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Accuracy of data buoys for measurement of cyanobacteria, chlorophyll, and turbidity in a large lake (Lake Erie, North America): implications for estimation of cyanobacterial bloom parameters from water quality sonde measurements

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Abstract

Microcystin (MCY)-producing harmful cyanobacterial blooms (cHABs) are an annual occurrence in Lake Erie, and buoys equipped with water quality sondes have been deployed to help researchers and resource managers track cHABs. The objective of this study was to determine how well water quality sondes attached to buoys measure total algae and cyanobacterial biomass and water turbidity. Water samples were collected next to two data buoys in western Lake Erie (near Gibraltar Island and in the Sandusky subbasin) throughout summers 2015, 2016, and 2017 to determine correlations between buoy sonde data and water sample data. MCY and nutrient concentrations were also measured. Significant (P < 0.001) linear relationships (R2 > 0.75) occurred between cyanobacteria buoy and water sample data at the Gibraltar buoy, but not at the Sandusky buoy; however, the coefficients at the Gibraltar buoy differed significantly across years. There was a significant correlation between buoy and water sample total chlorophyll data at both buoys, but the coefficient varied considerably between buoys and among years. Total MCY concentrations at the Gibraltar buoy followed similar temporal patterns as buoy and water sample cyanobacterial biomass data, and the ratio of MCY to cyanobacteria-chlorophyll decreased with decreased ambient nitrate concentrations. These results suggest that buoy data are difficult to compare across time and space. Additionally, the inclusion of nitrate concentration data can lead to more robust predictions on the relative toxicity of blooms. Overall, deployed buoys with sondes that are routinely cleaned and calibrated can track relative cyanobacteria abundance and be used as an early warning system for potentially toxic blooms.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful for Fondriest Environmental’s donation of the Gibraltar buoy to Stone Lab. We thank C. Nauman, K. Rossos, K. Slodysko, E. Fox, K. Moore, M. Potts, A. Johnson, K. Jones, and other Stone Lab staff and students for assistance in the field and lab.

Funding

The Sandusky buoy was purchased with funds from the Ohio Department of Higher Education (grant to Bowling Green State University). This work was funded by the Ohio Water Resources Center under award number 2016OH484B, Ohio Sea Grant, and Friends of Stone Lab.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. F.T. Stone Laboratory, Ohio State University and Ohio Sea Grant, Put-in-Bay, OH, 43456, USA

    Justin D. Chaffin, Douglas D. Kane, Keara Stanislawczyk & Eric M. Parker

  2. Division of Natural Science, Applied Science, and Mathematics, Defiance College, Defiance, OH, 43512, USA

    Douglas D. Kane

  3. Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA

    Eric M. Parker

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  1. Justin D. Chaffin
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  2. Douglas D. Kane
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Correspondence to Justin D. Chaffin.

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Chaffin, J.D., Kane, D.D., Stanislawczyk, K. et al. Accuracy of data buoys for measurement of cyanobacteria, chlorophyll, and turbidity in a large lake (Lake Erie, North America): implications for estimation of cyanobacterial bloom parameters from water quality sonde measurements. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 25175–25189 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2612-z

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