Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Callie Nauman_Final Thesis.pdf (1.47 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

The Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Environmental Drivers of Saxitoxin in Northwest Ohio

Nauman, Callie A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1589644025246293

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms threaten freshwater quality and human health around the world. One specific threat is the ability of some cyanobacteria to produce multiple types of toxins, including a range of neurotoxins called saxitoxins. While it is not completely understood, the general consensus is environmental factors like phosphorus, nitrogen, and light availability, may be driving forces in saxitoxin production. Recent surveys have determined saxitoxin and potential saxitoxin producing cyanobacterial species in both lakes and rivers across the United States and Ohio. Research evaluating benthic cyanobacterial blooms determined benthic cyanobacteria as a source for saxitoxin production in systems, specifically rivers. Currently, little is known about when, where, why, or who is producing saxitoxin in Ohio, and even less is known about the role benthic cyanobacterial blooms play in Ohio waterways. With increased detections of saxitoxin, the saxitoxin biosynthesis gene sxtA, and saxitoxin producing species in both the Western Basin of Lake Erie and the lake’s major tributary the Maumee River, seasonal sampling was conducted to monitor saxitoxin in both systems. The sampling took place from late spring to early autumn of 2018 and 2019. Monitoring including bi-/weekly water column sampling in the Maumee River and Lake Erie and Nutrient Diffusing Substrate (NDS) Experiments, were completed to evaluate saxitoxin, sxtA, potential environmental drivers, and benthic production. Overall, saxitoxin and sxtA was found throughout the entirety of the Ohio’s portion of the Maumee River and east of the Lake Erie Islands during both years. Detections included sxtA peaks in July and saxitoxin detections as early as May and as late as October for planktonic samples. However, benthic experiments suggested higher saxitoxin production in September and October. In general, low correlations were found between qPCR detections, nutrients, and toxin detections, however; ELISA and qPCR results in the river possibly suggests that benthic cyanobacteria are a potential source for saxitoxin in the Maumee River. Planktonic trends suggest nitrogen and dissolved reactive phosphorus may influence saxitoxin production, while benthic results highly correlated low light availability with saxitoxin production.
Timothy Davis (Advisor)
George Bullerjahn (Committee Member)
Justin Chaffin (Committee Member)
77 p.
Biology; Ecology; Freshwater Ecology; Microbiology
Harmful algal bloom; cyanobacteria; cHABS; Ohio; benthic; saxitoxin; neurotoxin; STX; sxtA; algal; algae; phytoplankton; Lake Erie; Maumee River; qPCR; toxin freshwater; detection; molecular; gene; phytoxigene; spatial; temporal

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Nauman, C. A. (2020). The Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Environmental Drivers of Saxitoxin in Northwest Ohio [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1589644025246293

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Nauman, Callie. The Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Environmental Drivers of Saxitoxin in Northwest Ohio. 2020. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1589644025246293.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Nauman, Callie. "The Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Environmental Drivers of Saxitoxin in Northwest Ohio." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1589644025246293

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1589644025246293
507
© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.