Effects of fish and macrophytes on phytoplankton and zooplankton community structure in a subtropical freshwater reservoir

Excessive macrophyte biomass and cyanobacterial blooms associated with eutrophication and possibly exotic fish frequently compromise freshwater systems. In this study, 20 large (∼3.2 m³), replicated enclosures were used to investigate the effects of piscivorous Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata), planktivorous gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki (Girard)), benthivorous carp (Cyprinus carpio), and macrophyte removal on water quality, as well as trophic interactions within the enclosures. Fish effects on reservoir water quality were carp > gambusia > bass. Cryptomonads spp. (54,083 cells/mL) and Anabaena spp. (47,983 cells/mL) increased significantly (63 and 23 fold, respectively) in carp enclosures, possibly because of physiological adaptation to low light, high turbidity, total phosphorus concentrations (TP) and low TN: TP ratios (N-limitation); a consequence of carp benthic grazing. Carp and gambusia caused an unconventional shift from smaller to medium sized zooplankton (e.g. Boeckella sp., Bosmina meridionalis), possibly a result of copepod nauplius grazing. In the subtropical system studied, fish-induced nutrient recycling appears more important to the outcome of bio-manipulation than grazing impacts. Macrophyte harvesting unexpectedly decreased phytoplankton biomass linked to declines in Euglenophyta and diatoms (Asterionella spp.). Cyanophyta (Oscillatoriales spp./Anabaena spp.) increased in response to macrophyte harvesting and was consistent with findings on European lakes that Cyanophyta abundance tends to be higher in the absence of macrophytes. Results indicate exotic fish removal, nutrient loading control and macrophyte conservation is important in these aquatic systems to maintain high water quality.     

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 toxins in Italian freshwaters

This study focuses on the occurrence and distribution of cyanobacterial toxins from 1989 to 2006 in several Italian lakes of different characteristics and human uses, the latter including drinking water abstraction and recreation. Phytoplankton and LC/MS/MS toxin analyses were performed on surface water samples collected from 28 lakes. The most widespread species associated with toxin production belonged to the genera Microcystis, Planktothrix and Anabaena. Extracellular concentrations varied from non-detectable values up to 226.16 ng/mL for microcystins (sum of all variants), to 126 ng/mL for total cylindrospermopsin, and to 100 μg/g (dry weight) for anatoxin-a.The toxin concentrations in the lake waters did not always correlate with the cyanobacteria cell densities. This implies a need for control studies including toxin detection in water together with microscopic cell evaluations, in order to avoid possible toxin underestimates.     

Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of the intertidal sediments of Pereque Beach, Guarujá (SP), Brazil

Physical and chemical characteristics of intertidal sediments and their relationships with bacteria and cyanobacteria were analyzed at four stations at Pereque Beach. Granulometric analysis showed that Pereque beach has sediment that is classified as sand. The lowest value of the sediment C/N rates (6.08), mainly due to a higher concentration of organic nitrogen, was found at the northern part of Pereque Beach, where organic matter of marine source was more prominent. In this area, density (9.6x10(6)cells cm(-3)), biomass (1992.04ngC cm(-3)) and activity of bacteria were higher than at the southern end. In contrast, cyanobacteria density varied from 2.0 to 4.0x10(5)cells cm(-3), with biomass and total chlorophyll a of the sediment being higher at the southern part, where there are water input from Pereque River and higher organic matter of continental origin. The variability in the microbial population is discussed in the light of the sediment granulometry, organic matter quality, fresh water inflow and pollution.     

Concentrations and Seasonal Trends of Extracellular Microcystins in Freshwaters of the Czech Republic – Results of the National Monitoring Program

The first outcomes of the national monitoring program on cyanobacteria and their toxins in the Czech Republic are reported. The concentrations of extracellular microcystins (MCs, analyzed by ELISA) in 206 water samples collected from 94 localities have been investigated. Observed MC concentrations were relatively high in comparison with the literature data, although weather conditions during the covered season (year 2004) were less favorable for the cyanobacterial water blooms. Detectable MCs (>0.125 μg/L) were found in 145 waters (70% of all samples) with a median concentration of 0.67 μg/L. The total median, including samples with no detectable MCs, was 0.26 μg/L. The seasonal trend showed an increase from July to September at most localities (maximum concentrations of about 8 μg/L and extremes up to 37 μg/L). However, a peak at the beginning of the season or continuously elevated MC concentrations were also observed at some localities. Positive correlations between increasing concentrations of MCs and the dominancy of Microcystis spp. have been observed. The survey provides the first large-scale study of the occurrence and seasonal variability of extracellular microcystins that are of particular interest for drinking water management.     

Microbial community of cyanobacteria mats in the intertidal zone of oil-polluted coast of Saudi Arabia

Cyanobacterial mats are found at various locations along the coast of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Those mats were affected by severe oil pollution following 1991 oil spill. In this study, samples from Abu Ali Island were collected at three selected sampling sites across the intertidal zone (Lower, Middle, and Upper) in order to understand the effect of extreme environmental conditions of high salinity, temperature and desiccation on distribution of cyanobacteria along the oil polluted intertidal zone. Our investigation of composition of cyanobacteria and diatoms was carried out using light microscopy, and Denaturant Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) technique. Light microscopy identification revealed dominant cyanobacteria to be affiliated with genera Phormidium, Microcoleus, and Schizothrix, and to a lesser extent with Oscillatoria, Halothece, and various diatom species. The analysis of DGGE of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA fragments showed that the diversity of cyanobacteria decreases as we proceed from the lower to the upper intertidal zone. Accordingly, the tidal regime, salinity, elevated ambient air temperature, and desiccation periods have a great influence on the distribution of cyanobacterial community in the oil polluted intertidal zone of Abu Ali Island.     

