广东省高州水库水华过程中蓝藻群落的动态特征

2009年1-4月,高州水库发生了规模较大的粘质鱼腥藻(Anabaena mucosa)水华,最高藻细胞密度达3.4×107cells/L,并在2010年的同一时期再次出现,这也是粘质鱼腥藻首次在广东省水库水体形成水华.为了解该水库蓝藻水华发生的特点,本文于2009年8月到2010年7月对高州水库进行了逐月采样,分析了...     

蓝藻光合氮同化的特征与分子调控机理研究进展

水华蓝藻的生物学特性及其竞争优势、蓝藻水华的形成与维持机制等科学问题,一直是国内外研究的热点。氮素是诱发蓝藻水华暴发的重要营养盐,蓝藻对氮素的同化与其光合作用密切偶联。然而,水体中氮素存在多种形态,不同形态氮素对蓝藻生长和水华发生的影响具有显著差异。因此,了解蓝藻光合作用特征及其同化不同形态氮素的机制和策略,对深入理解蓝藻水华的发生机理具有重要意义。本文在蓝藻的光能捕获与激发能转移、光合电子传递、碳浓缩机制及CO₂同化等光合作用过程及其特征综述的基础上,对蓝藻摄取、同化5种主要氮素形态(NO₃^-、NO₂^-、NH₄⁺、尿素和N₂)的分子机制及其特征进行了解读,总结了蓝藻细胞光合碳、氮同化的耦合关系及调控机制;并指出了该领域的未来发展方向,以推动该方向的深入研究。     

基于水华蓝藻固有光学特性的主要类群定量识别方法

蓝藻水华是湖泊水体富营养化的重要特征之一,不同水华蓝藻类群形成的水华特征、危害及其治理方法差异显著.因此,如何快速、准确地掌握不同蓝藻类群的时空分布特征成为实施富营养化湖泊污染治理与生态恢复、蓝藻生态灾害预测预警中一个亟待解决的科学问题.本研究基于纯藻种实验室培养和室内光学控制实验,在微囊藻(Microcystis)、鱼腥藻(Dolichospermum)、束丝藻(Aphanizomenon)3种主要水华蓝藻固有光学特性的基础上,通过甄别不同水华蓝藻的吸收、散射和后向散射光谱的特征波段,构建了基于吸收和散射特性的5种水华蓝藻类群的非线性最优化定量识别模型,其中,基于440、620和675 nm 3个波段吸收的a-CIM 440,620,675具有较为稳定的定量识别能力;并基于野外实测光学特性数据,实现了巢湖主要水华蓝藻类群的定量监测,初步分析了巢湖主要水华蓝藻类群的时空分布特性.研究表明,巢湖的水华蓝藻以鱼腥藻、微囊藻为主,束丝藻较少,鱼腥藻主要出现在温度较低的季节,微囊藻在夏季的西部湖区占优势;巢湖水华主要为微囊藻藻华和鱼腥藻藻华,且浓度较高的蓝藻主要存在于水体表面以下20 cm范围内;微囊藻和鱼腥藻在非藻华断面垂向上均匀分布.本研究可为富营养化湖泊蓝藻水华预测预警以及相关管理部门决策提供重要的理论依据和科学支撑.     

利用MODIS影像提取太湖蓝藻水华的尺度差异性分析

有效地提取蓝藻水华信息对分析蓝藻动态分布有重要意义,然而低空间分辨率数据提取的蓝藻水华会产生尺度误差.本文以太湖为研究区,利用2005年10月17日和2010年12月3日两景MODIS(250和500m)数据,采用浮游藻类指数(FAI)法提取太湖蓝藻水华面积;通过将FAI50均值化为FAImean(500 m),然后与...     

