A lake is greater than only a body of water where we bask on sunny summer days. It can also be greater than only a source of fresh water surrounded by nature and peace.
Lakes play a task plays a key role in our ecosystems and in our every day lives. They provide drinking water, are home to a formidable diversity of life forms, and support vital economic activities.
Unfortunately, the water quality in these helpful environments is increasingly in danger by various environmental aspects and human activities.
To protect and preserve lakes, it is important to observe their health proactively, quickly, and effectively. As aquatic ecology researchers, we had this in mind once we developed a brand new, cutting-edge technology to measure lake health by monitoring the microorganisms living in them.
Our planet and its ecosystems in transition
Our planet is consistently changing and its ecosystems are feeling the effects.
Lakes in particular are influenced by many aspects: industrial and agricultural pollution, road salt, Eutrophication AND rising temperatures because of climate change.
They contribute to the deterioration of water quality and disturb the balance of aquatic ecosystems.
For example, the proliferation of cyanobacteria or algae cyanobacteriaposes a serious threat to human health and the environment. Although microscopic, cyanobacteria can form visible proliferations, referred to as blooms, as they multiply and clump together.
Some species of cyanobacteria chargeable for blooms produce toxins (cyanotoxins) that may contaminate drinking water.harm aquatic life and result in beach closures. Algal blooms may threaten recreation and tourism, and native economies.
Unfortunately, with global warming, The proliferation of cyanobacteria in our lakes is predicted to proceed to extend.
(Christophe Langevin), Provided by the writer
Microbiome: An Indicator of Lake Health
One drop of lake water could be home to hundreds, even a whole lot of hundreds, of microbes.
These microbes make up the lake’s microbiome, which is a key indicator of its health. In other words, if something is incorrect with the lake, these microbes will probably be the first to disclose the problem.
It’s a bit like your digestive system is not working because of an imbalance in your gut microbiome.
Microbes, though microscopic, are the silent guardians of our aquatic ecosystems. Accessing this front line of information is subsequently essential to understanding the health of our lakes and any changes which can be occurring in them.
How can we obtain this helpful information quickly and efficiently?
(Christophe Langevin), Provided by the writer
Genomic Tools: Next Generation Ecosystem Monitoring
This is where modern sequencing tools come in. Environmental DNAor eDNA, a combination of the genetic material of organisms inhabiting a given environment.
For example, metagenomics gives us access to everyone’s DNA sequences, called genomes, of all the microbes in a water sample. This tool provides an entire picture of the composition of a lake’s microbiome, including species which can be harder to detect.
Optical microscopy, traditionally used to observe cyanobacteria, can magnify organisms by as much as a thousand times, making them easier to visualise and count. While effective, the technique still requires a major investment of time and relies on visual identification of species by expert taxonomists. Moreover, unlike sequencing tools, it cannot detect microbes which can be too small.
The eDNA sequencing approach can subsequently be used as a complement to optical microscopy to cut back potential identification errors. It also has the advantage that it may well be used directly in the field. New generations of sequencing equipment could be transported to the field and may provide a microbiome profile inside hours.
Using sequencing techniques, we are able to quickly detect changes in the microbial community that indicate environmental imbalance. For example, a sudden increase in cyanobacteria could be seen before the effects are visible, reminiscent of flowersappear. These advanced tools enable environmental managers to take preventive measures earlier.
RosHAB Innovation
Among the recent innovations in sequencing, RosHAB The tool developed by our team at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique in collaboration with scientists from Université Laval stands out for its ability to explain the genome of lake microorganisms in real time.
This advanced tool uses metagenomics to observe microbial diversity and detect potential imbalances. Designed to be used by environmental managers, RosHAB is a practical and rapid method for continuous monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, directly in the field.
(Nail Barbosa da Costa), Provided by the writer
Practical implications and limitations
To integrate genomic tools into lake and water ecosystem management policies, it’s mandatory to coach and adapt monitoring teams.
While these technologies offer many benefits, additionally they pose a number of challenges. First, bioinformatics evaluation isn’t straightforward and have to be accessible to nonexperts.
In addition, data evaluation could be complicated by changes in microbial diversity from season to season. Regular monthly or much more frequent sampling is mandatory to acquire representative results.
Monitoring the condition of lakes is crucial in the face of growing threats from climate change and human activity.
Lakes are vital ecosystems, and their protection requires advanced, proactive monitoring methods. Genomic tools reminiscent of RosHAB represent a major advance in this field, offering an efficient means of predicting and responding to environmental threats.
By understanding and monitoring the health of lakes through the microorganisms that live in them, we are able to higher protect these resources in order that future generations can enjoy them as much as we do on hot summer days.