B-BLOOMS 2
Cyanobacterial Blooms in Belgian Surface Waters
PIRLOT (1), Samuel, Bruno, LEPORCQ (1), Wim, VYVERMAN (2), Jeroen, VAN WICHELEN (2), Pieter, VANORMELINGEN (2), Ineke, VANGREMBERGHE (2),
Ludvig, TRIEST (3), Anatoly, PERETYATKO (3), Annick, WILMOTTE (4), Yannick, LARA (4), Geoffrey A., CODD (5) & Jean-Pierre, DESCY (1)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
FUNDP - Unité de Recherches en Biologie des Organismes (URBO). Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000 Namur, Belgique. jean-pierre.descy@fundp.ac.be
Ghent University - Protistology and Aquatic Ecology (PAE) Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000 Ghent, BELGIQUE. wim.vyverman@ugent.be
Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Plant Science and Nature Management Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, BELGIQUE. ltriest@vub.ac.be
Université de Liège – Center for Protein Engineering (CIP) Sart Tilman B6, 4000 Liège, Belgique. awilmotte@ulg.ac.be
University of Dundee, College of Life Sciences, Dundee DD15EH. United Kingdom. g.a.codd@dundee.ac.uk
Phytoplankton analyses
Environmental parameters
Oxygen (mg/l) Lake Blaarmeersen
Chlorophyll a equivalents (µg/l)
The B-BLOOMS 2 project aims
25,0
-2
through a multi-disciplinary approach to
deepen knowledge of the cyanobacterial
blooms in Belgium, improve modelling
for the prediction and early-warning of
blooms, develop operational monitoring
structures and tools, and propose
strategies to reduce the impact of
nuisance and harmful blooms.
Depth (m)
-4
-6
20,0
15,0
10,0
-8
5,0
-10
0,0
Planktothrix agardhii
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae
Aphanizomenon issathschenkoi
Limnothrix
Aphanocapsa sp.
Merismopedia
Pseudanabaena sp.
Microcystis sp.
Anabaena sp.
other filaments
15-May-07
-12
19-Jun-07
25-Jul-07
27-Aug-07
100
150
200
250
02-Oct-07
30-Apr-08
11-Jun-08
Julian Day
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
17-Jul-08
28-Aug-08
Oxycline depth
Toxin analysis & risk management
0.18
Chromatogram of microcystins analysed by HPLC
0.16
0.14
MC-LR
0.12
AU
0.10
MC-YR
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00
28.00
30.00
32.00
34.00
36.00
38.00
40.00
42.00
44.00
Molecular analyses
Data processing and modelling
ANN Modeling
Microcystin gene detection
Clone libraries
mcyB and E PCR (DNA template)
Clone library composition, based on the BLAST analysis of the sequences
80
y = 0.829x + 1.0402
R2 = 0.8984
r=0.95
Woronichinia
Microcystis
Planktothrix
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Limnothrix
0
20
40
60
80
100
Valeurs observées
Anabaena/Aphanizo
menon
The data analysis using CCA shows a
significant effect of large zooplancton
on phytoplankton structure and on
cyanobacterial abundance
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
TN
Parc des
Sources
22/07/04
Blaarmeersen
18/07/03
Ri Jaune
31/09/04
Synechococcus
Feronval
19/08/03
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Valeurs prédites
70
Results
Humidity
24.00
26.00
Minutes
Conductivity
22.00
Wind (7d)
20.00
Nd wo HW
18.00
Si
16.00
SRP
14.00
Rain
12.00
Solar Rad°
10.00
TP
8.00
Falemprise
01/07/03
6.00
Correlation
between
predicted
cyanobacterial
biomass (Chla
equivalent) and
measured
values, for the
3 pre-dam
lakes of Eau
d’Heure (20022004)
Contribution of
variables to the
prediction
(same as
above); ND wo
HW = number of
days without
high wind.
Here are some results from the B-Blooms 2 project which is still running. The three teams involved in
regular field sampling (FUNDP, UGent and VUB) have adopted common standard procedures for
monitoring environmental parameters and plankton in a range of freshwater bodies of increasing trophic
status, thereby covering a range of lakes in which cyanobacterial blooms develop to varying degrees.
DGGE
DGGE banding patterns (samples from Eau d'Heure
lakes: Falemprise from May to September; Ri Jaune
from July to August; Féronval from August)
As an example of
the power of combining multidisciplinary approaches to cyanobacterial bloom- and
cyanotoxin research in a single project, we can cite the preliminary results in Flanders (UGent), which
show that both reference lakes suffer heavily from cyanobacterial blooms, but with contrasting bloom
dynamics and species. The intensive sampling at the cyanobacterial community and population levels
(both selectively neutral and microcystin genes) enables detailed investigation of bloom dynamics at both
levels (and possible interactions) and the major abiotic and biotic factors governing them.
These findings are expected to strenghthen the basis for strategic decision-making in the management of
Belgian waterbodies affected by cyanobacterial blooms.
www.bblooms.be