基于高频高光谱近感观测量化风对蓝藻水华的影响

全球气候变化显著影响湖泊理化环境和生态系统演化,对生态系统服务造成负面影响甚至引发生态系统灾变,其中风速下降可能促使富营养化湖泊蓝藻水华的暴发和水面漂浮集聚。以往由于较低的观测频次,往往很难精细量化风对蓝藻水华的影响。利用陆基高光谱近感观测技术,基于分钟小时尺度开展周年高频观测,通过对6—10月蓝藻生长期太湖表层水体叶绿素a浓度统计分析,量化蓝藻水华高频动态变化特征,确定蓝藻水华漂浮集聚的风速阈值。研究发现,随着风速的下降,水体表层叶绿素a浓度随之增加,蓝藻水华出现概率也随之增加。概率分析显示,当近地面风速小于2.5 m/s时,湖泊表层比较容易形成明显肉眼可见的蓝藻水华,藻华发生概率为55.1%。长时间持续的低风速容易诱发蓝藻水华形成和漂浮集聚,强风浪事件后低风速出现1～2天叶绿素a往往就能恢复以往较高水平,这为管理者有效防控蓝藻水华提供了新视角。长期气象观测显示,气候变化影响下太湖地区风速呈现显著下降趋势,增加了蓝藻竞争优势和发生概率,有助于其在表面漂浮集聚。在未来的气候变化情景下,如果风速继续呈现下降趋势,在营养盐条件不变情况下湖泊表层蓝藻水华发生概率可能还会上升,增加蓝藻水华防控...     

Cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Lake Atitlan, one of the most important lakes not only in Central America but in the whole world, is facing serious problems with increasing water pollution. Over the last several decades, the uncontrolled nutrient input into the lake has lead to high P levels and low N:P ratios, initiating cyanobacterial blooms. The first bloom occurred in December of 2008, followed by more extensive bloom in October 2009. The blooms are formed by cyanobacteria from the rare planktic Lyngbya hieronymusii/birgei/robusta complex. Based on the species morphology, the Atitlan population corresponds to L. robusta and this is the first case of reported bloom of this species worldwide. Remote sensing images documented that at the maximum bloom development, 40% of the 137 km² of the lake area were covered by dense patches of Lyngbya, with the chlorophyll a concentration reaching over 100 μg L⁻¹. The only toxins detected in the 2009 bloom were trace levels of cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin with 12 and 58 ng g⁻¹, respectively. The nitrogen fixation followed a pattern expected in non-heterocytous cyanobacteria, i.e., the nitrogenase activity was minimal during the day, while during the night the activity reached 2.2 nmol C₂H₄ μg Ch a⁻¹ h⁻¹. Delta ¹⁵N of −0.86‰ was well in the range given for nitrogen fixing organisms. The cell C, N and P content was 36.7%, 5.9% and 0.9%, respectively, resulting in the molar ratio of 105:14.4:1. A well designed and executed lake monitoring program, strict control of nutrient input into the lake, and public education are the necessary prerequisites for potential prevention of even more severe blooms than the one from 2009.     

三峡水库香溪河库湾蓝藻水华暴发特性及成因探析

2008年夏季,香溪河库湾自三峡水库建库以来第1次暴发蓝藻水华,水华波及整个库湾,持续时间达1个月之余.为了解这次水华暴发特性及发生原因,本文对蓝藻水华的发生发展过程进行了跟踪调查,6-7月水华发生期间每周采样1次.调查表明本次蓝藻水华的优势种为鱼腥藻(Anabaena sp.)、铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)、惠氏微囊藻(Microcystis wesenbergii)等,细胞密度高达3.82×10⁸ cells/L,蓝藻相对密度达到90%以上.本文将2008年5-7月与2007年同期理化指标比较发现,2007年5月的N:P为18.6,而2008年5月的N:P较低,为6.2,据文献报道N:P < 8有利于微囊藻的复苏,因此2008年水华前期的低N:P利于微囊藻的复苏,为微囊藻在适宜条件下的大量增殖提供了种源基础.方差分析表明,2008年5-7月各采样点真光层深度显著高于2007年同期,使得底泥中的微囊藻获得一定强度的光照而复苏,这可能是2008年蓝藻水华在香溪河库湾暴发的原因之一.综上所述,在具备充足的营养盐基础、较强的水体稳定性以及较高水温的前提下,香溪河库湾水华发生前期较低的N:P以及较高强度的光照可能是微囊藻复苏的诱导因子,为蓝藻水华暴发提供了种源基础.     

Evidence for toxic cyanobacteria in sediments and the water-sediment interface of a tropical drinking water reservoir

