Progress 06/01/08 to 05/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Water is limited around the world, and our freshwater resources are being compromised by a variety of abiotic and biotic factors, including eutrophication and land use. My research involves the study of freshwater algal blooms. Target audiences for my research vary and may include other academics, natural resource managers, and legislators. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? am dedicated to training students and successfully mentored 3 graduate students and 8 undegraduate students in 2013. I continued to manage an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program focused on aquatic ecology. In 2013, we trained 12 excellent students from around the country. In addition, our large USGS funded project continues to work with more than 50 state agency scientists throughout the southeastern U.S. Through this project, we held two water quality workshops (one in Orlando and one in Chapel Hill), which were highly successful at training our students in water quality analyses. We also developed a project with ADEM scientists to develop nutrient criteria for four Alabama reservoirs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? I gave one invited research presentation at the Univ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and two invited teaching presentations (Auburn Univ, Purdue Univ). In addition, my students and I gave 21 scientific presentations at a variety of conferences around the country. Laslty, we have published several articles and book chapters that describe our research on water quality. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Through our recently published journal articles and book chapters, my students and I have documented strong effects of zooplankton on toxic cyanobacterial blooms (Chislock et al. 2013 Water Research) as well as the importance of consumer adaptations to toxic prey on aquatic ecosystem structure and function (Chislock et al. 2013 Ecology). Another field experiment (Chislock et al. 2014 Water Research) showed interesting responses of cyanobacterial communities to nutrient ratio shifts. Data generated from this project could have important ramifcations for our management of diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Lastly, we worked with scientists at ADEM and the University of Alabama to develop nutrient criteria for four Alabama reservoirs.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/13 to 05/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Water is limited around the world, and our freshwater resources are being compromised by a variety of abiotic and biotic factors, including eutrophication and land use. My research involves the study of freshwater algal blooms. Target audiences for my research vary and may include other academics, natural resource managers, and legislators. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? I am dedicated to training students and successfully mentored 3 graduate students and 8 undegraduate students in 2013. I continued to manage an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program focused on aquatic ecology. In 2013, we trained 12 excellent students from around the country. In addition, our large USGS funded project continues to work with more than 50state agency scientists throughout the southeastern U.S. Through this project, we held two water quality workshops (one in Orlando and one in Chapel Hill), which were highly successful at training our students in water quality analyses. We also developed a project with ADEM scientists to develop nutrient criteria for four Alabama reservoirs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? I gave one invited research presentation at the Univ of NorthCarolina at Chapel Hill and two invited teaching presentations (Auburn Univ, Purdue Univ). In addition, my students and I gave 21 scientific presentations at a variety of conferences around the country. Laslty, we have published several articles and book chapters that describe our research on water quality. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue enhancing my teaching, research, and outreach activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Through our recently published journal articles and book chapters, my students and I have documented strong effects of zooplankton on toxic cyanobacterial blooms (Chislock et al. 2013 Water Research) as well astheimportance of consumer adaptations to toxic prey on aquatic ecosystem structure and function (Chislock et al. 2013 Ecology). Another field experiment (Chislock et al. 2014 Water Research) showed interesting responses of cyanobacterial communities to nutrient ratio shifts. Data generated from this project could have important ramifcations for our management of diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Lastly, we worked with scientists at ADEM and the University of Alabama to develop nutrient criteria for four Alabama reservoirs. .
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Havird, J. C., R. P. Henry, and A. E. Wilson. 2013. Altered expression of Na+/K+-ATPase and other osmoregulatory genes in the gills of euryhaline animals in response to salinity transfer: A meta-analysis of 59 quantitative PCR studies over 10 years. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part D 8(2):131-140.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Chislock, M. F., E. Doster, R. A. Zitomer, and A. E. Wilson. 2013. Eutrophication: Causes, consequences, and controls in aquatic ecosystems. Nature Education Knowledge 4(4):10.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Chislock, M. F., O. Sarnelle, L. M. Jernigan, and A. E. Wilson. 2013. Do high concentrations of microcystin prevent Daphnia control of phytoplankton? Water Research 47(6):1961-1970.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Chislock, M. F., O. Sarnelle, B. K. Olsen, E. Doster, and A. E. Wilson. 2013. Large effects of consumer offense on ecosystem structure and function. Ecology 94(11):2375-2380.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Doster, E., M. F. Chislock, J. Roberts, J. Kottwitz, and A. E. Wilson. 2014. Recognition of an important water quality issue at zoos: prevalence and potential threat of toxic cyanobacteria. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 45(1):174-177.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Chislock, M. F., K. L. Sharp, and A. E. Wilson. 2014. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii dominates under very low and high nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios. Water Research 49:207-214.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Wilson, A. E., M. F. Chislock, E. Doster, R. A. Wright, J. J. Kottwitz, H. Walz, and H. Rose. 2013. Toxic algae threaten livestock health. The Alabama Cattleman June 2013:16-17.
