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SFS Annual Meeting

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HOW DO MULTIPLE STRESSORS INFLUENCE RIVERINE ALGAL COMMUNITIES AND TOXIN PRODUCTION?

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasing in prevalence and severity worldwide; however, there has been less research on algal communities and HABs in lotic compared to lentic ecosystems, and the interactions between multiple environmental stressors as drivers of community structure and cyanotoxin production are not well understood. In this study, we characterize community composition of algal assemblages in lotic ecosystems of the upper Ohio River basin and examine extracellular toxin release using Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) samplers. We aim to examine how communities of phytoplankton and benthic algae vary and investigate the relationships between algal communities, cyanotoxin release, and the interaction of multiple stressors such as nutrient concentrations, physical channel alterations, and temperature regimes. We anticipate that algal community composition will be dependent on algal traits related to physiological tolerance to environmental conditions, that cyanotoxin production will be greater where there is high biomass of toxin-producing genera, and that cyanotoxin release will be related to temperature-mediated oxidative stress. Our research will provide insight into the spatial and temporal dynamics of stream and river nutrient enrichment and will inform agencies about nutrient-reduction strategies.

Nayeli K. Sanchez (Primary Presenter/Author), Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, nayelis@clemson.edu;


S. Mažeika Patricio Sulliván (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), The Ohio State University, sullivan.191@osu.edu;


Carlos Cáceres (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), The Ohio State University, caceres.30@osu.edu;


Kay C. Stefanik (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), The Ohio State University, stefanik.13@osu.edu;


Lauren M. Pintor (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), The Ohio State University, pintor.6@osu.edu;