Mapping the distribution, biomass and tissue nutrient levels of a marine benthic cyanobacteria bloom (Lyngbya majuscula)

Kathleen S. Ahern; Colin R. Ahern; Greg M. Savige; James W. Udy

doi:10.1071/MF07065

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Mapping the distribution, biomass and tissue nutrient levels of a marine benthic cyanobacteria bloom (Lyngbya majuscula)

Kathleen S. Ahern ^A ^E , Colin R. Ahern ^B , Greg M. Savige ^C and James W. Udy ^A ^D

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A University of Queensland, Water Studies, School of Engineering, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.

^B Queensland Department of Natural Resource and Water, Indooroopilly, Brisbane, Qld 4068, Australia.

^C Savige Fisheries, Bribie Island, Qld 4507, Australia.

^D Southeast Queensland Water Corporation, 240 Margaret Street, Brisbane, Qld 4002, Australia.

^E Corresponding author. Email: k.ahern1@uq.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 58(10) 883-904 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF07065
Submitted: 2 April 2007 Accepted: 11 September 2007 Published: 30 October 2007

Abstract

Benthic cyanobacteria blooms, including those of the nitrogen-fixing species Lyngbya majuscula, appear to be becoming more numerous and widespread in marine habitats worldwide, and have negative impacts on the environment and human health. The progression of a L. majuscula bloom in south-east Queensland, Australia was mapped along with intensive biomass and tissue nutrient sampling every 10–14 days over the bloom’s 3.5-month duration in summer 2005–2006. Data-integrated GIS maps illustrated the changes in biomass and tissue nutrient pool of the L. majuscula through different growth phases (incipient, rapid expansion, plateau or peak and decline) of the bloom. At the peak, L. majuscula covered 509 ha and had a mean density of 115 g_dw m^–2, with the maximum density recorded 503 g_dw m^–2. The highest mean total carbon (29.4% C), nitrogen (3.5% N) and phosphorus (0.143% P) contents in L. majuscula tissue corresponded with the peak in biomass. Three-dimensional modelling calculated that at the peak, the bloom contained 5057 t_ww (510 t_dw) of L. majuscula; 150 000 kg C; 18 000 kg N; 720 kg P; and 5200 kg Fe. This information gives an insight into L. majuscula bloom dynamics and ecophysiology and provides quantitative data for models.

Additional keywords: Australia, harmful algae, iron, modelling, Moreton Bay, nitrogen, phosphorus.

Acknowledgements

The first author is in receipt of a University of Queensland (UQ) scholarship and Queensland Government Smart State funding. Some financial assistance was provided by South East Queensland Healthy Waterways Partnership. We acknowledge C. Vowles of Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) for providing dedicated GIS support, calculating areas of L. majuscula and conducting three dimensional modelling of total biomass and nutrients. G. Wobke, D. Lyons, S. Mork, L. McCullum and staff from Natural Resources Sciences Chemistry Centre, NRW undertook L. majuscula tissue, sediment and water analyses. V. Ahern assisted with cleaning, sorting and weighing L. majuscula. For helpful comments on the manuscript we acknowledge A. McElnea, B. Powell, V. Eldershaw (NRW), A. Watkinson (UQ) and P. and M. Ganley. For general support or assistance we also thank J. Savige (Savige Fisheries), M. Tanner (Commercial Fisherman), G. Shaw (Griffith University), C. Lovelock (UQ) and N. Moore (Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)). The authors acknowledge the EPA, Water Sciences Unit and Queensland Bureau of Meteorology for providing the environmental data, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries for water temperature data and Maritime Safety Queensland for bathymetry data.

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