Risks posed by algal blooms?
The nutrient enrichment of rivers and lakes from human activity is one of the major problems affecting freshwater ecology. Algal blooms generated by increased nutrient concentrations, lower flows and climate change can threaten ecosystems, human health and drinking water supply, and incur increased costs for water companies.
Greater understanding of the causes of algal blooms is needed, so that rivers, lakes and reservoirs can be most-effectively managed to secure water resources, safeguard their ecology, and benefit people and society.
At UKCEH we have developed a new technique that uses flow cytometry to quantify and characterise algal populations in freshwater.