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Romanis CS, Timms VJ, Nebauer DJ, Crosbie ND, Neilan BA. Microbiome analysis reveals Microcystis blooms endogenously seeded from benthos within wastewater maturation ponds. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0158523. [PMID: 38117057 PMCID: PMC10807444 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01585-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxigenic Microcystis blooms periodically disrupt the stabilization ponds of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Dense proliferations of Microcystis cells within the surface waters (SWs) impede the water treatment process by reducing the treatment efficacy of the latent WWTP microbiome. Further, water quality is reduced when conventional treatment leads to Microcystis cell lysis and the release of intracellular microcystins into the water column. Recurrent seasonal Microcystis blooms cause significant financial burdens for the water industry and predicting their source is vital for bloom management strategies. We investigated the source of recurrent toxigenic Microcystis blooms at Australia's largest lagoon-based municipal WWTP in both sediment core (SC) and SW samples between 2018 and 2020. Bacterial community composition of the SC and SW samples according to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that Microcystis sp. was dominant within SW samples throughout the period and reached peak relative abundances (32%) during the summer. The same Microcystis Amplicon sequence variants were present within the SC and SW samples indicating a potential migratory population that transitions between the sediment water and SWs during bloom formation events. To investigate the potential of the sediment to act as a repository of viable Microcystis cells for recurrent bloom formation, a novel in-vitro bloom model was established featuring sediments and sterilized SW collected from the WWTP. Microcystin-producing Microcystis blooms were established through passive resuspension after 12 weeks of incubation. These results demonstrate the capacity of Microcystis to transition between the sediments and SWs in WWTPs, acting as a perennial inoculum for recurrent blooms.IMPORTANCECyanobacterial blooms are prevalent to wastewater treatment facilities owing to the stable, eutrophic conditions. Cyanobacterial proliferations can disrupt operational procedures through the blocking of filtration apparatus or altering the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) microbiome, reducing treatment efficiency. Conventional wastewater treatment often results in the lysis of cyanobacterial cells and the release of intracellular toxins which pose a health risk to end users. This research identifies a potential seeding source of recurrent toxigenic cyanobacterial blooms within wastewater treatment facilities. Our results demonstrate the capacity of Microcystis to transition between the sediments and surface waters (SWs) of wastewater treatment ponds enabling water utilities to develop adequate monitoring and management strategies. Further, we developed a novel model to demonstrate benthic recruitment of toxigenic Microcystis under laboratory conditions facilitating future research into the genetic mechanisms behind bloom development.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. S. Romanis
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Callaghan, Australia
| | - V. J. Timms
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Callaghan, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Synthetic Biology, Callaghan, Australia
| | - D. J. Nebauer
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Callaghan, Australia
| | | | - B. A. Neilan
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Callaghan, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Synthetic Biology, Callaghan, Australia
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2
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Gabyshev VA, Sidelev SI, Chernova EN, Vilnet AA, Davydov DA, Barinova S, Gabysheva OI, Zhakovskaya ZA, Voronov IV. Year-Round Presence of Microcystins and Toxin-Producing Microcystis in the Water Column and Ice Cover of a Eutrophic Lake Located in the Continuous Permafrost Zone (Yakutia, Russia). Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:467. [PMID: 37505736 PMCID: PMC10467126 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15070467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to test the hypothesis of the year-round presence of toxigenic Microcystis and cyanotoxins in the water and ice of the shallow eutrophic Lake Ytyk-Kyuyol located in the continuous permafrost zone. Three independent approaches-mass-spectrometry, molecular methods and light microscopy-were applied in the study. The cyanobacterial biomass ranged from 1.0 × 10-4 to 4.8 mg L-1. Microcystis flos-aquae and M. aeruginosa were the dominant morphospecies in plankton throughout the observation. In environmental DNA, the presence of M. aeruginosa was supported and mcy gene regions responsible for microcystin biosynthesis were detected through a BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) search and phylogenetic estimation based on newly obtained 16S rRNA, 16S-23S ITS rRNA, mcyA and mcyE nucleotide sequences. The intracellular microcystin concentration ranged from <0.1 to 803 ng L-1, and the microcystin quota in the Microcystis biomass was extremely low. For the first time, it was shown that Microcystis cells containing mcy genes and microcystins presented permanently in the water column, both during the ice-free period and under ice, as well as inside thick ice covers within 7 months of severe winter. We hypothesized that minor pelagic and ice populations of Microcystis could participate in increasing cell density in the spring. However, further studies are needed to confirm the viability of the overwintering Microcystis colonies in the water and inside the ice of Lake Ytyk-Kyuyol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor A. Gabyshev
- Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk 677980, Russia; (V.A.G.); (O.I.G.); (I.V.V.)
