Volunteer Algae Monitoring Program (VAMP) in the Indian River Lagoon

Abstract

AbstractThe University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) is an adult environmental education program with more than 450 trained program graduates in St. Lucie County, Florida. It is a collaborative effort of the UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County, St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department, and partner agencies. Four UF/IFAS Florida Master Naturalist volunteers were recruited and received training and supplies to conduct water quality testing and algae collection in the Indian River Lagoon as part of the Volunteer Algae Monitoring Program (VAMP). The UF/IFAS research and extension faculty developed VAMP in response to the 2016 harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Indian River Lagoon that resulted in dramatic impacts on businesses, residents, and visitors in Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. These HAB episodes demonstrate the importance of having informed citizen scientists with an understanding of the problems and threats. The VAMP citizen scientists conducted a water quality awareness survey with the general public after proactively scouting for HABs by collecting samples and conducting water quality testing at three waypoints in the Indian River Lagoon during May to November 2017 (excluding October) and February 2018. They utilized UF/IFAS Water Watch chemistry tests and processed and shipped water samples to the Laughinghouse Lab at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, which conducted algae counts and genetic testing to determine the presence of harmful algae expressing microcystin-producing genes. Test results indicated fluctuating and inconsistent levels of saxitoxin but no indications of microcystins across the three sites and over time.