Tiny Toxins Juliet Hoven

Juliet Hoven

There are countless stories of shad- colors in the water. The name blue-green owy lake monsters lurking in the water, or horror stories of the dangers of swimming, but there is something else we need to pay attention to in the water. A dangerous microscopic organism called cyanobacteria has bloomed in Lake Champlain. In recent years, cyanobacteria or bluegreen algae blooms have increased in the lake we hold so dearly. When these organisms bloom, they release natural toxins or poisons that can hurt us or our pets. Bluegreen algae can be beneficial for the lake environment, but human actions have allowed this bacteria to grow in alarming numbers. Attention is needed by the public for our health, and the well-being of Lake Champlain.

Cyanobacteria are commonly found in most lakes and are one of the most abundant organisms on the planet. They are microscopic organisms capable of photosynthesis. When they bloom in high quantities, they create an array of different algae is derived from the most common colors they create when in bloom. In freshwater environments, increased warm temperatures and nutrients can lead to large blooms of cyanobacteria. The bacteria thrive in warmer waters with more nitrogen and phosphorous. In intense blooms, blue-green algae release harmful toxins killing fish and causing a variety of symptoms in people and pets. Exposure can cause diarrhea, nausea, skin or throat irritation, and allergic reactions. The blooms could impact our recreational activities in Lake Champlain. The bacteria have been reported in Lake Champlain for decades, but they have not become an issue until recent years. Unfortunately, global warming has caused waters to get slightly warmer in Lake Champlain and provide a more desirable environment for blue-green algae. Additionally, runoff from human activities has aided in the massive blooms of cyanobacteria. As areas

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become more populated along the lake, the use of fertilizer and products has become more common. The runoff of these products washes into the lake and increases the nutrients blue-green algae thrive on.

How do we go about solving this issue? What can we do to help ourselves and Lake Champlain?

The good news is that there are many things we can do to help out with this issue! The first thing we want to do is identify cyanobacteria. Large blooms of blue-green algae look like green-colored patches of cloudy water. More images can be found on the Vermont Department of Health website. Next, we can report a bloom to the Department of Health by filling out a form or emailing BloomAlert@vermont. gov. Reporting these blooms helps us monitor them and protect people and pets from the harm they can cause. Also, you can volunteer for the Lake Champlain Committee to monitor and test water conditions. It is a perfect opportunity to get some volunteer hours in, and it helps the whole community. Lastly, the best thing we can do is watch our environmental footprint. Be aware of the products you are using. This can be regular groceries, fertilizers, or other cleaning products. Everything we do can impact the environment around us and if we are even making the smallest difference in our own lives, it can have a huge impact on our ecosystems.

The algae blooms affect the wildlife, our pets, and our lives on Lake Champlain. It’s a place we can get a taste of the beach in the Northeast, a place we can take our dogs for a walk or our families on a picnic, and a place we have fun and spend our livelihoods. Let’s hope that we can make a difference to keep these blooms of harmful bacteria down!

Juliet Hoven is currently a double major in zoology and ecology at UVM, excited by any opportunity to do ecological work with amphibians or reptiles. She wrote to us at the suggestion of Green Mountain Animal Defenders. Cyanobacteria Bloom Report Form: ahs-vt.maps.arcgis.com/apps/GeoForm/ index.html?appid=d5027ec67186478099 1f18be3e 71d893 Who to contact for volunteer info: lcc@lakechamplaincommittee.org

RESOURCES:

• www.healthvermont.gov/health-environment/recreational-water/ lake-conditions#:~:text=Cyanobacteria%2C%20also%20known%20 as%20blue,they%20die%20and%20br eak%20down. • onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2017.03243.x • www.researchgate.net/profile/Brian-Whitton/publication/321621138_ The_Ecolog y_of_Cyanobacteria_Their_Diversity_in_Time_and_Space/ links/5eafdfa692851cb26773 0fca/The-Ecology-of-CyanobacteriaTheir-Diversity-in-Time-and-Space.pdf • Silva, Talita FG, et al. "Impact of urban stormwater runoff on cyanobacteria dynamics in a tropical urban lake." Water 11.5 (2019): 946. • link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4757-4080-6_13 Winter 2023 www.4LegsAndATail.com 29

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