What Triggers Algal Blooms in Sandusky Bay?
Living on Lake Erie, people become familiar with the bright green paint look of Microcystis harmful algal blooms in the water, and management efforts have been focused on this nuisance for a while now. However, in Lake Erie’s Sandusky Bay, another cyanobacterial species is more prevalent, as Planktothrix blooms stain the bay’s water a dark olive green.
Both Microcystis and Planktothrix produce microcystin, a powerful toxin that can affect the liver, nervous system, and skin. However, the two species seem to prefer different nutrients: Microcystis uses phosphorus, while Planktothrix prefers nitrogen. Both types of algae also come in toxin-producing and non-toxic varieties, and little is known about what causes their blooms to become toxic.