for the state is named "Protecting Florida Together." (https://protectingfloridatogether.gov/).

This is a great question and I'm not actually sure of the answer. I will find out though. Once I do, I'll try to update this.

Yes, but in many cases, the sheer volume of water that would need to be filtered makes the problem intractable and not a practical solution. Ideally, it would be best if we could stop HABs from occurring in the first place.

This depends on the location. See the state water quality website (Protecting Florida Together) mentioned a few questions above.

There are many documented examples of people getting sick from HABs. The severity and health effects are dependent on many factors (type of algae, how large was the exposure, overall health of the individual, etc.). We do need much more research in this area, particularly for low level chronic exposure to HAB toxins.

This analysis and figure came from Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and FDEP. There are similar analyses for other watersheds, but not all.

During the last few years, the state legislature takes up bills to support improving water quality through the recommendations of the Blue Green Algae Task Force. I would follow these and pressure your state senator or representative to support.

Thanks for encouraging people to participate in much needed science.

Demand action on water quality improvement and tell your senator or representative you will not vote for them any longer if they do not take action. Support scientists and their important work whenever you can.

Yes, as I said, we need more of this critical research and it is great that FAU is part of this.

Some counties are doing a good job with this, but the political will to take this action statewide seems to be lacking. Again, the people of Florida can demand these type of actions are taken by using the power of their vote against those who refuse to support.

Yes, the task force recognizes that some mitigation technologies should be explored, supported and used where appropriate.

I'm not familiar with this particular area, but well-maintained stormwater treatment areas and other wetlands are an important part of our nutrient pollution reduction strategies.

Sargassum is becoming a larger problem every year. It has been called the world’s largest harmful algal bloom.

Great question. There are numbers of best-management practices (BMPs) for agriculture that, in theory, will help lower nutrient pollution. However, many of these BMPs are not always vetted and proved to be as efficient as assumed. Some more science is needed in this area.

There are numbers of industrial methods to remove phosphorus (and nitrogen). However, the issue normally comes down to what we call "scalability," in other words, can the method be practical to use when you might need to regularly process billions of gallons of water?

This is difficult for the average person to do. Normally this would take a water sample being delivered to a lab with scientists and experts at identifying algae or using genetic screening. It is not cheap or easy.