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2B - Natural Stressors and Toxicants (TUP/59) Can (toxic) blue-algae blooms be conquered using eco-engineering? Zebra mussels as a weapon. Weber, Anke1, Smit, Mathijs1, 1 TNO Environment, Energy and Process Innovation, Den Helder, North Holland, The Netherlands ABSTRACT- In eutrophic water systems where stratification occurs during the warm summer months (toxic) algal blooms present a regular annoyance for wildlife and tourists. In order to prevent these blooms, an experiment was carried out testing a new eco-technological water purification method. But what is Eco-engineering? Eco-engineering seeks to use ecological principles in technological solutions, for example, the application of certain qualities of macro-organisms of groups of macro-organisms in solving specific (environmental) problems. This zebra mussel filter is one of these applications. This idea of the filter is based on the fact that algal blooms can only flourish if there are sufficient nutrients in the water. If, therefore, the amount of nutrients can be reduced the bloom might be prevented. Using the filtering capacity of Dreissena (zebra mussel) is one possibility to diminish the concentration of particle-bound nutrients and consequently reduce or even prevent an algal bloom. In this presentation the example of eco-engineering is illustrated for the case of the Steenbergse Vliet, a river with high nutrient concentration from the surrounding agricultural land. Every year thick layers of blue algae form and cost plenty of fish and bird lifes. The prototype mussel filter was tested there for 6 month. First results and conclusions of the project are presented focussing on the applicability of the system in natural and semi-natural watersystems. Key words: Microcystis , Dreissena , surface water quality, eutrophication |