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Wilson, A. E. and M. F. Chislock. 2013. Ecological control of cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater ecosystems. Invited book chapter in Cyanobacteria: Toxicity, ecology, and management. Editor: A. Ferr�o-Filho. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York. pp. 213-221
- Type:
Book Chapters
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Vanderploeg, H. A., A. E. Wilson, T. H. Johengen, J. Dyble, O. Sarnelle, J. R. Leibig, S. D. Robinson, and G. P. Horst. 2013. The role of selective grazing by dreissenid mussels in promoting toxic Microcystis blooms and other changes in phytoplankton composition in the Great Lakes. Invited book chapter in Quagga and Zebra Mussels: Biology, Impacts, and Control, Second Edition. Editors: T. Nalepa and D. Schloesser. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida. pp. 509-524.
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities - my lab conducted several field and lab experiments documenting large control of cyanobacteria in aquaculture ponds by zooplankton - my lab has successfully produced models that forecast blooms of cyanobacteria throughout the southeastern US - I taught limnology at AU and Can Tho University (Viet Nam) - I successfully mentored 3 graduate students, 8 undergraduate students, and one high school student in research. - I managed an NSF-funded REU site in warm-water aquatic ecology Events - I gave several invited presentations including 10 research and 6 teaching presentations at a variety of institutions, including Auburn Univ, Tuskegee Univ, Purdue Univ, Columbus State Univ, Univ of West Georgie, and Nanjing Normal Univ (China) Services - I served as an expert witness for several law firms related to their defense of the Ogeechee River or landowners with property on the Ogeechee related to a large fish kill in May 2011. - I organized two water quality workshops associated with a current USGS grant. 30+ state agency scientists from across the Southeast attended the workshops. - I trained a scientist from the Florida Fish Commission how to identify and enumerate phytoplankton. Products - In collaboration with AU scientists, I developed nutrient criteria for the Tallapoosa Watershed (see Fowler et al. 2012) PARTICIPANTS: Graduate students Michael Chislock Jo-Marie Kasinak Brie Olsen Undergraduate students Rachel Zitomer Brittany Holt Enrique Doster Ross Bonner Matthew Schenone Catherine Priester Sydney Stewart Vernon Anderson High school student Kayannush Pillai Partner organizations Alabama AL Dept of Environmental Management AL Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources Auburn University USGS Arkansas Univ of Arkansas UAEX Fort Smith Utility Florida FL Dept of Environmental Protection Lakeland Lakes and Stormwater Division Pinellas County Dept of Environ Management Seminole County Public Works Seminole County Water Quality Section SW FL Water Management District Georgia Centers for Disease Control Georgia Power, Southern Company Georgia Southwestern State Univ New Echota Rivers Alliance North Georgia College Univ of Georgia Kentucky KY Division of Water Louisiana Louisiana State Univ US Army Corps Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Service Jackson State Univ MS Dept of Environmental Quality USDA New York NYC Environmental Protection North Carolina Univ of North Carolina Dept of Environment and Natural Resources North Carolina State Univ Puerto Rico UPR - Mayaguez South Carolina Univ of South Carolina Tennessee Carson-Newman College TN Dept of Environment and Conservation TN Division of Water Pollution Control Texas Lower Colorado River Authority Texas CEQ Waco Trinity EQ Red River Water Authority Training activities - NSF-funded REU program professional development activities - USGS-funded water quality workshops (2x) - Phytoplankton training workshop for Florida scientist TARGET AUDIENCES: Agency scientists, academics, aquaculture farmers, and the general public. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Change in knowledge - Through our field experiments, we have definitely showed that zooplankton can control cyanobacteria in aquaculture ponds (despite the current paradigm that suggests otherwise). - Through our modeling activities, we have developed nutrient criteria for important areas throughout Alabama and developed predictive models to forecast blooms of cyanobacteria in the Southeast Change in actions - Through past workshops, I have successfully trained a large number of agency scientists who now have the skills to identify phytoplankton and measure important toxins produced by cyanobacteria.
