STRIVE - Environmental Protection Agency

Molecular Diversity and Dynamics of Toxigenic Blue-green Algae in Irish Lakes
However, a large water sample collected independently
from the shore and analysed by liquid chromatography
and mass spectrometry did confirm the presence of MC-
LR in the lake during the instrument deployment period.
This result warrants more frequent measurements of
water quality variables to ascertain the potential risk
toward recreational activities and drinking water safety.
Previous research has shown that microcystins can have
negative effects on reproduction and developmental
processes in fish larvae and juveniles (Malbrouck &
Kestemont 2006). It is hence important to estimate
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the extent and frequency to which fish populations, in
lakes prone to cyanobacterial biomass development,
are exposed to cyanotoxins. A new generation of
instruments and buoys has been developed in recent
years and the autonomous sampling and remote sensing
of both marine and lacustrian environments is now
feasible (Babin et al. 2005). The installation of a battery
of autonomous instruments in sentinel lakes across
Ireland would be beneficial to watershed management
bodies and enable the continuous monitoring of water
quality variables in the near future.