Description
This WG will critically examine the monitoring of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins highlighting best methods to help water managers assess the risk of their waterbody to cyanobacterial proliferation, in-line with guideline or regulatory alert levels. Methods currently being used to assess cyanobacterial and cyanotoxin occurrence range from in situ methods (water sample analyses, fluorescence probes, sensor-based systems) to remote methods (satellite, LIDAR, drone). Cyanobacterial abundance is expressed as cell numbers, biovolume, as chlorophyll a concentration, or as specific cyanobacterial pigment concentrations as proxies of biomass. Cyanobacterial taxa composition has traditionally relied on microscopic identification and taxonomic expertise, while cyanotoxins have been determined using chemo- and bioanalytical methods. Newly developed ‘omics’ methods based on specific genes or their expression could serve as management tools due to their fast analysis, high accuracy and low costs. Early warning alert methods using autonomous monitoring systems are becoming popular due to their practicality but their reliability needs to be evaluated. Public engagement in detection of cyanobacterial blooms will be achieved (i.e. ‘citizen science’) via smart-phone applications.
Tasks
1.1. Assess knowledge requirements of water managers and other end-users concerning cyanobacterial early warning detection methods. Questionnaires will be used (prepared in WG4) to reach a maximum of end-users.
1.2. Assemble and assess the available and innovative methods used to detect, identify and quantify cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins (including costs, rapidity of results, technicality).
1.3 Provide standardized practical protocols for risk assessment of cyanobacteria and -toxin detection including links between diagnostic methods and alert guidelines and regulations.
1.4 Identify gaps in detection protocols and European alert guidelines (e.g. picocyanobacteria and benthic cyanobacteria) and how to close them.
1.5 Promote, refine and disseminate existing mobile phone-based alert application for cyanobacterial bloom occurrence and identification.
1.6 Summarize state of the art and progress of cyanobacterial monitoring in a review paper. Vulgarize this review to disseminate in appropriate channels to managers and stakeholders
Activities
1.1. Group meeting to coordinate synthesis of pros and cons of detection methods and develop intuitive workflows.
1.2. Establishing contact to stakeholders and creating, sending and evaluation of questionnaires understand their needs and develop practical detection protocols
1.3. Group meeting to propose practical and reliable protocols to link detection methods to alert guidelines and regulations, including picocyanobacteria and benthic cyanobacteria.
1.4 Workshops for end-users on practical protocols of detection of cyanobacteria and -toxins including citizen science implementing mobile phone cyanobacterial alert applications and presenting videos on cyanobacterial issues
1.5. Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) and Conference Grants supporting PhD students and ECI researchers from Participating Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs) on early warning methods for detection of blooms (at least 5 STSMs, 1 conference grant).
1.6. Editorial meetings to plan review papers and practical guideline literature (visio).