Harmful Algal Blooms Expression In Croton Watershed: A 15 Year Analysis

Abstract

An emerging threat to ecosystems' stability is the rate at which harmful algal blooms increase worldwide. Freshwater harmful algal blooms affect food production, recreation, tourism, and water drinking availability (Ho 2020). Harmful algal blooms affect human public health and are a climate change product (Leon-Muñoz et .al 2018). This study focused on climate change effects by analyzing the last 15 years of aerial photographs collected on 74 representative lakes to express potential harmful algal bloom in the lakes within the Croton watershed. Using data collected from NOAA, harmful algal bloom expression within the Croton watershed was determined. The results were inconclusive because there were limitations to the study. As a result, it was difficult to determine if algal bloom occurrence in the region is increasing with climate change in the Croton watershed. Further research will be needed to determine the effectiveness of climate change on algal blooms in the croton watershed region.