Harmful Algal Blooms Get “Hotter” in 2018

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) were a topic of great interest at the 2018 ASLO Summer Meeting in Victoria, B.C., Canada (Fig. 1). This was no surprise, since HABs may become – and already are in some areas – the greatest water quality threat to public health and aquatic ecosystems. The Summer Meeting included seven special sessions with a focus on HABs, algal blooms, or cyanobacteria; there were over 75 oral and poster presentations on or related to HABs research. In addition, 15 people participated in a town hall style discussion of strategies for cross-jurisdictional HABs prevention. These presentations and discussions at the ASLO meeting highlighted the complexities of the HABs problem.

Impact/Purpose

Harmful algal blooms may become - or already are in some areas - the greatest water quality threat to public health and aquatic ecosystems. This bulletin article highlights new research on harmful algal blooms presented during the 2018 summer meeting of the Association of the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO). The article was written as part of the "journalist for a day" program that provides training in science communication to a broad audience.

Citation

Lee, S. Harmful Algal Blooms Get “Hotter” in 2018. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Lawrence, KS, 27(4):117-119, (2018). [DOI: 10.1002/lob.10277]

DOI: Harmful Algal Blooms Get “Hotter” in 2018