Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms in Central Park, New York City

Overview Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) can produce cyanotoxins that pose health risks to humans, pets, and wildlife that use freshwater lakes and ponds. While not often used for swimming or drinking water, human and animal contact with urban lakes can include boating, fishing, or use of shoreline walking paths. CyanoHABs are a persistent, annually recurring problem in several Central Park lakes. It is not known how cyanoHAB conditions (such as cyanotoxin concentration and phytoplankton community composition) vary among lakes within the park or whether the groundwater is impacted by the proximity cyanoHABs in surface waters. Our study will explore the surface water and groundwater in Central Park by collecting samples [...]