| | - Sergey I. Sidelev
- Faculty of Biology and Ecology, Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl 150057, Russia;
- Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Yaroslavl 152742, Russia
| | - Ekaterina N. Chernova
- Scientific Research Centre for Ecological Safety, St. Petersburg Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 197110, Russia; (E.N.C.); (Z.A.Z.)
| | - Anna A. Vilnet
- Polar-Alpine Botanic Garden-Institute—Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre “Kola Science Centre”, Apatity 184209, Russia; (A.A.V.); (D.A.D.)
| | - Denis A. Davydov
- Polar-Alpine Botanic Garden-Institute—Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre “Kola Science Centre”, Apatity 184209, Russia; (A.A.V.); (D.A.D.)
- Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems—Subdivision of the Federal Research Center “Kola Science Center”, Apatity 184209, Russia
| | - Sophia Barinova
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, 199 Abba Khoushi Ave., Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Olga I. Gabysheva
- Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk 677980, Russia; (V.A.G.); (O.I.G.); (I.V.V.)
| | - Zoya A. Zhakovskaya
- Scientific Research Centre for Ecological Safety, St. Petersburg Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 197110, Russia; (E.N.C.); (Z.A.Z.)
| | - Ivan V. Voronov
- Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk 677980, Russia; (V.A.G.); (O.I.G.); (I.V.V.)
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3
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Calomeni A, McQueen A, Kinley-Baird C, Clyde G, Gusler G, Boyer M, Smith EF. Efficacy of algaecides for the proactive treatment of overwintering cyanobacteria. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115187. [PMID: 37385019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Once established within a water resource, harmful algal blooms (HABs) can occur seasonally with an intense and rapid onset, giving water resource managers limited time to respond to lessen risks. An attractive strategy to decrease human, ecological, and economic risks from HABs is to implement proactive algaecide treatments applied to overwintering cyanobacteria (i.e., akinetes and quiescent vegetative cells) in sediments prior to the formation of a HAB; however, this approach is novel and very limited efficacy data exist. Therefore, the specific objectives of this research were to 1) evaluate copper- and peroxide-based algaecides, applied as single and repeat treatments at the bench scale, to identify effective proactive treatments, and 2) compare correlations between cell density and other response measurements (i.e., in vivo chlorophyll a and phycocyanin concentrations and percent benthic coverage), to identify informative metrics to assess overwintering cyanobacteria responses. Twelve treatment scenarios using copper- and peroxide-based algaecides were applied to sediments containing overwintering cyanobacteria prior to a 14 d incubation under favorable growth conditions. Responses of cyanobacteria in the planktonic (i.e., cell density, in vivo chlorophyll a and phycocyanin concentrations) and benthic (percent coverage) phases after a 14 d incubation were evaluated in treatments and controls. The HAB-forming cyanobacteria present after a 14 d incubation were: Aphanizomenon, Dolichospermum, Microcystis, Nostoc, and Planktonthrix. Successive treatments of copper sulfate (CuSulfate) followed by sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate (PeroxiSolid) (second algaecide applied after 24 h) as well as repeat applications of a single algaecide, PeroxiSolid (second treatment applied after 24 h) resulted in statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05; α = 0.05) declines in cell density relative to untreated controls. Planktonic cyanobacteria responses measured in terms of phycocyanin concentrations were strongly correlated with cyanobacteria density measurements (Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) = 0.89). Chlorophyll a concentrations and percent benthic coverage did not correlate with planktonic cyanobacteria density measurements (r = 0.37 and -0.49, respectively) and therefore, were unreliable metrics for cyanobacterial responses in this study. These data provide initial evidence of the efficacy of algaecides for treating overwintering cells in sediments and contribute to our overarching hypothesis that proactive treatments may delay the onset and intensity of HABs in impacted waterbodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Calomeni
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA.