Cyanobacterial blooms in drinking water reservoirs constitute a health risk for humans and animals, especially in tropical zones where climate conditions may favour their prevalence throughout the year. The presence, viability, and toxicity of cyanobacteria were determined in the euphotic zone, in the water-sediment interface, and in the upper sediment fraction of the Riogrande II reservoir (Antioquia, Colombia), which provides drinking water for 1.4 million people. Cyanobacterial identification and quantification were performed in environmental samples of the euphotic zone and of the sediment-water interface. In addition, the effects of environmental parameters on occurrences of cyanobacteria were assessed and two microcystin synthetase (mcy) genes were extracted from water, interface, and sediment samples and quantified using qPCR. The viability of the cells in cultures from these different matrices was determined using chlorophyll-a measurements. Chlorophyll-a concentrations representing the biomass of cyanobacteria were higher at the interface than in the euphotic zone at all sampling sites. The potentially toxic genera Dolichospermum and Microcystis predominated in the euphotic zone and the interface, respectively. Moreover, the copy numbers of mcy genes was higher in cyanobacteria sampled at the interface and the upper sediment layers than in cyanobacteria sampled in the euphotic zone, which were correlated with the order Chroococcales. No impact of variation in environmental conditions on cyanobacterial abundance was observed. Viability of cyanobacterial cultures sampled from the interface and the upper sediment fraction showed the ability of cyanobacteria from several orders to proliferate under lab conditions. These results show that the surface sediment layer from Riogrande II serves as a sink for potentially toxic cyanobacteria which have the potential to recolonize and bloom in the water column.     

Association between trophic state,watershed use,and blooms of cyanobacteria in south-central Chile

An increase in the distribution and frequency of cyanobacterial blooms has been reported for many regions worldwide. Due to this fact, we studied the variables that influence the abundance of natural populations of planktonic cyanobacteria in temperate lakes of central and southern Chile. These lakes differed in trophic state and watershed use. Cyanobacteria dominated in meso- and eutrophic systems and their occurrence correlated to watershed use (tree plantations and urban). Ochrophyta and Bacillariophyta were dominant in oligotrophic lakes, where native forest dominated land usage. In these lakes, the maximum depth of the euphotic zone influenced the community structure and the genera of cyanobacteria. Dolichospermum was the most abundant, frequent, and widely distributed genus, found in oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes, forming blooms in eutrophic systems.The concentration of total phosphorus and total nitrogen positively influenced cyanobacterial abundance and bloom formation, mainly by Aphanizomenon, Aphanocapsa, Aphanothece, and Dolichospermum, and Microcystis.In contrast to many reports on their occurrence in the northern hemisphere, these genera occurred widely at less than 20 °C, forming dispersive blooms, at low temperatures in autumn and winter (10.8–15.6 °C). This shows that eutrophication is the main factor for bloom formation and these genera can form blooms independent of temperature. However, some genera, such as Microcystis, increased their abundance and presented more intense blooms (scums) at high temperatures. Our study provides baseline data to document long-term changes in lentic systems of the western south-central area of South America, including genera that could respond by increasing their abundance with eutrophication and projected climatic changes.     

基于通径分析法的太湖蓝藻水华定量气象评估模型

利用2005-2017年太湖周边区域气象观测资料和基于遥感解译的蓝藻水华信息,基于信息量权数法构建太湖蓝藻水华影响程度指数（简称为蓝藻指数）,应用通径分析法,分析年平均气温（T_y）、1-3月平均气温（T_1-3）、年降水量（R_y）、6-7月降水量（R_6-7）和年高温日数（D_Tmax）5个气象因子对蓝藻水华影响的直接效应和间接效应,在此基础上构建太湖蓝藻水华气象评估模型.结果表明,2007年蓝藻指数值最大,为0.759,2017年其次,为0.709,2009年最小,仅为0.113,蓝藻指数与实际情况基本相符;直接通径系数中T_y和T_1-3为正值,其余为负值,表明T_y和T_1-3对蓝藻水华的发生发展具有正效应,而R_y、R_6-7和D_Tmax具有负效应,总通径系数绝对值排序为：T_y > T_1-3 > R_y > R_6-7 > D_Tmax,由此可以反映各气象因子对蓝藻水华影响程度的权重.根据模型计算的综合气象指数与蓝藻指数之间的相关系数达0.826,通过0.01显著性检验,根据百分位法将蓝藻指数和气象指数进行等级划分,分类总精度为84.6%,其中中度以上达90.9%,表明模型能够较好地反映综合气象因子与蓝藻水华发生发展程度的关系,在水体富营养化程度没有明显改善的情况下,可用于太湖蓝藻水华定量气象评估.上述研究结果有助于更好地理解环境因子、尤其是气象因子在蓝藻生长和水华形成机制中所起的作用,从而为太湖蓝藻水华的监测、预测预警和精细化防控提供理论依据.     

