Harmful Algal Blooms in Select New Jersey Coastal Lakes 2021-2023

Abstract

The objective of this project was to increase our understanding of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) in NJ lakes, addressing a core need in the state to understand the environmental conditions driving the formation of HABs. Here, the focus was on coastal lakes, principally Deal Lake (and the hydrologically linked Sunset Lake) in Monmouth County, NJ. Coastal lakes differ from other NJ lakes in that they have a connection to the ocean. Two important consequences of this are (1) coastal lakes have higher salinity and conductivity than typical inland lakes, and (2) coastal lakes discharge at ocean bathing beaches, potentially delivering cyanobacteria plumes and their toxins when HABs are present in the lake. A combination of traditional and innovative genomics-based techniques were used to examine water quality and HAB dynamics, as well as their relationship to upper trophic level community structure.