Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


KendallByrd_Thesis_Draft.pdf (4.12 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Micro to Macro: Improving the Resolution for Monitoring of Cyanobacteria in Small Urban Lake

Byrd, Kendall P
http://orcid.org/0009-0004-4523-9290
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1689931957106662

Abstract Details

2023, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environmental Science.
As increases in frequency, duration, intensity, and geographical location of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been observed, more timely monitoring and targeted treatment of HABs and their cyanotoxins are crucial for freshwater bodies that are used for drinking water, recreation, and food production sources. To combat this, new management practices with tools that can handle the spatial and temporal variability of HABs are needed for water treatment plants and other sectors to ensure human health and ecosystem health. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, serve as one solution for near real-time monitoring of HABs. Recently, UAVs have gained increasing interest in research and development due to their many applications, efficiency in data collection, and the ability to customize these systems to specific needs. While research has shown that UAVs can accurately estimate chl-a and phycocyanin values -HAB indicators- little research has been conducted analyzing UAV imagery in parallel with microbiome data. In chapter 1, I summarize major relevant topics are summarized related to cyanoHABs, public health, and UAV systems. This provides a holistic view of current knowledge, methods, and limitations in cyanoHAB monitoring and detection. Chapter 2 seeks to explore the microbial community in parallel with environmental data, by analyzing seasonal dynamics, composition, and interactions within the microbial community in a hypereutrophic urban lake. In chapter 3, the feasibility and accuracy of using an UAV system for monitoring a hypereutrophic, urban water body was assessed. Objectives of this chapter include 1) proposing an UAV system and imagery processing framework that can be utilized by non-geospatial experts, 2) assess the accuracy of UAV derived chlorophyll-a values by regressing ground sampled fluorometer values and remotely sensed values, and 3) determine what algorithms and buffer sizes perform the best for cyanobacteria quantification. To accomplish this, fourteen field sampling campaigns were conducted at an urban lake in Columbus, OH, USA from April 2022 through September 2022. During each field visit aerial imagery, water samples, meteorological data, and water quality data were collected. Microcystin quantification was employed utilizing ELISA kits to evaluate cyanotoxin levels for each visit. Microbial source tracking (MST) was utilized to evaluate major fecal contamination sources (human, canine, and geese). Droplet digital PCR was utilized to quantify the level of MST host contamination. 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted so shifts in the microbial community could be analyzed. All data was analyzed and correlations between UAV aerial imagery, microbial community, and water quality/meteorological data were discovered. Results found that microbial community composition changes seasonally, including the cyanobacteria community. This study shows that UAV imagery is an efficient tool for monitoring HABs, but more research needs to be conducted to better understand factors negatively affecting the accuracy of UAV derived chlorophyll-a values.
Jiyoung Lee (Advisor)
Joseph Ortiz (Committee Member)
Motomu Ibaraki (Committee Member)
Rongjun Qin (Committee Member)
195 p.
Environmental Science; Microbiology
cyanobacteria; unmanned aerial vehicle; microbial community; chlorophyll-a; phycocyanin

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Byrd, K. P. (2023). Micro to Macro: Improving the Resolution for Monitoring of Cyanobacteria in Small Urban Lake [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1689931957106662

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Byrd, Kendall. Micro to Macro: Improving the Resolution for Monitoring of Cyanobacteria in Small Urban Lake. 2023. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1689931957106662.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Byrd, Kendall. "Micro to Macro: Improving the Resolution for Monitoring of Cyanobacteria in Small Urban Lake." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1689931957106662

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1689931957106662
51
© 2023, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.