巢湖西湖心底泥蓝藻对水体蓝藻生物量的贡献

2018年10月-2019年10月对巢湖西湖心水体浮游藻类群落结构以及水体和底泥蓝藻生物量进行了月度调查.结果表明:巢湖西湖心浮游藻类的主要优势种属为微囊藻属、席藻属、十字藻、卵形隐藻和鱼腥藻属.蓝藻优势种属在5-10月为微囊藻属,11-12月为鱼腥藻属,1-4月为席藻属.巢湖水体和底泥蓝藻生物量峰值分别出现在9月和2月,水体蓝藻的衰亡下沉会导致底泥蓝藻生物量的上升.巢湖蓝藻主要分布在水体,底泥蓝藻生物量相对较低,单位面积水柱与底泥蓝藻生物量6月的比值大于100,在11-3月相对较低,最低值小于2.底泥蓝藻主要分布在底泥表层0～2 cm.通过安装原位捕获器,监测了蓝藻在西巢湖湖心水柱和底泥中的垂直迁移过程和通量.结果表明:11月和2月蓝藻有明显从水柱向底泥迁移的过程;底泥蓝藻全年向水体的静态迁移量都很低,而动态迁移在11月和6月出现两个峰值,主要受底泥蓝藻生物量和再悬浮的影响.本研究结果表明削减巢湖西湖心底泥种源的最佳时期为10月至来年2月,但是由于底泥蓝藻生物量远远小于水柱蓝藻生物量,底泥蓝藻向水体复苏迁移的通量也较低,即使削减了底泥种源,也不能有效降低水体蓝藻生物量.     

蓝藻水华暴发过程中的浮力调节机制

随着工业和经济的发展,水体富营养化以及由此导致的蓝藻水华现象频发,严重影响水生态安全及健康。蓝藻水华形成过程包括休眠、复苏、生物量增加以及上浮聚集形成肉眼可见的水华4个阶段。蓝藻自身的生长机制是引发水华的重要原因,其中浮力调节机制是其重要的生存策略之一,在春季复苏、夏季大量增长及最终上浮至水体表面形成水华阶段均具有重要作用。了解蓝藻浮力调节机制及其在水华过程中的作用对于了解蓝藻生长特性及水华形成机理具有重要意义。气囊及细胞镇重物是常见的浮力调节机制。除此以外,新的研究发现光照条件下单细胞蓝藻产生的大量氧气泡可促使蓝藻上浮至水面形成水华。同时,野外蓝藻常以群体状态存在,群体内部形成的细胞间隙及光照条件下产生的大量氧气是促使蓝藻上浮至水体表面的另一重要原因。野外蓝藻群体在其内部形成微环境,其理化性质可随外界环境的改变发生快速变化,群体内外微环境相互作用,共同影响群体内部细胞间隙中溶氧浓度及浮力。了解蓝藻浮力调节机制及群体内部微环境理化性质对深入了解蓝藻的生长特性及从微观层面分析水华形成机理具有重要意义。本文综述了水华暴发过程中蓝藻的主要浮力调节机制,以期为从微观层面探明蓝藻水华暴发机理提供...     

Blue-green algae and fish population changes in a eutrophic estuary

Evidence is presented which indicates that dense blooms of the blue-green alga Nodularia spumigena have affected fish and crab populations in a large estuarine system in south-western Australia. For example, the numbers of fish were generally very low at sites in which the chlorophyll a level, an excellent indicator of Nodularia density during the late spring and summer, was above 100 μgl^?1. Moreover, commercial fishermen have recorded greatly reduced catches in Nodularia-affected areas and dead fish and crabs were found in regions where Nodularia was very dense. While the effects of this blue-green alga apparently led to death in the case of some bottom-living species in the most affected parts of the system, more active species moved into regions where Nodularia was virtually absent.     

