The provision of research inputs to the management of toxic blue-green algae

Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre

MDFRC item.

The sustainable management of water resources to minimise problems with an ecological basis, such as blooms of blue-green algae, requires food understanding of the ecological background to the problem and the continuing input of appropriate research. Blooms of blue-green algae are primarily caused by excessive availability of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, though other factors such as temperature, light, river flow and grazing of animals can have effects. Blue-green algae are well adapted to monopolise good growth conditions and to dominate such blooms. Under certain conditions, toxins of two types, neurotoxins and hepatotoxins, are produced by blue-green algae. Research is required to refine understanding of all these issues. A comparison of the responses of Australia, southern Africa, the United Kingdom and North America to the occurrence of blue-green algal problems in their respective countries shows that the Australian response was somewhat cumbersome, and not well based on existing knowledge. However, it appears to have been effective. Early involvement of scientific societies such as the Australian Institute of Biology is advocated as a means of providing objective expert input at the earliest stages of developing an appropriate approach to such problems.