Collaborative Research: Evaluating Nutrient Reductions to Control Cyanobacteria and Ensure Large Lake Sustainability: Lake Taihu (China) as a Model for North American Systems

淡水系统中的富营养化已导致被认为有害的蓝藻水华在全球范围内扩散，因为它们污染了进水口，扰乱了食物网，加剧了缺氧，并产生了对受影响水域的消费者和使用者有毒的次生代谢物，包括浮游动物、鱼、贝类、牛、家养宠物和人类。因此，蓝藻有害水华严重损害主要淡水饮用水供应、渔业、农业(灌溉)和娱乐用途。蓝藻问题的一个特别令人不安的方面是扩散到以前原始的大型湖泊、水库和河流系统。这些湖泊包括：劳伦斯五大湖，美国中西部和西部的主要水库，东南部的湖泊、河流和河口，以及全球各地的大型湖泊，包括中国的第三大湖--太湖。本研究的目的是采用一种跨学科的国际(美国-中国)基于科学的方法来评估、控制和减轻威胁大型湖泊可持续发展的CycanHAB，并以太湖为例进行研究。将部署现场营养稀释生物测定，以确定氰化赤潮的生长和扩散可以控制的阈值。需要双重养分(N和P)输入约束才能长期控制太湖蓝藻的假设将得到检验。生物测定将补充中国同事正在进行的田间和中游循环以及营养循环研究。一个研究、教育和与中国研究人员合作的项目将为未来的CyanoHAB事件在北美系统中如何处理提供一个“镜子”。将专注于环境科学与研究(北卡罗来纳大学S环境研究所)和科学新闻学(德克萨斯大学新闻学院)的学生包括在内，将有助于向所有级别(K-12、大学学生和普通公众)快速而广泛地传播材料。

CBET-0826819PaerlEutrophication in freshwater systems has led to a global proliferation of cyanobacterial blooms deemed harmful because they foul water intakes, disrupt foodwebs, fuel hypoxia, and produce secondary metabolites that are toxic to consumers and users of affected waters, ranging from zooplankton, fish, shellfish, cattle, domestic pets, to humans. As such, Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanHABs) seriously impair major freshwater drinking water supplies, fisheries, agricultural (irrigation) and recreational use. A particularly troubling aspect of the CyanoHAB problem is the proliferation into previously pristine large lake, reservoir, and river systems. These include: the Laurentian Great Lakes, major reservoirs in the US Midwest and West, lakes, rivers and estuaries of the Southeast, and large lakes across the globe, including China's third largest lake, Taihu. The objective of this research is to deploy an interdisciplinary, international (USA-China) science-based approach for assessing, controlling, and mitigating CycanHABs threatening the sustainability of large lakes, focusing on Taihu as a case study. In situ nutrient dilution bioassays will be deployed, designed to determine thresholds below which CyanoHAB growth and proliferation can be controlled. The hypothesis that dual nutrient (N and P) input constraints will be needed for long-term control of CyanoHABs in Taihu will be tested. Bioassays will complement ongoing field and mesocosm circulation and nutrient cycling studies by Chinese colleagues. A program of research, education, and partnership with Chinese researchers will provide a "looking glass" into how future CyanoHAB events might be dealt with in North American systems. The inclusion of students focused on Environmental Science and Studies (UNC-CH?s Institute for the Environment) and Science - Journalism (UT's School of Journalism) will facilitate rapid and widespread dissemination of materials to all levels (K-12, collegiate, and general public).