Years
Location
2020-2022
Edenton, NC, USA
Funding Sources
Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Partnership / North Carolina Sea Grant Graduate Fellowship in Estuarine Research (#2019-R/MG-1905, 2020)
Scope: This field campaign was conducted at sites surrounding Edenton, NC in the summer of 2020. Aerosol and water samples were collected in collaboration with the Chowan Edenton Environmental Group, then analyzed by me for the first chapter of my dissertation.
Cyanobacterial aerosolization dynamics in the airshed of the Chowan River-Albemarle Sound, NC
Objectives
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Investigate the occurrence of microcystin and toxic cyanobacterial communities in particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) in aerodynamic diameter.
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Explore the environmental conditions promoting the aerosolization of cyanotoxins and cyanobacterial DNA.
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Identify associations between harmful cyanobacterial bloom events and PM2.5 concentrations in the airshed of the Chowan River-Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, USA.
Key Findings
Several toxic cyanobacterial genera identified in PM2.5
​Including Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Dolichospermum, Microcystis, Pseudanabaena, and Tolypothrix
Bloom activity was linked to elevated PM2.5 mass concentrations
In association with the bloom, the median PM2.5 mass concentration increased significantly above the non-bloom background concentration
Bloom-state influenced the enrichment of cyanobacteria in PM2.5
Nearly every cyanobacterial subspecies was elevated in PM2.5 at during the suspected exponential growth phase of the bloom
No microcystin was detected in PM2.5 samples
Microcystin production was low throughout the study
Cyanobacterial enrichment in PM2.5 was indistinct at the subspecies level
There was no apparent difference between cyanobacterial enrichment in PM2.5 between subspecies
VOCs emitted from blooms may play a role in aerosol formation during bloom events
One alternate source of PM2.5 linked to cyanobacteria could be secondary aerosol derived from volatile biogenic compounds
Field samples were collected in collaboration with community scientists of the Chowan Edenton Environmental Group.
To learn more about their ongoing volunteer research engagement and outreach, please visit https://www.chowanedentonenvironmentalgroup.org/
This work was featured in several outreach pieces, presentations, and publications.
Check out my media page for a full list of interviews, written articles, and educational videos.
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As well as my publications page for more information on the background, methods, and findings associated with this research.