The Daily Bulletin

Please join the Biology Department and the Great Lakes Center for the seminar “New Dimensions of Cyanobacterial Genomics in the Era of Climate Change: Novel Ranges, Novel Metabolites, and the Need for Novel Solutions,” presented by Katelyn Brown, biological sciences Ph.D. candidate at Bowling Green State University, on Monday, November 18, at 3:00 p.m. in Science and Mathematics Complex 151. Attendees are welcome to enjoy coffee and cookies during the seminar.

Abstract
Climate change is driving expansion of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) through rising temperatures and increases in the frequency and intensity of storm events. These conditions are more favorable for cyanobacteria, allowing for longer bloom duration and growth over larger areas; however, warming temperatures have led to shifting distributions of cyanobacterial taxa that are typically regarded as “tropical” taxa. As these taxa become more prevalent at higher latitudes, we must be aware of the associated negative health impacts. Through genomic work, Ms. Brown and her colleagues have been able to detect the potential for previously undetected cyanotoxins in Kenya and have identified these same risks in samples from Ohio. Furthermore, they have found that several inland Ohio lakes harbor a variety of cyanobacteria and the genetic machinery to make several types of cyanotoxins. This work overall aims to understand cyanobacterial community processes and how genomics can be applied to characterizing emerging risks.