Freshwater planktonic cyanobacterial blooms in rivers; a review of species, toxins, causes and possible changes due to climate change and river flow management

In freshwaters, much of the focus on cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom (cHAB) research has centred around lakes and reservoirs. However, blooms of riverine planktonic cHABs are also common in many areas of the world and may increase with climate change. To date there has been no comprehensive world-wide review of planktonic cyanobacterial blooms in rivers and their toxins, and the factors contributing to bloom formation. This review examines and summarises the available published literature on riverine planktonic cHABs including information on the bloom forming species, toxins produced and conditions contributing to bloom formation. We develop conceptual models of planktonic cHAB river bloom formation and discuss the possible influence of climate change on the main drivers of blooms and possible management strategies to control riverine blooms. We use historic river flow and air temperature changes to illustrate how river systems have changed over time due to development and climate change and examine how this may influence bloom occurrence.  

Primary Presenter: Simon Mitrovic, University of Technology Sydney (simon.mitrovic@uts.edu.au)

Authors:

Jordan Facey, University of Technology Sydney  (jordan.facey@uts.edu.au)

Jarrod Walton, University of Technology Sydney  (jarrod.walton@uts.edu.au)

Myriam Bormans, Université de Rennes  (myriam.bormans@univ-rennes1.fr)

Daniel Roelke, Texas A+M University  (droelke@tamug.edu)

Changsen Zhao, Beijing Normal University  (zhaochangsen@163.com)

Yoshi Kobayashi, Department of Planning and Environment  (Yoshi.Kobayashi@environment.nsw.gov.au)

Nicholas Williamson, University of Sydney, Australia  (nicholas.williamson@sydney.edu.au)

Stephan Pflugmacher, University of Manitoba  (Stephan.PflugmacherLima@umanitoba.ca)

Darren Yeo, National University of Singapore  (darrenyeo@nus.edu.sg)

Maxine Mowe, National University of Singapore  (maxinemowe@nus.edu.sg)

Mathias Chia, Ahmadu Bello University  (chia28us@yahoo.com)

James Hitchcock, Iniversity of Technology Sydney  (james.hitchcock@uts.edu.au)