| | - Andrew McQueen
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180, USA
| | | | - Gerard Clyde
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, 2488 E 81st Street, Tulsa, OK 74137, USA
| | - Grace Gusler
- Aquatic Control, 418 W State Road 258, Seymour, IN 47274, USA
| | - Marvin Boyer
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, 601 E 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA
| | - Elizabeth F Smith
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Water, 1000 SW Jackson St., Topeka, KS 66612, USA
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Crevecoeur S, Edge TA, Watson LC, Watson SB, Greer CW, Ciborowski JJH, Diep N, Dove A, Drouillard KG, Frenken T, McKay RM, Zastepa A, Comte J. Spatio-temporal connectivity of the aquatic microbiome associated with cyanobacterial blooms along a Great Lake riverine-lacustrine continuum. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1073753. [PMID: 36846788 PMCID: PMC9947797 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1073753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lake Erie is subject to recurring events of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs), but measures of nutrients and total phytoplankton biomass seem to be poor predictors of cHABs when taken individually. A more integrated approach at the watershed scale may improve our understanding of the conditions that lead to bloom formation, such as assessing the physico-chemical and biological factors that influence the lake microbial community, as well as identifying the linkages between Lake Erie and the surrounding watershed. Within the scope of the Government of Canada's Genomics Research and Development Initiative (GRDI) Ecobiomics project, we used high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the spatio-temporal variability of the aquatic microbiome in the Thames River-Lake St. Clair-Detroit River-Lake Erie aquatic corridor. We found that the aquatic microbiome was structured along the flow path and influenced mainly by higher nutrient concentrations in the Thames River, and higher temperature and pH downstream in Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. The same dominant bacterial phyla were detected along the water continuum, changing only in relative abundance. At finer taxonomical level, however, there was a clear shift in the cyanobacterial community, with Planktothrix dominating in the Thames River and Microcystis and Synechococcus in Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. Mantel correlations highlighted the importance of geographic distance in shaping the microbial community structure. The fact that a high proportion of microbial sequences found in the Western Basin of Lake Erie were also identified in the Thames River, indicated a high degree of connectivity and dispersal within the system, where mass effect induced by passive transport play an important role in microbial community assembly. Nevertheless, some cyanobacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) related to Microcystis, representing less than 0.1% of relative abundance in the upstream Thames River, became dominant in Lake St. Clair and Erie, suggesting selection of those ASVs based on the lake conditions. Their extremely low relative abundances in the Thames suggest additional sources are likely to contribute to the rapid development of summer and fall blooms in the Western Basin of Lake Erie. Collectively, these results, which can be applied to other watersheds, improve our understanding of the factors influencing aquatic microbial community assembly and provide new perspectives on how to better understand the occurrence of cHABs in Lake Erie and elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Crevecoeur
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada,*Correspondence: Sophie Crevecoeur, ✉
| | - Thomas A. Edge
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Linet Cynthia Watson
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Susan B. Watson
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Charles W. Greer
- Energy, Mining and Environment, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jan J. H. Ciborowski
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada,Department of Biological Sciences University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ngan Diep
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch, Etobicoke, ON, Canada
| | - Alice Dove
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Kenneth G. Drouillard
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Thijs Frenken
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada,Cluster Nature & Society, HAS University of Applied Sciences, s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
| | - Robert Michael McKay
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada,Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States
| | - Arthur Zastepa
- Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Jérôme Comte
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Quebec City, QC, Canada,Groupe de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Limnologie et en Environnement Aquatique (GRIL), Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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5
