Cyanobacteria Hamful Algal Blooms

• This podcast describes the conditions under which harmful algal blooms form in Oregon and how these cyanobacteria blooms can affect people, pets, and water quality.
• It describes how pollution reduction can help prevent cyanobacteria blooms, what individuals can do to stay informed, and the ways that community members can report these occurrences.
  

Positives

• The professionals discuss how climate change may be increasing the prevalence of harmful algal blooms and begin to explain the ecology behind these phenomena.
• An interesting technology that uses satellite image analysis to detect harmful algae blooms is described.
• This podcast demonstrates how different stakeholders like drinking water specialists, environmental quality professionals, recreation professionals, and the community can all be invested in an environmental problem.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should know the difference between cyanobacteria and algae, and they should be familiar with how different levels of these organisms can be positive or negative for a habitat.
• The podcast webpage includes links to sign up for health advisories in Oregon and to learn more about harmful algal blooms.
  

Differentiation

• Before listening to this podcast ask students, "How do you know if a body of water is safe to swim in or drink?"
• Since this is in audio format, it may be helpful to pull together a slideshow with pictures of cyanobacteria harmful algae blooms for students to see before or after the podcast is assigned.
• Encourage students to sign up for local health advisory messages related to water quality, using the links on the webpage, or researching local resources if students are not in Oregon.
• Have students research the algae blooms in other locations such as Florida, the gulf of Mexico, or their local area.
• Chemistry and biology students can link this podcast to lessons about nutrient cycles, nitrogen, phosphorus, and non-point pollution.