Investigations on the Joint Occurrence of Anabaena spiroides Klebahn and Hyphomycetes in Various Types of Water Bodies

The authors investigated the influence of the cyanobacterium Anabaena spiroides on the occurrence of aquatic Hyphomycetes in the water of five water bodies of different trophy. The presence of cyanobacteria in the water of all five waters reduced the number of fungi species from 29 to 10. Such species as Angulospora aquatica and Mirandina corticola were found both in control samples and with cyanobacterium from all five waters examined.     

Greener rivers in a changing climate?—Effects of climate and hydrological regime on benthic algal assemblages in pristine streams

Excessive biomass development of benthic algae is often considered undesirable, but understanding the causes is confounded by complex interactions among driving factors. Pristine rivers allow a benchmark where human interference should be limited to climate change. In this study a time series comprising >20 years of annual benthic algae surveys from two pristine, soft water, boreal stream sites is used to determine whether year-to-year variations in benthic algal assemblages and cover were related to climate (temperature, precipitation, North Atlantic Oscillation) or hydrological regime. Total benthic algal cover ranged from 6 to 100% at Atna (the outflow of the Atna River from Lake Atnasjø), and from 3 to 50% at the headwater stream Li. Climate and hydrological regime explained 18 - 74% of the variability in benthic algal assemblages and cover. Generally, more variance was explained at Li than at Atna, possibly because (i) aquatic bryophytes blurred nutrient-mediated effects of climate and hydrology at Atna, and (ii) the upstream lake buffered hydrological variation. Temperature was more important for explaining benthic algal assemblages and cover at Atna, while hydrology was more important at Li. Climate and hydrological regime had no major impact on benthic algal taxon richness. High temperatures were associated with high benthic algal cover, particularly at Atna, while high suspended particle concentrations were associated with reduced benthic algal cover at Li, possibly due to scouring. Cover of the cyanobacterium Phormidium sp. increased at Li with increasing temperature, and decreased with prolonged periods of high discharge. Current predictions of climate change would lead to a “greener” Atna (increased cover of benthic algae), while Li would become more “bluegreen” (more Phormidium sp. but less filamentous green algae). It would also lead to a slightly more “eutrophic” algal assemblage at Atna (as indicated by the PIT-index for ecological status assessment), while a possible drift of the PIT-index is less clear at Li. The differences between Atna and Li likely reflect differences among river types, and it seems possible to make some generalizations: climate will likely affect benthic algae in lake outlets primarily via temperature, while headwater streams will primarily be affected via altered hydrology and particle concentrations.     

Role of cyanobacteria in Corg-rich deposits: an example from the Indidura Formation (Cenomanian-Turonian), northeastern Mexico

We present evidence of accumulation of calcareous cyanobacterial “microspheroids” as predominant components of the Cenomanian-Turonian Indidura Formation of northeastern Mexico. The unit at Parras de la Fuente includes a sequence of limestones and marls with well-defined light-dark rhythms at the decimetric to millimetric scale, in which CaCO₃ and total organic carbon vary between 43–78% and 0.3–3.6%, respectively.A distinctive feature of the section is the presence of abundant millimeter-scale microlaminae arranged in nearly even-parallel white and dark gray “varve like” dual lamination less than 3 mm thick, in which the darker units contain scattered planktonic foraminifera and radiolaria, whereas the lighter microlaminae are dominated by calcitic microspheroids (20–40 μm). The white laminae are evidently the result of recurring cycles of calcareous cyanobacterial blooms, possibly associated with fluvial dilution of surface waters.The organic carbon-rich laminated marlstones and laminated biocalcilutites of the Indidura Formation document paleoceanographic conditions favorable to unusual cyanobacterial productivity cycles that were also characterized by strong dysoxic/anoxic bottom conditions.     

Foraging Inhibition in Two Cladocerans Feeding on Microcystis aeruginosa

Bloom‐forming cyanobacteria are known to negatively affect their herbivores, but the possible reasons leading to the foraging inhibition of different cladoceran species are uncertain and controversial so far. Hence, in order to understand how cyanobacteria affect the feeding behavior of cladocerans with different body sizes, feeding rates (FR) of zooplankton cladocerans Daphnia carinata and Moina macrocopa on the mixture of toxic or non‐toxic Microcystis aeruginosa with Scenedesmus quadricauda during a 24‐h period was investigated. FR of M. macrocopa was found generally low in the mixed toxic Microcystis diets, except for the sudden increase after 8 h of exposure, while FR of D. carinata decreased continuously in the mixed toxic diets. The dynamics of FR of both cladocerans on specific algae was similar to that of the total FR. There is no apparent selectivity displayed for either of the two cladoceran species on the mixed diets. There is no significant difference between the strains of Microcystis, suggesting that the feeding pattern of M. macrocopa maybe more of avoiding Microcystis rather than feeding inhibition resulted from the toxicity of algae. Unlike M. macrocopa, there was a significant difference in D. carinata between the strains of Microcystis over time. The reason for feeding inhibition of D. carinata might be toxicity after continuous exposure to the toxic cyanobacteria.