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Meta‑analysis and field trials show repeated copper dosing can trigger cyanobacteria rebound by killing zooplankton
Summary
A meta‑analysis and a 56‑day field trial presented at CC Hub found that while chemical algaecides reduce algal biomass short‑term, repeated or high copper dosages killed zooplankton, caused ammonia spikes, and led to later increases in cyanobacteria.
Alan Wilson, an aquatic ecologist at Auburn University, presented a meta‑analysis of treatment studies and a follow‑up field experiment that together question common assumptions about chemical treatments for HABs.
"I think pretty much everyone's using too much copper," Wilson said, describing patterns seen across published trials and his own experiment. "If you treat with chemicals, especially if you overtreat, you're gonna lead to more cyanobacteria."
Wilson's synthesis of 39 field studies found that treatments (biological, chemical, plant and physical) produced large reductions on the most…
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