Mchau, GJ, Makule, E, Machunda, R et al. (2 more authors) (2019) Phycocyanin as a proxy for algal blooms in surface waters: case study of Ukerewe Island, Tanzania. Water Practice and Technology, 14 (1). pp. 229-239. ISSN 1751-231X
Abstract
Knowledge of the parameters that contribute to water body eutrophication is essential for proper monitoring and management of water quality for human consumption. This study assessed water quality parameters in relation to phycocyanin (PC) as a proxy indicator for harmful algal blooms (HABs). Samples were collected from 23 water sources – lakes, wells, springs and boreholes – in selected villages, for six months. Parameters measured included temperature, pH, redox potential, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, phosphorus, reactive phosphate and total chlorophyll, which were related to (PC) occurrence. The PC concentration detected in Lake Victoria ranged from 5 to 58.4 μg/l above the WHO alert level and exceeded that in other water sources by almost 30 μg/l (P < 0.001). Univariate relationship between water quality parameters and PC indicates association with temperature, redox potential, total chlorophyll, nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, phosphate and reactive phosphorus (P < 0.001). The multivariate model indicates that redox potential, nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus are significant statistically (P < 0.05). A predictive model indicates that nitrate nitrogen and reactive phosphorus contribute significantly to PC occurrence whereby unit (1 mg/l) increases in these parameters increase PC by 9.55 and 4.38 μg/l (P < 0.05) respectively. This study demonstrates that water quality parameters can be used to predict increases in PC and hence as a proxy for HABs. It remains important to be able to classify algal blooms, to understand which species are present and their potential cyanotoxin production.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © IWA Publishing 2019. The definitive peer-reviewed and edited version of this article is published in Water Practice and Technology 14 (1) 2019 https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2019.005 and is available at www.iwapublishing.com. |
Keywords: | cyanobacteria; lake victoria; phycocyanin; water quality |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Food Science and Nutrition (Leeds) > FSN Chemistry and Biochemistry (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number BBSRC BB/R013500/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 08 Apr 2019 10:34 |
Last Modified: | 08 Jan 2020 01:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | IWA Publishing |
Identification Number: | 10.2166/wpt.2019.005 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:144642 |