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Banerji A, Benesh K. Incorporating Microbial Species Interaction in Management of Freshwater Toxic Cyanobacteria: A Systems Science Challenge. AQUATIC ECOLOGY 2022; 3:570-587. [PMID: 36643215 PMCID: PMC9836389 DOI: 10.3390/ecologies3040042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Water resources are critically important, but also pose risks of exposure to toxic and pathogenic microbes. Increasingly, a concern is toxic cyanobacteria, which have been linked to the death and disease of humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife in freshwater systems worldwide. Management approaches successful at reducing cyanobacterial abundance and toxin production have tended to be short-term solutions applied on small scales (e.g., algaecide application) or solutions that entail difficult multifaceted investments (e.g., modification of landscape and land use to reduce nutrient inputs). However, implementation of these approaches can be undermined by microbial species interactions that (a) provide toxic cyanobacteria with protection against the method of control or (b) permit toxic cyanobacteria to be replaced by other significant microbial threats. Understanding these interactions is necessary to avoid such scenarios and can provide a framework for novel strategies to enhance freshwater resource management via systems science (e.g., pairing existing physical and chemical approaches against cyanobacteria with ecological strategies such as manipulation of natural enemies, targeting of facilitators, and reduction of benthic occupancy and recruitment). Here, we review pertinent examples of the interactions and highlight potential applications of what is known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aabir Banerji
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Kasey Benesh
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science & Education, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
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6
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Chaffin JD, Westrick JA, Furr E, Birbeck JA, Reitz LA, Stanislawczyk K, Li W, Weber PK, Bridgeman TB, Davis TW, Mayali X. Quantification of microcystin production and biodegradation rates in the western basin of Lake Erie. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 2022; 67:1470-1483. [PMID: 36248197 PMCID: PMC9543754 DOI: 10.1002/lno.12096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial biomass forecasts currently cannot predict the concentrations of microcystin, one of the most ubiquitous cyanotoxins that threaten human and wildlife health globally. Mechanistic insights into how microcystin production and biodegradation by heterotrophic bacteria change spatially and throughout the bloom season can aid in toxin concentration forecasts. We quantified microcystin production and biodegradation during two growth seasons in two western Lake Erie sites with different physicochemical properties commonly plagued by summer Microcystis blooms. Microcystin production rates were greater with elevated nutrients than under ambient conditions and were highest nearshore during the initial phases of the bloom, and production rates were lower in later bloom phases. We examined biodegradation rates of the most common and toxic microcystin by adding extracellular stable isotope-labeled microcystin-LR (1 μg L-1), which remained stable in the abiotic treatment (without bacteria) with minimal adsorption onto sediment, but strongly decreased in all unaltered biotic treatments, suggesting biodegradation. Greatest biodegradation rates (highest of -8.76 d-1, equivalent to the removal of 99.98% in 18 h) were observed during peak bloom conditions, while lower rates were observed with lower cyanobacteria biomass. Cell-specific nitrogen incorporation from microcystin-LR by nanoscale imaging mass spectrometry showed that a small percentage of the heterotrophic bacterial community actively degraded microcystin-LR. Microcystin production and biodegradation rates, combined with the microcystin incorporation by single cells, suggest that microcystin predictive models could be improved by incorporating toxin production and biodegradation rates, which are influenced by cyanobacterial bloom stage (early vs. late bloom), nutrient availability, and bacterial community composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D. Chaffin
- F.T. Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea GrantThe Ohio State UniversityPut‐In‐BayOhioUSA
| | - Judy A. Westrick
- Lumigen Instrument CenterWayne State UniversityDetroitMichiganUSA
| | - Elliot Furr
- Department of Biological SciencesBowling Green State UniversityBowling GreenOhioUSA
| | | | - Laura A. Reitz
- Department of Biological SciencesBowling Green State UniversityBowling GreenOhioUSA
- Present address:
Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Keara Stanislawczyk
- F.T. Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea GrantThe Ohio State UniversityPut‐In‐BayOhioUSA
| | - Wei Li
- Physical and Life Sciences DirectorateLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLivermoreCaliforniaUSA
| | - Peter K. Weber
- Physical and Life Sciences DirectorateLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLivermoreCaliforniaUSA
| | | | - Timothy W. Davis
- Department of Biological SciencesBowling Green State UniversityBowling GreenOhioUSA
| | - Xavier Mayali
- Physical and Life Sciences DirectorateLawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLivermoreCaliforniaUSA
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7
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Tian H, Jin J, Chen B, Lefebvre DD, Lougheed SC, Wang Y. Depth-Dependent Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Overwintering Pelagic Microcystis in a Temperate Water Body. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081718. [PMID: 34442797 PMCID: PMC8399979 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria in the genus Microcystis are dominant components of many harmful algal blooms worldwide. Their pelagic–benthic life cycle helps them survive periods of adverse conditions and contributes greatly to their ecological success. Many studies on Microcystis overwintering have focused on benthic colonies and suggest that sediment serves as the major inoculum for subsequent summer blooms. However, the contemporaneous overwintering pelagic population may be important as well but is understudied. In this study, we investigated near-surface and near-bottom pelagic population dynamics of both microcystin-producing Microcystis and total Microcystis over six weeks in winter at Dog Lake (South Frontenac, ON, Canada). We quantified relative Microcystis concentrations using real-time PCR. Our results showed that the spatiotemporal distribution of overwintering pelagic Microcystis was depth dependent. The abundance of near-bottom pelagic Microcystis declined with increased depth with no influence of depth on near-surface Microcystis abundance. In the shallow region of the lake (<10 m), most pelagic Microcystis was found near the lake bottom (>90%). However, the proportion of near-surface Microcystis rose sharply to over 60% as the depth increased to approximately 18 m. The depth-dependent distribution pattern was found to be similar in both microcystin-producing Microcystis and total Microcystis. Our results suggest the top of the water column may be a more significant contributor of Microcystis recruitment inoculum than previously thought and merits more attention in early CHAB characterization and remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haolun Tian
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
| | - Junjie Jin
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
| | - Bojian Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China;
| | - Daniel D. Lefebvre
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
| | - Stephen C. Lougheed
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China;
| | - Yuxiang Wang
- Department of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (H.T.); (J.J.); (D.D.L.); (S.C.L.)
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China;
- Correspondence:
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8
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Chaffin JD, Bratton JF, Verhamme EM, Bair HB, Beecher AA, Binding CE, Birbeck JA, Bridgeman TB, Chang X, Crossman J, Currie WJS, Davis TW, Dick GJ, Drouillard KG, Errera RM, Frenken T, MacIsaac HJ, McClure A, McKay RM, Reitz LA, Domingo JWS, Stanislawczyk K, Stumpf RP, Swan ZD, Snyder BK, Westrick JA, Xue P, Yancey CE, Zastepa A, Zhou X. The Lake Erie HABs Grab: A binational collaboration to characterize the western basin cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms at an unprecedented high-resolution spatial scale. HARMFUL ALGAE 2021; 108:102080. [PMID: 34588116 PMCID: PMC8682807 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2021.102080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring of cyanobacterial bloom biomass in large lakes at high resolution is made possible by remote sensing. However, monitoring cyanobacterial toxins is only feasible with grab samples, which, with only sporadic sampling, results in uncertainties in the spatial distribution of toxins. To address this issue, we conducted two intensive "HABs Grabs" of microcystin (MC)-producing Microcystis blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie. These were one-day sampling events during August of 2018 and 2019 in which 100 and 172 grab samples were collected, respectively, within a six-hour window covering up to 2,270 km2 and analyzed using consistent methods to estimate the total mass of MC. The samples were analyzed for 57 parameters, including toxins, nutrients, chlorophyll, and genomics. There were an estimated 11,513 kg and 30,691 kg of MCs in the western basin during the 2018 and 2019 HABs Grabs, respectively. The bloom boundary poses substantial issues for spatial assessments because MC concentration varied by nearly two orders of magnitude over very short distances. The MC to chlorophyll ratio (MC:chl) varied by a factor up to 5.3 throughout the basin, which creates challenges for using MC:chl to predict MC concentrations. Many of the biomass metrics strongly correlated (r > 0.70) with each other except chlorophyll fluorescence and phycocyanin concentration. While MC and chlorophyll correlated well with total phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, MC:chl correlated with dissolved inorganic nitrogen. More frequent MC data collection can overcome these issues, and models need to account for the MC:chl spatial heterogeneity when forecasting MCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D Chaffin
- F.T. Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University, 878 Bayview Ave. P.O. Box 119, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456, USA.