Publications
- Wilson, A. E. and M. F. Chislock. 2013. Ecological control of cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater ecosystems. Invited book chapter in Cyanobacteria: Toxicity, ecology, and management. Editor: A. Ferrao-Filho. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York.
- Fowler, S., W. Deutsch, A. E. Wilson, and E. Reutebuch. 2012. Tallapoosa River basin numerical nutrient criteria for wadeable streams. Final Report for the Alabama Department of Environment Management, Agreement ADEM-C00594051
- Chislock, M. F., O. Sarnelle, L. M. Jernigan, and A. E. Wilson. 2013. Do high concentrations of microcystin prevent Daphnia control of phytoplankton Water Research.
- Kozlowsky-Suzuki, B., A. E. Wilson, and A. S. Ferrao Filho. 2012. Biomagnification or biodilution of microcystins in aquatic food webs Meta-analyses of laboratory and field studies. Harmful Algae 18:47-55.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Complete water quality reports for each livestock pond sampled in 2011 were shared with extension agents and private farm owners. These reports described water quality data for each pond and how these data relate to a larger Alabama-wide water quality dataset produced from a past Hatch project. We will continue to provide our expertise to our collaborators throughout the duration of this project and beyond. PARTICIPANTS: Project PIs, Alan Wilson and John Roberts, both spent considerable time on this project both in the lab and the field. Several students in the WilsonLab have participated on this project over the past year, including two graduate students, Michael Chislock and RajReni Kaul, and four undergraduates, including Vernon Anderson, Sydney Stewart, Enrique Doster, and Catherine Priester. Chislock and Kaul graduated with their MS degrees in August 2011. Kaul has moved to Athens, GA, where she is a technician with Dr. John Drake (Univ of Georgia). Chislock was awarded a highly competitive EPA STAR graduate research fellowship which will support his Ph.D. work in my lab over the next three years. Also, Anderson was awarded an AU Undergraduate Research Fellowship which he has used to assist our Hatch efforts. In addition, we worked with extension agents throughout Alabama, including Tinsleg Gregg, Kimberly Wilkins, Jimmy Smitherman, George Tabb, Jimmy Jones, and Claude Reeves, to sample livestock ponds. These interactions with extension agents connected this project to a large number of private farm owners, Mike Henry, Laslie Hall, L.T. Hataway, Frank Johnston, John Latham, Dan Hudson, LaReid Shelton, David Rollins, Jonathan Buttram, Wymon Buttram, Zack Buttram, Mike McCormick, Keith Johnston, Richard Conway, Louie Hinkle, and Tom Corcoran. We also worked with Herris Maxwell (AU Vet School) to sample two AU vet school ponds. I also visited the MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center (MAERC), a working livestock ranch located in Florida to talk with the MAERC manager, Betsey Boughton, about developing a collaborative large-scale field experiment at their facility. I have been working with Doster and Anderson to develop an outreach educational activity aimed at educating livestock farm owners about water quality. Doster and Anderson have contacted Eve Brantley (AU) to help out with this activity. TARGET AUDIENCES: Results generated from this project will be of broad interest to natural resource managers, water quality managers, livestock farm managers, epidemiologists, and veterinarians. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
In year one of our project, we sampled almost 50 livestock ponds at 28 farms located throughout Alabama. In general, water quality of the ponds was poor but not as bad as predicted. Water quality data ranges included Secchi depth 0.05-1.0 m, cyanobacterial toxicity 0.0025-15 ug/L microcystin, total suspended solids 6-2,745 mg/L, chlorophyll 15-2,764 ug/L, total phosphorus 62-1,934 ug/L, total nitrogen 665-19,413 ug/L, and soluble reactive phosphorus 0.45-746 ug/L. Although the ponds would generally be classified as eutrophic or hyper-eutrophic, we learned that livestock access to the ponds actually improved some aspects of water quality (related to algal toxicity). This information could have important implications for livestock pond management. We will extend our sampling efforts to new ponds this summer to more fully flesh out the relationship between water quality parameters in livestock ponds.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Working with our colleagues in state and federal agencies throughout the Southeast, we continue to build our water quality database aimed at identifying mechanisms responsible for the promotion or control of cyanobacterial blooms. These data are now available through an interactive website (http://wilsonlab.com/forecasting.html) where users can determine the threat that cyanobacteria may pose to their waterbodies by using various types of water quality data. In addition to our large-scale monitoring efforts, we have conducted several large-scale field experiments showing how available nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and zooplankton grazers influence the persistence of cyanobacterial blooms. We are currently conducting new field experiments which build on results from these past efforts. PARTICIPANTS: We are currently working with many state agencies throughout the Southeast, including AL = AL Dept of Environmental Management FL = FL Dept of Environmental Protection, Lakeland Lakes and Stormwater Division, Pinellas County Dept of Environmental Management, Seminole County Public Works, Seminole County Water Quality Section, Southwest FL Water Management District, St. Johns River Water Management District GA = Centers for Disease Control, Southern Company KY = KY Division of Water TN = TN Dept of Environment and Conservation, TN Division of Water Pollution Control TARGET AUDIENCES: My research has directly implications on the general public as it relates to surface water quality and quantity. Other target audiences include state and local water resource managers, aquaculturists, and lake owners. We will continue to engage the general public when possible. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
As part of our Hatch research and extension efforts, my lab has continued to enhance interactions with state and federal agency scientists throughout the Southeast which form the foundation of a new project I am developing to understand the mechanisms mediating cyanobacterial blooms throughout the entire southeastern U.S. Findings generated from this project will have important implications for the successful management of surface water quality and quantity.
