Publications by authors named "Ted D Harris"
Wetlands play a disproportionate role in the global climate as major sources and sinks of greenhouse gases. Herbicides are the most heavily used agrochemicals and are frequently detected in aquatic ecosystems, with glyphosate and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), representing the two most commonly used worldwide. In recent years, these herbicides are being used in mixtures to combat herbicide-tolerant noxious weeds.
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- Cyanobacterial blooms pose significant challenges to ecological and public health, with existing research primarily focused on their initiation and duration rather than the loss processes that decrease their prevalence.
- The study delineates loss processes, defined as mechanisms that remove cyanobacterial cells from the population, exploring factors like environmental stressors and biological interactions that influence these dynamics.
- Understanding these loss processes and their variability due to different environmental conditions can enhance management strategies for cyanobacterial blooms, especially in light of changing climate conditions.
Freshwater benthic algae form complex mat matrices that can confer ecosystem benefits but also produce harmful cyanotoxins and nuisance taste-and-odor (T&O) compounds. Despite intensive study of the response of pelagic systems to anthropogenic change, the environmental factors controlling toxin presence in benthic mats remain uncertain. Here, we present a unique dataset from a rapidly urbanizing community (Kansas City, USA) that spans environmental, toxicological, taxonomic, and genomic indicators to identify the prevalence of three cyanotoxins (microcystin, anatoxin-a, and saxitoxin) and two T&O compounds (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol).
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- Plastic debris is widely found in freshwater ecosystems, but assessing its distribution is challenging due to a lack of consistent data.
- A standardized survey of 38 lakes and reservoirs identified that plastic pollution is present in all studied locations, indicating these ecosystems are significantly affected by plastic contamination.
- The study reveals that urbanized lakes and large bodies of water with specific characteristics are particularly susceptible to high levels of plastic, stressing the need to consider these freshwater areas in pollution management efforts.
David Schindler and his colleagues pioneered studies in the 1970s on the role of phosphorus in stimulating cyanobacterial blooms in North American lakes. Our understanding of the nuances of phosphorus utilization by cyanobacteria has evolved since that time. We review the phosphorus utilization strategies used by cyanobacteria, such as use of organic forms, alternation between passive and active uptake, and luxury storage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are critical macroelements in freshwater systems. Historically, researchers and managers have focused on inorganic forms, based on the premise that the organic pool was not available for direct uptake by phytoplankton. We now know that phytoplankton can tap the organic nutrient pool through a number of mechanisms including direct uptake, enzymatic hydrolysis, mixotrophy, and through symbiotic relationships with microbial communities.
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