Miriam Steinitz-Kannan, Regents Professor   -  email: kannan@nku.edu   SC 147 (Office) or SC 161 (Research Lab)

 

> Algae (ORSANCO) - monitoring water for toxic algae

 
 
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Algae -

Ohio River Data Base from Drinking water Utilities (ORSANCO)

The Water Laboratory (WRL) at Northern Kentucky University specializes in monitoring aquatic ecosystems to help identify problems associated with the changing composition of algae.  The steps that the WRL believes is necessary to appropriately monitor a body of water include bimonthly genus level identification and enumeration of all algae from sedimentation chambers, as well as weekly chlorophyll analysis, temperature, pH and turbidity levels.  The WRL is equipped to monitor aquatic ecosystems according to these guidelines.

Four years of counts of algae for water samples received every 2 weeks for > 12 utilities
data on turbidity, pH, temperature, for each sample

 
 

Northern Kentucky University
Water Laboratory and Diatom Herbarium
Department of Biological Sciences
Natural Science Building, Room 161
Highland Heights, Kentucky 41099-0400

ALGAL AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING SERVICES
 

Rationale:

  • Algae are sensitive indicators of environmental conditions in lakes and rivers. Discrete algal populations of a river or lake can give important information about the biological and chemical water quality. Concern about the effects of toxic algal blooms, particularly Cyanobacteria, on human health has grown in many countries in recent years. Algae are also capable of producing taste and odor compounds that affect the quality of drinking water. Regular monitoring of algae in water bodies can provide early warnings of potential blooms and help with the management of water resources and recreational water. Much of the history of the water quality of lakes and reservoirs can be obtained by fossil diatoms and pigments from cores.
     
  • We monitor river samples for drinking water utilities to identify local treatment problems associated with changing composition of algae in the Ohio River and its tributaries, as well as other bodies of water. By continuous monitoring, clients can receive updates of water quality in the river this year and a prognosis for next year.
     
  • Our Diatom Herbarium contains diatoms from around the world (Ecuador including the Galapagos Islands, Brazil, Peru, USA, including Alaska, Siberia, and India). An environmental database is available for each site. Data can be generated to help monitor changes in environmental quality, or reconstruct climatic and environmental histories of a region through the use of fossil diatoms from lake cores.

Services :

  • Qualitative and quantitative algal analysis
  • Chlorophyll a
  • Processing and enumeration of fossil diatoms from lake cores.
  • Training sessions available on request. Courses in "Freshwater Algae", "Freshwater Diatoms" and Limnology offered at N.K.U.
  • *Prices for individual services are negotiable.

FACILITIES AVAILABLE

We are a dedicated comprehensive research laboratory equipped for algal processing and counting. Our diatom herbarium houses permanent mounts of over 1000 species of freshwater diatoms from around the world. Our laboratory also contains an extensive algal taxonomy reference library, DIC optical phase contrast photo-microscopes, inverted phase contrast microscopes and a Hitachi S-570 scanning electron microscope.

Laboratory is equipped for:

  • Identification and enumeration of all algal types to genus or species levels.
  • Processing and preparation of permanent reference slides for diatoms.
  • Inverted Nikon Microscopes.
  • Microphotography with a Nikon Optiphot microscope.
  • Scanning Electron Micrographs with the FEI Quanta 200 ESEM.
  • Analysis of data using the latest computer technology and statistical programs.
  •  Interpretation of findings in terms of algae as water quality indicators.
  •  Field sampling.
  • Consulting services and training in algal taxonomy.

Materials that can be processed:

  • Whole water samples
  • Plankton and shore algal tows
  • Stomach analyses of small invertebrates such as zebra mussels
  • Lake cores
  • Benthic samples from lakes, streams or rivers
  • Rock scrapings

To begin, contact Vicki M. Kier to set up a protocol, and services.

Phone: (859) 572-6649
Fax: (859) 572-5639
e-mail: kierv1@nku.edu