Publications
- Wilson, A. E., R. B. Kaul, and O. Sarnelle. 2010. Growth rate consequences of coloniality in a harmful phytoplankter. PLoS ONE 5: e8679. doi:8610.1371/journal.pone.0008679.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: As part of a large-scale lake survey aimed at forecasting blooms of toxic cyanobacteria, my lab, in collaboration with ADEM and USDA, has collected and analyzed 469 water samples from 198 sites in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, in 2009. Standard water quality parameters measured at each site include Secchi depth, light extinction coefficient, chlorophyll concentration, nutrient concetrations (total phosphorus, total nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus), total suspended solids, phycocyanin, microcystin, and off-flavor compounds (methylisoborneol, geosmin). Using these data, we will build simple models aimed at predicting cyanobacterial blooms in Alabama waterbodies. Data collected from Alabama waterbodies during the summer of 2010 will test the utility of our models for predicting cyanobacterial blooms in the State. Also, in 2010, this project will be extended to much of the Southeast with support from state agency scientists located in GA, AL, FL, TN, KY, and NC. All data collected and models built from these activities will be distributed to all project participants. My lab has also conducted several large-scale field experiments evaluating the interactive effects of zooplankton grazers and elevated nutrient loading on phytoplankton community structure across habitats that vary greatly in productivity and phytoplankton diversity and abundance. Results from these experiments show variable and complicated effects of grazers and nutrient loading due to variation in sediment loading, ambient temperatures, phytoplankton community structure, and ambient nutrient concentrations. I also developed an informal, 10 week education course at Callaway Gardens aimed at educating students (ranging from toddlers to seniors) about aquatic ecology. Students participated in a week-long experiment designed to show damaging effects of fertilization on waterbodies. PARTICIPANTS: PI - Alan Wilson, Auburn University Graduate students - Michael Chislock, Auburn University; RajReni Kaul, Auburn University; Jessica Davenport, Auburn University Undergradaute students - Kristin Adamson, Auburn University; Erin Cash, Auburn University High school students - Kiunte Dowdell, Camp Hill High School; Kevin Landry, Auburn High School ADEM - Gina LoGidiuce USDA - Kevin Schrader TARGET AUDIENCES: Lake managers throughout Alabama and Southeast. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We are extending our sampling efforts to involve scientists throughout the Southeast. These new data will broaden the predictive capabilities of our models to forecast blooms of cyanobacteria while also testing the utility of the models.
Impacts
To date, our lake survey data show strong positive effects of phosphorus concentrations on algal and cyanobacterial abundances, in addition to the hepatotoxins, microcystins. In other words, sites with higher nutrient concentrations showed higher concentrations of phytoplankton, including cyanobacteria. Once our mathematical models are built, they will better elucidate those other features of lakes (besides nutrient concentrations) that are related to algal blooms throughout Alabama. These models will be invaluable for lake managers as they attempt to reduce the negative impacts of algal blooms on their waterbodies. The aquatic ecology course at Callaway Gardens broadened the minds of the participants while enlightening them about the beautiful diversity of organisms found in lakes. Moreover, the week-long experiment also highlighted the damaging effects of fertilization on water quality in lakes. Several of the students commented during the course that they had never thought about the effect of excess nutrients leaving terrestrial systems and entering waterbodies.
Publications
- Wilson, A. E., R. B. Kaul, and O. Sarnelle. 2010. Growth rate consequences of coloniality in a harmful phytoplankter. PLoS ONE 5:e8679. doi:8610.1371/journal.pone.0008679. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.00 08679
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