B Science (Hons)

Contact details for Ms Amanda Posselt a.posselt@griffith.edu.au

Thesis

Are nutrients the key driver in stimulating toxic cyanobacterial blooms in South East Queensland reservoirs?

Description

Toxic cyanobacteria cause major problems for drinking water authorities due to their potential to produce compounds that are toxic to both humans and animals. In South East Queensland the toxic cyanobacterium Cylindroseprmopsis raciborskii, dominates the phytoplankton community in one such reservoir, North Pine Dam. The reason for C. raciborskii dominance is poorly understood and is potentially related to the nutrient dynamics of the system. A combination of field and laboratory based experiments will be used to determine the role of phosphate and dissolved organic phosphorus in promoting C. raciborskii growth and dominance.

Supervisor

Dr Michael Burford
Associate Professor Glen Shaw

Research expertise

• Microbial ecology of freshwater lakes
• Cyanobacterial physiology
• Water quality

Publications

• Posselt, A. J., Burford M. A., Shaw, G. (2008) Pulses of phosphate promote dominance of the toxic cyanophyte Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in a subtropical water reservoir. Journal of Phycology (in press)