水体氮、磷营养盐水平对蓝藻优势形成的影响

以江苏省南京市富营养化程度不同的清溪、护城河、玄武湖、月牙湖、琵琶湖和前湖为研究对象,调查各水体浮游植物的群落特征和优势种,并结合藻类生长潜力试验,探究不同氮、磷营养水平的自然水体对铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）和斜生栅藻（Scenedesmus obliquus）生长与竞争的影响.野外调查发现不同营养水平水体浮游植物优势种不同,按水体富营养化程度从高到底依次以绿藻、蓝藻、硅藻和隐藻分别占优势.单一藻种培养时,铜绿微囊藻在清溪、护城河和玄武湖水体中生长均较好,而斜生栅藻仅在高氮、磷浓度的清溪和护城河水体中有较大生长量,说明斜生栅藻对氮、磷的需求高于铜绿微囊藻;两种藻共培养时,清溪水体中斜生栅藻占优势,护城河和玄武湖水体中铜绿微囊藻占优势,但其他水体中两种藻均不能生长,说明氮、磷浓度过高或过低都不利于蓝藻形成优势.对低营养水平的玄武湖、琵琶湖、月牙湖和前湖水体进行氮、磷加富后,两种藻均能较好地生长,且各组没有显著差异,说明藻类在这些水体中生长受到氮、磷的限制,氮、磷浓度升高会增加水华发生的风险.本研究将野外调查和藻类生长潜力实验相结合,深入探究了蓝藻优势形成与水体氮、磷营养水平的关系,揭示了蓝藻水华是湖泊富营养化发展到特定阶段的产物,水体氮、磷浓度过高或过低均不易产生蓝藻优势.     

富营养化湖泊典型水华蓝藻的固有光学特性

固有光学特性是水体光学特性的重要内容,掌握富营养化湖泊水体内典型水华蓝藻的固有光学特性,是开展不同水华蓝藻遥感识别的理论基础.利用AC-S吸收衰减仪、BB9后向散射仪,通过实验室纯藻培养,研究微囊藻（Microcystis）、鱼腥藻（Dolichospermum）和束丝藻（Aphanizomenon）3种典型水华蓝藻的固有光学特性,并探讨色素浓度、色素占比以及藻类等效粒径对不同水华蓝藻固有光学特性的影响.结果表明,3种典型水华蓝藻的吸收光谱曲线均具有440、620和675 nm吸收峰,微囊藻620和675 nm的比吸收系数最大,鱼腥藻440 nm处的比吸收系数最大;束丝藻单位色素浓度的散射和后向散射能力最高,鱼腥藻次之,微囊藻最低;固有光学特性影响因子分析表明,色素浓度和藻蓝素占比是影响3种水华蓝藻固有光学特性的主要因素.3种蓝藻的吸收系数、散射系数以及鱼腥藻、束丝藻的后向散射系数均随着色素浓度（叶绿素a或藻蓝素）的增加而增大;当蓝藻中藻蓝素占比增加时,3种蓝藻的单位色素浓度的后向散射系数逐渐下降;而藻细胞粒径与固有光学特性之间并未表现出很好的相关性.因此,3种水华蓝藻单位色素浓度的固有光学特性将为典型水华蓝藻的遥感识别提供重要的理论基础和数据支持.     

湖泊蓝藻水华防控方法综述

由于人类活动和全球气候变化的叠加影响,湖泊富营养化和蓝藻水华仍是未来相当长一段时间内的水生态环境问题.蓝藻水华暴发会引发湖泊生态系统的灾害和饮用水安全风险,因此湖内蓝藻水华防控必不可少.现有蓝藻水华防控长效方法主要基于营养盐控制理论、浅水湖泊稳态转换理论和生物操纵理论,技术措施包括内源营养盐控制、生态修复、生物操纵.应...     

Morphological and molecular analysis of bloom-forming Cyanobacteria in two eutrophic, shallow Mediterranean lakes

We investigated the diversity of Cyanobacteria by microscopic observation and sequencing of cyanobacterial-specific amplified 16S rRNA genes in the water column of two shallow, eutrophic lakes (Doirani and Kastoria, northern Greece) during summer blooms. Previous phytoplankton studies in these lakes have shown that prolonged cyanobacterial blooms can occur, which are dominated by known toxic species, as well as other less known, co-occurring species. A total of 118 clones were sequenced which were grouped in 23 Cyanobacteria and 11 chloroplast-like phylotypes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that each library included several unique phylotypes, as well as members of all common bloom-forming Cyanobacteria. Most of the phylotypes belonged to the genera Microcystis, Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Cylindrospermopsis-Raphidiopsis group, Limnothrix and Planktothrix, comprising most of the diversity previously recognized by morphological observations in cyanobacterial morphospecies in these lakes. In addition, novel phylotypes belonging to the Chroococcales were recognized in both lakes. The structure of the cyanobacterial communities of the lakes were very similar, as revealed by the diversity index H (2.06 and 2.01 for L. Doirani and Kastoria, respectively) and LIBSHUFF analysis (XY₁₂P-value = 0.122 and YX₁₂P-value = 0.536), due to occurrence of groups of common phylotypes. This study gives an example for successful cyanobacterial bloom analysis by the combination of morphological and phylogenetic methods useful for monitoring cyanobacteria and water quality in freshwaters.     

