Blue-green algae feed off extreme weather, conference told

Climate might trump phosphates; Scientists debate 'interesting connection'
DOMINIQUE BLAIN, The Gazette
Published: 7 hours ago

It's the weather, people: an ecology professor presented findings yesterday that indicate that the increase in blue-green algae blooms in Quebec might have just as much to do with the weather as it does with phosphate pollution.

David Bird, a professor currently studying the ecology of toxic cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, at the Université du Québec à Montréal, spoke to about 150 scientists and students who packed a Palais des congrès room at the 30th Congress of the International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology.

Bird indicated the increasing occurrence of extreme weather, such as heavy downpours, droughts and warm winters, seems to be linked to the onset of cyanobacteria problems.

These natural events underline the unsustainable abuse that watersheds have endured for years, he said.

A watershed is a land area that drains water into a body of water. Many lakes' watersheds, such as those of Massawippi and Memphremagog in the Eastern Townships, are polluted by phosphorus from the use of agricultural and residential fertilizers, as well as leaking septic tanks and the use of detergents that contain phosphates.
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