| | | | | | - Halli B Bair
- F.T. Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University, 878 Bayview Ave. P.O. Box 119, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456, USA
| | - Amber A Beecher
- Lake Erie Center, University of Toledo, 6200 Bayshore Rd., Oregon, OH 43616, USA
| | - Caren E Binding
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7S1A1, Canada
| | - Johnna A Birbeck
- Lumigen Instrument Center, Wayne State University, 5101Cass Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Thomas B Bridgeman
- Lake Erie Center, University of Toledo, 6200 Bayshore Rd., Oregon, OH 43616, USA
| | - Xuexiu Chang
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada; School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, PR China
| | - Jill Crossman
- School of the Environment, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Warren J S Currie
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Timothy W Davis
- Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Life Sciences Building, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States
| | - Gregory J Dick
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 2534 North University Building, 1100 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1005, USA
| | - Kenneth G Drouillard
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Reagan M Errera
- Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
| | - Thijs Frenken
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Hugh J MacIsaac
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Andrew McClure
- Division of Water Treatment, City of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43605, USA
| | - R Michael McKay
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Laura A Reitz
- Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Life Sciences Building, Bowling Green, OH 43402, United States
| | | | - Keara Stanislawczyk
- F.T. Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University, 878 Bayview Ave. P.O. Box 119, Put-In-Bay, OH 43456, USA
| | - Richard P Stumpf
- National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Zachary D Swan
- Lake Erie Center, University of Toledo, 6200 Bayshore Rd., Oregon, OH 43616, USA
| | - Brenda K Snyder
- Lake Erie Center, University of Toledo, 6200 Bayshore Rd., Oregon, OH 43616, USA
| | - Judy A Westrick
- Lumigen Instrument Center, Wayne State University, 5101Cass Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Pengfei Xue
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Colleen E Yancey
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 2534 North University Building, 1100 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1005, USA
| | - Arthur Zastepa
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7S1A1, Canada
| | - Xing Zhou
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Dr., Houghton, MI 49931, USA
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9
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Abstract
Harmful algal blooms can have deleterious effects on animal and human health as well as the environment and are anticipated to become more frequent and intensified in the future because of climate change. Veterinarians are well positioned to diagnose and treat animals affected by HABs and to educate livestock owners and the public about health risks and environmental issues associated with those toxic events. Pets, livestock, wildlife, and marine life can all be affected by HABs. Information about HABs is becoming increasingly assessable as a result of ongoing research into the structure, properties, toxic mechanisms, and geographic distribution of toxins found in HABs. The AVMA's multi-entity working group on HABs is comprised of members from the Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee, Committee on Environmental Issues, and Council on Public Health and is working to make more information and resources regarding HABs available to practicing veterinarians. The present article is the first of those resources and provides a review of HABs, with a focus on livestock. It includes background material about bloom formation, appearance, and persistence as well as descriptions of clinical observations from early field cases and more recent information about the causative organisms and toxins to provide livestock veterinarians a foundation for understanding HABs. Reporting of HABs and prevention and mitigation strategies for livestock owners are also discussed.
