Publications by authors named "H W Paerl"
Article Synopsis
- Phytoplankton in lakes capture atmospheric CO2 and convert it to organic carbon (OC), but most OC is recycled back to the atmosphere as CO and methane (CH), contributing to climate change.
- * The research identifies a 3.1-fold increase in CO-equivalent emissions over the next century, exacerbated by climate warming.
- * While climate change boosts phytoplankton growth in many lakes, it can also negatively impact their ability to sequester CO-eq, potentially weakening this feedback loop over time.
Impoundments play a vital role as nutrient sinks, capable of retaining and exporting nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) at different rates. The imbalance in N and P stoichiometry relative to phytoplankton demand often determines the limiting nutrient of phytoplankton biomass in these systems. This critical factor has a substantial impact on the management of eutrophication, encompassing the formulation of nutrient control strategies and the setting of regulatory thresholds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) are a major concern for water quality, public health and viability of aquatic ecosystems. Increased inputs of nutrients, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPotential health risk assessment of cyanobacteria across global lakes.
Appl Environ Microbiol
November 2024
Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzes 750 metagenomic data sets from 103 lakes globally to assess the distribution of cyanobacterial communities and the genes responsible for producing toxic metabolites, revealing that nearly half of these lakes have medium to high health risks due to cyanobacteria.
- - It identified East Asia and South Asia as the regions with the highest concern, especially in rapidly industrializing and urbanizing developing countries, and established a method using machine learning to map potential health risks linked to environmental factors.
- - The research presents a comprehensive approach to monitoring cyanobacterial health risks, highlighting geographical variations and emphasizing the urgent need for management strategies to address threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health.
Article Synopsis
- Climate change is leading to more intense and frequent heavy rainfall, which affects nutrient movement into rivers, particularly in areas like southeast China with complex land use.
- A study found that as rainfall intensity increases, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in a river rise, with a notable spike during heavy rainfall events, contributing significantly to annual nutrient loading and potentially worsening eutrophication in nearby lakes.
- The research highlights that cropland and residential areas are major sources of these nutrients, while forested areas have better drainage but still pose pollution risks, emphasizing the need for targeted nutrient management strategies in response to rainfall patterns.