Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID AR_2023_Osburn

Influence of phytoplankton stoichiometry on the prodcution of secondary metabolites in a central Arkansas reservoir

Institute: Arkansas
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $35,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $35,000

Principal Investigators: Felicia Osburn

Project Summary: With an increase in global temperature, we expect to see many changes in our lakes. One of the changes we expect to see is an increase in harmful algae. A type of harmful algae, called cyanobacteria, can make toxins that can cause harm to animals and humans that encounter them. Cyanobacteria can also make taste and odor compounds. These compounds make drinking water smell or taste earthy. The creation of these toxins and taste and odor compounds relies on what elements are available in the water for cyanobacteria to use. In this research, we are interested in seeing how changing these elements affects how cyanobacteria create these compounds.