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10
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Dick GJ, Duhaime MB, Evans JT, Errera RM, Godwin CM, Kharbush JJ, Nitschky HS, Powers MA, Vanderploeg HA, Schmidt KC, Smith DJ, Yancey CE, Zwiers CC, Denef VJ. The genetic and ecophysiological diversity of Microcystis. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:7278-7313. [PMID: 34056822 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Microcystis is a cyanobacterium that forms toxic blooms in freshwater ecosystems around the world. Biological variation among taxa within the genus is apparent through genetic and phenotypic differences between strains and via the spatial and temporal distribution of strains in the environment, and this fine-scale diversity exerts strong influence over bloom toxicity. Yet we do not know how varying traits of Microcystis strains govern their environmental distribution, the tradeoffs and links between these traits, or how they are encoded at the genomic level. Here we synthesize current knowledge on the importance of diversity within Microcystis and on the genes and traits that likely underpin ecological differentiation of taxa. We briefly review spatial and environmental patterns of Microcystis diversity in the field and genetic evidence for cohesive groups within Microcystis. We then compile data on strain-level diversity regarding growth responses to environmental conditions and explore evidence for variation of community interactions across Microcystis strains. Potential links and tradeoffs between traits are identified and discussed. The resulting picture, while incomplete, highlights key knowledge gaps that need to be filled to enable new models for predicting strain-level dynamics, which influence the development, toxicity and cosmopolitan nature of Microcystis blooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J Dick
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Melissa B Duhaime
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jacob T Evans
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Reagan M Errera
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Casey M Godwin
- School for Environment and Sustainability, Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jenan J Kharbush
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Helena S Nitschky
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - McKenzie A Powers
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Henry A Vanderploeg
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kathryn C Schmidt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Derek J Smith
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Colleen E Yancey
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Claire C Zwiers
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vincent J Denef
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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11
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Ji X, Wu T, Xiao J, Yang K, Sun Z, Yang T, Hu R. Strong spring winds accelerated the recruitment and reinvasion of cyanobacteria. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:16855-16866. [PMID: 33394420 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-12197-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The reinvasion and recruitment of overwintering cyanobacteria in sediments in spring have an important impact on cyanobacterial blooms in summer and autumn, but until now, this process has not been observed in natural water bodies. In this study, wireless sensors and automatic water sample collection systems were used to carry out continuous high-frequency monitoring of cyanobacteria and related environmental indicators in Meiliang Bay, Lake Taihu, during a northwest wind event in spring. The results showed that there were many dormant cyanobacteria seeds in the sediments of Lake Taihu. These cyanobacterial seeds were easily resuspended from sediments, allowing them to reinvade and remain in the overlying water. Simultaneously, the water temperature exceeded the recovery temperature after the northwest wind event and the available light was sufficient to allow the reinvading cyanobacteria to recruit. The circadian photosynthetic rhythm of these recruited cyanobacteria eventually led to a rapid increase in dissolved oxygen in the water body during the south wind phase to a supersaturated state, and periodic diurnal fluctuations of the water body dissolved oxygen saturation curve. This study provided direct evidence for fully understanding the annual cycle of cyanobacterial blooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Ji
- China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Tingfeng Wu
- Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jianjun Xiao
- China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Yang
- China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Zongguang Sun
- China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Tengteng Yang
- Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Runtao Hu
- Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
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12
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Franklin DJ. Examining the Evidence for Regulated and Programmed Cell Death in Cyanobacteria. How Significant Are Different Forms of Cell Death in Cyanobacteria Population Dynamics? Front Microbiol 2021; 12:633954. [PMID: 33828539 PMCID: PMC8019747 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.633954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are ancient and versatile members of almost all aquatic food webs. In freshwater ecosystems some cyanobacteria form “bloom” populations containing potent toxins and such blooms are therefore a key focus of study. Bloom populations can be ephemeral, with rapid population declines possible, though the factors causing such declines are generally poorly understood. Cell death could be a significant factor linked to population decline. Broadly, three forms of cell death are currently recognized – accidental, regulated and programmed – and efforts are underway to identify these and standardize the use of cell death terminology, guided by work on better-studied cells. For cyanobacteria, the study of such differing forms of cell death has received little attention, and classifying cell death across the group, and within complex natural populations, is therefore hard and experimentally difficult. The population dynamics of photosynthetic microbes have, in the past, been principally explained through reference to abiotic (“bottom-up”) factors. However, it has become clearer that in general, only a partial linkage exists between abiotic