Understanding toxic benthic cyanobacteria prevalence and risk factors in Nova Scotia surface waters

整个加拿大的地表沃茨越来越受到蓝藻的影响。许多蓝藻物种产生有毒化合物，对人类和动物构成重大健康威胁，并损害饮用水，娱乐和农业水体的使用。蓝细菌可以是浮游的（自由漂浮），也可以是底栖的（附着在河床和湖床上）。促进浮游蓝藻生长的因素受到了极大的关注，然而，底栖蓝藻在加拿大表面沃茨的生态学知之甚少。 在加拿大的大部分地区，包括新斯科舍省，很少有研究集中在了解这些生物的流行程度，或者哪些因素导致了可能对人类和动物健康构成风险的水华。这一问题在加拿大大西洋地区已经成为最前沿的问题，因为越来越多的动物死亡与摄入有毒的底栖蓝藻有关。该研究项目的主要目标是描述新斯科舍省地表水系统中有毒底栖蓝藻所构成的风险。这项研究的目的是确定有助于底栖蓝藻繁殖的环境因素，并为管理相关的人类和动物健康风险提供指导和建议。该项目将积极吸引各种组织参与，以促进研究方案，并将知识转让给参与新斯科舍省水资源管理和公共安全的广大个人网络。这项倡议涉及三级政府（市、省、联邦）的主要伙伴组织，这些组织负责水资源管理和执行防止人类和动物接触蓝细菌毒素的政策。该项目的成果也将对加拿大有毒底栖蓝藻风险的科学和管理产生广泛影响。

Surface waters throughout Canada are increasingly impacted by cyanobacteria. Numerous cyanobacteria species produce toxic compounds which pose a significant health threat to humans and animals, and impair the use of water bodies for drinking water, recreation, and agriculture. Cyanobacteria can be either planktonic (free floating), or benthic (attached to stream and lake beds). The factors that contribute to planktonic cyanobacteria growth have received significant attention, however, the ecology of benthic cyanobacteria in Canadian surface waters is poorly understood. In most regions of Canada, including Nova Scotia, there is a paucity of research focused on understanding how prevalent these organisms are, or what factors contribute to blooms that could pose a risk to human and animal health. This issue has come to forefront in Atlantic Canada as there have been a growing number of animal deaths associated with ingestion of toxic benthic cyanobacteria. The primary objective of this research project is to characterize the risks posed by toxic benthic cyanobacteria in Nova Scotia surface water systems. This research will aim to identify environmental factors that contribute to the proliferation of benthic cyanobacteria and produce guidance and recommendations for managing associated human and animal health risks. This project will actively engage a variety of organizations to facilitate the research program and to transfer knowledge to a broad network of individuals involved in managing water resources and public safety in Nova Scotia. This initiative involves key partner organizations, at three levels of government (municipal, provincial, federal), that are responsible for water resources management and implementing policies to prevent humans and animals from being exposed to cyanobacteria toxins. The outcomes of this project will also have broad impact on the science and management of toxic benthic cyanobacteria risks across Canada.