Harmful Algal Blooms: A Prolific Issue in Urban Stormwater Ponds

Nutrient-driven cyanobacteria blooms are an increasingly common issue in freshwater environments, particularly in anthropogenically altered landscapes. As stormwater runoff is one of the largest sources of nutrients for freshwater bodies, stormwater retention ponds in urban and suburban areas are likely environments for harmful cyanobacteria blooms and were thus targeted for an in-depth investigation assessing taxonomic composition, bloom morphological composition, toxicity, and impact of nutrients and other environmental drivers. Eighty-seven algal blooms were sampled from 2019 to 2022 in the greater Wilmington, North Carolina, area. Physicochemical parameters were recorded, and blooms were classified by type (defined as surface mat, surface scum, water column distribution, or benthic mat) and dominant taxa. Blooms of potentially toxic cyanobacteria genera in the water column of stormwater retention ponds were most prevalent. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus was significantly related to chlorophyll-a, Microcystis bloom formation, and the production of microcystin. Seventeen potentially toxic cyanobacteria genera were identified in retention ponds, some of whose blooms demonstrated detectable microcystin. Monoclonal cultures isolated from some blooms were found to produce anabaenopeptin and saxitoxin. The results demonstrate a higher incidence of potentially toxic cyanobacteria over other bloom-forming taxa (chlorophytes, euglenoids, chrysophytes, dinoflagellates, and diatoms) in the 39 water bodies sampled. The frequency of blooms occurring in stormwater ponds and the diversity of potentially toxic cyanobacteria identified suggest such harmful blooms are likely widespread in similar freshwater environments across multiple urbanizing areas. The blooms sampled in this study were all within residential, commercial, or recreational areas easily accessible to people, presenting serious hazards to both environmental and public health

The dynamics of expanding mangroves in New Zealand

In contrast to the global trend of mangrove decline, New Zealand mangroves are rapidly expanding, facilitated by elevated sediment inputs in coastal waters as a consequence of large-scale land use changes following European settlement. New Zealand mangroves are at the southern limit of the global mangrove extent, which limits the tree height of Avicennia marina var. australasica, the only mangrove species present. Mangroves in New Zealand thrive in the sheltered environments of infilling drowned river valleys with abundant supply of fine terrigenous sediments, showing various stages of mangrove succession and expansion dynamics. Bio-physical interactions and carbon dynamics in these expanding temperate mangrove systems show similarities to, but also differ from those in tropical mangrove forests, for instance due to the limited height and complexity of the mangrove communities. Likewise, ecosystem services provided by New Zealand mangroves deviate from those offered by tropical mangroves. In particular, the association of mangrove expansion with the accumulation of (the increased supply of) fine sediments and the consequent change of estuarine ecosystems, has provoked a negative perception of mangrove expansion and subsequently led to mangrove clearance. Over recent decades, a body of knowledge has been developed regarding the planning and decision making relating to mangrove removal, yet there are still effects that are unknown, for example with respect to the post-clearance recovery of the original sandflat ecosystems. In this chapter we discuss the dynamics of New Zealand’s expanding mangroves from a range of viewpoints, with the aim of elucidating the possible contributions of expanding mangroves to coastal ecosystem services, now and in the future. This chapter also reviews current policies and practice regarding mangrove removal in New Zealand and addresses the (un)known effects of mangrove clearance. These combined insights may contribute to the development of integrated coastal management strategies that recognise the full potential of expanding mangrove ecosystems

NURSING STAFF PARTICIPATION IN END OF LIFE NUTRITION AND HYDRATION DECISION MAKING PROCESSES IN A RURAL NURSING HOME

Decreased or absent oral intake , common among nursing home residents nearing the end of life , often triggers decision making regarding the course of care. Residents , family members , and medical providers hold final responsibility for decisions in these situations , yet the consistent presence of nursing staff places them in a unique position to influence and support decision making processes. Despite this potential , the participation of nursing staff in these decisions is minimally described in current literature. The purpose of this focused ethnographic study was to better understand the participation of nursing staff members , inclusive of Registered Nurses , Licensed Practical Nurses , and Nursing Assistants , in end of life nutrition and hydration decision making processes in a rural nursing home. Semi-structured interviews with 19 nursing staff members , field observations during interviews , and review of relevant documents were used to collect data from a single nursing home in a rural region of North Carolina. An adaptation of Bryon , Gastmans , and de Casterle's striving for 'good care' framework served as the conceptual framework informing this study. The inductive approaches described by Mason , and by Roper and Shapira , were used to guide data analysis. Nursing staff participation in end of life nutrition and hydration decision making processes in this rural nursing home was closely aligned with type of decision and participant role , of Nursing Assistant , Licensed Practical Nurse , or Registered Nurse , and influenced by a variety of other factors at both individual and group levels. Three primary themes were identified: Formal Decision Making (with subthemes of communicating resident issues , initiating and coordinating decision processes , assuring regulatory compliance , and influencing); Informal Decision Making , (with subthemes of knowing residents and families , instituting feeding interventions not requiring formal medical orders , respecting and honoring , and guiding the resident and family) and Influential Factors (with subthemes of personal experiences/beliefs , unpredictable trajectory , relationship with resident/family , and organizational culture). Findings suggest nursing staff in this facility participate in nutrition and hydration decision making processes to a greater extent than even they realize , especially informal decision making , in their efforts to comfort and provide good care to residents nearing end of life. Factors identified as hindering their efforts include limited awareness of current evidence and best practices , delays in formal decision making , and lack of professional role clarity , especially among LPNs. Comfort with coworkers and supervisors , positive past experiences , and established relationships with residents and family members were identified as supporting participation. This study contributes to the understanding of nursing staff participation in nutrition and hydration decision making processes for residents nearing end of life in rural nursing homes. Further research in other facilities , integration of findings into interventions to support evidence based best practices , and critical evaluation of the relationship between formal decision making and policy implementation are suggested

Carbon Budget as a Tool for Assessing Mangrove Forests Degradation in the Western, Coastal Wetlands Complex (Ramsar Site 1017) of Southern Benin, West Africa

peer reviewe

A global standard for monitoring coastal wetland vulnerability to accelerated sea-level rise

10.1038/nclimate1756Nature Climate Change35458-46