Skip to main content
Log in

Affinity and Efficacy of Copper Following an Algicide Exposure: Application of the Critical Burden Concept for Lyngbya wollei Control in Lay Lake, AL

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Accurate predictions of nuisance algae responses to algicide exposures are needed to guide management decisions. Copper sorption and responses of Lyngbya wollei (Farlow ex Gomont) Speziale and Dyck were measured in the laboratory and two areas in Lay Lake (AL, USA) to treatments of Captain® XTR (SePRO Corporation; chelated copper algicide) and a sequential treatment of GreenClean® Liquid (BioSafe Systems, LLC; peroxygen algicide) combined with Hydrothol® 191 (United Phosphorus, Inc.; endothall algicide) followed by Captain XTR. Measured filament viability in laboratory exposures predicted Captain XTR alone could control L. wollei in Lay Lake, with 2 mg Cu/g algae EC75. This produced a targeted field treatment of 9.7 kg Cu/ha which was divided into three applications of 0.3 mg Cu/L as Captain XTR in the treatment areas. Laboratory and field experiments indicated treatments of Captain XTR alone and the combination treatment resulted in comparable copper sorption and responses of L. wollei. Copper adsorbed greater to L. wollei in laboratory experiments than in the treated areas of Lay Lake with comparable exposures (2 mg Cu/g L. wollei). However, responses and infused copper were similar and correlated in laboratory experiments and treated areas of Lay Lake indicating infused copper is critical for governing toxicity. Laboratory exposures as mg Cu/g algae accurately predicted the necessary algicide exposure required to attain the critical burden of infused copper and elicit desired responses of L. wollei in treated areas of Lay Lake.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Public Health Association (APHA) (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 21st edn. Washington, DC

  • Bishop WM, Rodgers JH Jr (2011) Responses of Lyngbya magnifica Gardner to an algaecide exposure in the laboratory and field. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 74:1832–1838

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop WM, Rodgers JH Jr (2012) Responses of Lyngbya wollei to exposures of copper-based algaecides: the critical burden concept. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 62:403–410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Briand J-F, Jacquet S, Bernard C, Humbert J-F (2003) Health hazards for terrestrial vertebrates from toxic cyanobacteria in surface water ecosystems. Vet Res 34:361–377

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carmichael WW, Azevedo SMFO, An JS et al (2001) Human fatalities from cyanobacteria: chemical and biological evidence for cyanotoxins. Environ Health Perspect 109(7):663–668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chorus I, Bartram J (1999) Toxic cyanobacteria in water: a guide to public health significance, monitoring and management. WHO, Chapman & Hall, London, p 416

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Corradi MG, Gorbi G (1993) Chromium toxicity on two linked trophic levels II. Morphophysiological effects on Scenedesmus acutus. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 25:72–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crist RH, Martin JR, Guptill PW, Eslinger JM, Crist DR (1990) Interaction of metals and protons with algae. 2. Ion exchange in adsorption and metal displacement by protons. Environ Sci Technol 24:337–342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falconer IR (1999) An overview of problems caused by toxic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in drinking and recreational water. Environ Toxicol 14:5–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoagland P, Anderson DM, Kaoru Y, White AW (2002) The economic effects of harmful algal blooms in the United States: estimates, assessment issues, and information needs. Estuaries 25(4b):819–837

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landsberg JH (2002) The effects of harmful algal blooms on aquatic creatures. Rev Fish Sci 10(2):113–390

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy JL, Stauber JL, Jolley DF (2007) Sensitivity of marine microalgae to copper: The effect of biotic factors on copper adsorption and toxicity. Sci Total Environ 387:141–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mastin BJ, Rodgers JH Jr (2000) Toxicity and bioavailability of copper herbicides (Clearigate, Cutrine Plus, and Copper Sulfate) to freshwater animals. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 39:445–451

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mastin BJ, Rodgers JH Jr, Deardorff TL (2002) Risk evaluation of cyanobacteria-dominated algal blooms in a North Louisiana reservoir. J Aquat Ecosyst Stress Recovery 9:103–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masuda K, Boyd CE (1993) Comparative evaluation of the solubility and algal toxicity of copper sulfate and chelated copper. Aquaculture 117:287–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Microsoft (2010) Microsoft Excel [computer software]. Redmond, Washington

  • Murray-Gulde CL, Heatley JE, Schwartzman AL, Rodgers JH Jr (2002) Algicidal effectiveness of Clearigate, Cutrine-Plus, and Copper Sulfate and margins of safety associated with their use. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 43:19–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paerl HW (1988) Nuisance phytoplankton blooms in coastal, estuarine, and inland waters. Limnol Oceanogr 33(4):823–847

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Speziale BJ, Dyck L (1992) Comparative taxonomy of Lyngbya wollei comb. nov. (cyanobacteria). J Phycol 28:693–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stauber JL, Davies CM (2000) Use and limitations of microbial bioassays for assessing copper bioavailability in the aquatic environment. Environ Rev 8:255–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stauber JL, Florence TM (1987) Mechanism of toxicity of ionic copper and copper complexes to algae. Mar Biol 94:511–519

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tedrow OR (2007) Responses of problematic cyanobacteria to exposures of copper containing algicides. M.S. Thesis, Clemson University, 2007

  • Tien C-J, Sigee DC, White KN (2005) Copper adsorption kinetics of cultured algal cells and freshwater phytoplankton with emphasis on cell surface characteristics. J Appl Phycol 17:379–389

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi BN, Mehta SK, Amar A, Gaur JP (2006) Oxidative stress in Scenedesmus sp. during short- and long-term exposure to Cu2+ and Zn2+. Chemosphere 62:538–544

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1994) Method 200.7. Determination of metals and trace elements in water and wastes by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory Office of Research and Development. Cincinnati, OH 45268

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (1996) Microwave assisted acid digestion of siliceous and organically based matrices, method 3052. EPA SW-846, ch 3.2, USEPA. Washington, DC

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by SePRO Corporation (Carmel, IN, USA). The authors are thankful for the support provided and samples collected by Alabama Power, especially Wesley Taylor Anderson, to make this study possible. The authors are grateful for the certified professionals and advanced equipment provided by Aqua Services, Inc. to efficiently conduct the algicide applications.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to West M. Bishop.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bishop, W.M., Willis, B.E. & Horton, C.T. Affinity and Efficacy of Copper Following an Algicide Exposure: Application of the Critical Burden Concept for Lyngbya wollei Control in Lay Lake, AL. Environmental Management 55, 983–990 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-014-0433-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-014-0433-5

Keywords

Navigation