日本琵琶湖中微囊藻水华形成机理的再认识

Blooms of cyanobacteria are responsible for many problems in freshwater ecosystems. The massive growth of these microorganisms may limit the utilization of freshwater for human requirements since, apart from other problems, the production of toxic substances has been found to occur frequently during blooming periods. Ecologically, cyanobacterial blooms can modify dramatically the ecosystem through their low edibility within the food web and the huge primary production. Thus, saprobic processes are stimulated and the characteristics related to anaerobic conditions are also more extreme.Cyanobacterial blooms are many times explained as the consequence of the eutrophication of waterbodies. However, factors promoting bloom formation and ecological succession of cyanobacteria are not well understood yet.     

太湖蓝藻水华的年度情势预测方法探讨

在太湖、巢湖、滇池、洱海、三峡水库等我国重要湖泊和水库,蓝藻水华时常发生但年际之间藻情往往有较大差异,给蓝藻水华的防控物资及人员投入、湖库水源地水质安全保障带来较大的挑战,亟待探索周年尺度的蓝藻水华强度预测方法.本文收集了太湖连续15年的蓝藻水华情势观测数据和同步的气象、水文数据用于构建蓝藻水华预测模型,提出了利用遥感反演的蓝藻水华面积(A_(BL))及人工观测的水体浮游植物叶绿素α浓度([Chl.a]_(LB))共同表征的蓝藻水华强度指标(BI).分析了太湖年尺度的BI值与环境条件的关系,提出了基于年初能够掌握的气象、水文、营养盐等综合环境指标进行年度BI预测的统计模型.结果表明,太湖年度BI值与冬季及初春(12-3月)日均水温(WT_(12-3))、冬春季有效积温(AT_(12-3))、前一年降雨总量(RF_(YB))等环境因子呈显著正相关,与冬季及初春的水体总氮(TN_(12-3))、溶解性总氮(DTN_(12-3))、总磷(TP_(12-3))及溶解性总磷(DTP_(12-3))不存在统计上的显著相关关系.此外,本研究开展了基于上述因子(BI为因变量,其余环境因子为自变量)的多元(或一元)回归分析,并遴选出最优模型.总体而言,最优模型的模拟计算结果与实测浓度具有较高的一致性,因此本研究得出的模型对太湖蓝藻水华年际强度预测具有较高精度.本研究对太湖等富营养化湖库蓝藻水华的中长期预测具有指导意义.     

Phytoplankton response to pH rise in a N-limited floodplain lake: relevance of N2-fixing heterocystous cyanobacteria

Phosphorus has been traditionally regarded as the controlling nutrient for phytoplankton growth, however, N-limitation is likely to occur in several environments. For example, nitrogen is considered the main nutrient limiting phytoplankton in floodplain lakes of the Paraná River basin. However, N₂-fixing heterocystous cyanobacteria (N₂-cyano) are usually absent in these water bodies. The low pH values frequently found may limit the development of these algae. We hypothesise that long-term lake isolation allows conspicuous phytoplankton growth during summer, resulting in high photosynthetic rates and pH. This scenario combined with low DIN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen) would favour the development of N₂-cyano. Phytoplankton composition was studied during 16 months in a vegetated and isolated floodplain lake in the Paraná basin. Additionally, pH was artificially increased in in situ mesocosms to test effects on phytoplankton structure. Lake phytoplankton was dominated by flagellates (cryptophytes and euglenophytes) and small coccoid algae (chlorophytes and colonial cyanobacteria). Algal biomass was highest during warm periods. Although pH increased up to 8.8 during the second summer period, N₂-cyano remained rare, most likely because of the high DIN concentration recorded. The alkalophilic diatom Cyclotella meneghiniana dominated and was positively correlated with pH. Conversely, PO₄⁼ concentrations in the mesocosm experiment were high and DIN remained relatively low. pH enhancement in the treated mesocosms (avg. pH = 8.2) promoted the development of N₂-cyano (Anabaena spp.) and C. meneghiniana, which after 1 month of incubation accounted together for 50% of the biomass in contrast to less than 1.6% in control containers. Our results support the hypothesis that during the warm season and under low DIN concentration, high pH favours N₂-cyano growth in these lakes. We provide new evidence supporting the idea that even under optimal nutrient conditions, N₂-cyano do not thrive unless other requirements are satisfied.