This document summarizes a study examining toxin-producing cyanobacteria in littoral regions of reservoirs in the Muskingum River Watershed in Ohio. Samples were collected from 62 sites over four months in 2011 and analyzed for phytoplankton composition, algal toxins, and hydrologic data. Results found a relationship between nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria abundance, land use patterns, and water residence time. Specifically, forests were linked to longer residence times and more nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria like Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. Toxin levels were low and below state guidelines. Further research is needed to better understand relationships between watershed characteristics and HAB formation.

1. Monitoring of Toxin-Producing
Cyanobacteria in Littoral Regions
of the Muskingum River
Watershed, Ohio
A.D. Minerovic1, K.C. Scotese1, J.R. Beaver1,
R.D. Davic2, and D.M. Oleskiewicz2
1BSA Environmental Services, Inc.
2Ohio Lake Management Society

2. The Muskingum River Watershed
• Largest watershed in
Ohio
– Over 8,000 sq. mi.
– 16 reservoirs
• Ohio Lake Management
Society
– CLAM program
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3. Ohio Level III Ecoregions
Charles Mill
Atwood
Leesville
Pleasant Hill
Tappan
Clendening
Wills Creek Piedmont
Seneca
Eastern Corn Belt Plains
Erie Drift Plain
Western Allegheny Plateau
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4. Percent Land Use
FORESTED AGRICULTURAL OTHER
100
90
80
70
60
Percent
50
40
30
20
10
0
WESTERN ALLEGHENY PLATEAU ERIE DRIFT PLAIN
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5. Project Objectives
• Examine littoral phytoplankton
communities in different
ecoregions
• Relationship between N-fixing
cyanobacteria, land use patterns,
and hydrologic data
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6. Methods
• Collected from littoral regions
– July-October 2011
• 62 whole water samples
– Phytoplankton
– Algal toxins
• Hydrologic Data
• Data analysis
– PRIMER 6
Seneca Lake algal bloom sample
Photo courtesy of Heather Raymond, Ohio EPA
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7. 7

8. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii
• Capable of fixing
nitrogen
• Capable of
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii
producing algal
toxins
• Forested
reservoirs
Tappan Lake, Cylindrospermopsis bloom
Photo courtesy of Heather Raymond, Ohio EPA
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9. R² = 0.71
Proportional Biovolume by Site
100% 250
90%
80% 200
Mean Water Residence Time (Days)
Percent Biovolume
70%
60% 150
50%
40% 100
30%
20% 50
10%
0% 0
N-FIXING CYANO NON N-FIXING CYANO OTHER MEAN WRT
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10. ELISA
• Immunoassay sensitive to specific
toxins
• Different levels of detection and
quantification
–Microcystin
–Cylindrospermopsin
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11. Microcystin Results
• n=62
Below Limit of Detection <0.10 ppb 7
Below Limit of Quantification <0.15 ppb 38
Quantifiable >0.15 ppb 17
• No samples >6.0 ppb (Ohio EPA
Public Health Advisory Threshold)
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12. Cylindrospermopsin Results
• n=41
Below Limit of Detection <0.05 ppb 26
Below Limit of Quantification <0.10 ppb 13
Quantifiable >0.10 ppb 2
• No samples >5.0 ppb (Ohio EPA
Public Health Advisory Threshold)
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13. Conclusions
• Results indicate a link between land
use patterns, WRT, and phytoplankton
community composition
– Limited data, not contemporaneous
• Littoral samples
• Nutrient data collected at different times
• Future studies
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14. Acknowledgements
• Muskingum Watershed Conservancy
District
• Ohio Lake Management Society
Lake Keepers
• US Army Corps of Engineers
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