conditions and cyanobacteria population fluctuations in many situations. Instead, a range of biotic interactions both within and between cyanobacteria, and their competitors, pathogens and consumers, can be seen as the major drivers of the observed population fluctuations. Whilst some evolutionary processes may theoretically account for the existence of an intrinsic form of cell death in cyanobacteria, a range of biotic interactions are also likely to frequently cause the ecological incidence of cell death. New theoretical models and single-cell techniques are being developed to illuminate this area. The importance of such work is underlined by both (a) predictions of increasing cyanobacteria dominance due to anthropogenic factors and (b) the realization that influential ecosystem modeling work includes mortality terms with scant foundation, even though such terms can have a very large impact on model predictions. These ideas are explored and a prioritization of research needs is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Franklin
- Centre for Ecology, Environment and Sustainability, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom
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13
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Matson PG, Boyer GL, Bridgeman TB, Bullerjahn GS, Kane DD, McKay RML, McKindles KM, Raymond HA, Snyder BK, Stumpf RP, Davis TW. Physical drivers facilitating a toxigenic cyanobacterial bloom in a major Great Lakes tributary. LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 2020; 65:2866-2882. [PMID: 33707786 PMCID: PMC7942401 DOI: 10.1002/lno.11558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The Maumee River is the primary source for nutrients fueling seasonal Microcystis-dominated blooms in western Lake Erie's open waters though such blooms in the river are infrequent. The river also serves as source water for multiple public water systems and a large food services facility in northwest Ohio, USA. On 20 September 2017, an unprecedented bloom was reported in the Maumee River estuary within the Toledo metropolitan area, which triggered a recreational water advisory. Here we (1) explore physical drivers likely contributing to the bloom's occurrence, and (2) describe the toxin concentration and bacterioplankton taxonomic composition. A historical analysis using ten-years of seasonal river discharge, water level, and local wind data identified two instances when high-retention conditions occurred over ≥10 days in the Maumee River estuary: in 2016 and during the 2017 bloom. Observation by remote sensing imagery supported the advection of cyanobacterial cells into the estuary from the lake during 2017 and the lack of an estuary bloom in 2016 due to a weak cyanobacterial bloom in the lake. A rapid-response survey during the 2017 bloom determined levels of the cyanotoxins, specifically microcystins, in excess of recreational contact limits at sites within the lower 20 km of the river while amplicon sequencing found these sites were dominated by Microcystis. These results highlight the need to broaden our understanding of physical drivers of cyanobacterial blooms within the interface between riverine and lacustrine systems, particularly as such blooms are expected to become more prominent in response to a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G. Matson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- Present address: Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Gregory L. Boyer
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York–College of Environment Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Thomas B. Bridgeman
- Lake Erie Center and Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - George S. Bullerjahn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
| | - Douglas D. Kane
- Division of Natural Science, Applied Science, and Mathematics, Defiance College, Defiance, OH 43512, USA
- Present address: Biology and Environmental Sciences Department and National Center for Water Quality Research, Heidelberg University, Tiffin, OH 44883, USA
| | - R. Michael L. McKay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Katelyn M. McKindles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
| | - Heather A. Raymond
- Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Columbus, OH 43216, USA
- Present address: College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Brenda K. Snyder
- Lake Erie Center and Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Richard P. Stumpf
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Timothy W. Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA
- Author of correspondence:
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14
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Is a Central Sediment Sample Sufficient? Exploring Spatial and Temporal Microbial Diversity in a Small Lake. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12090580. [PMID: 32916957 PMCID: PMC7551157 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12090580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Paleolimnological studies use sediment cores to explore long-term changes in lake ecology, including occurrences of harmful cyanobacterial blooms. Most studies are based on single cores, assuming this is representative of the whole lake, but data on small-scale spatial variability of microbial communities in lake sediment are scarce. (2) Methods: Surface sediments (top 0.5 cm) from 12 sites (n = 36) and two sediment cores were collected in Lake Rotorua (New Zealand). Bacterial community (16S rRNA metabarcoding), Microcystis specific 16S rRNA, microcystin synthetase gene E (mcyE) and microcystins (MCs) were assessed. Radionuclide measurements (210Pb, 137Cs) were used to date sediments. (3) Results: Bacterial community, based on relative abundances, differed significantly between surface sediment sites (p < 0.001) but the majority of bacterial amplicon sequence variants (88.8%) were shared. Despite intense MC producing Microcystis blooms in the past, no Microcystis specific 16S rRNA, mcyE and MCs were found in surface sediments but occurred deeper in sediment cores (approximately 1950′s). 210Pb measurements showed a disturbed profile, similar to patterns previously observed, as a result of earthquakes. (4) Conclusions: A single sediment core can capture dominant microbial communities. Toxin producing Microcystis blooms are a recent phenomenon in Lake Rotorua. We posit that the absence of Microcystis from the surface sediments is a consequence of the Kaikoura earthquake two years prior to our sampling.
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15
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Su RC, Meyers CM, Warner EA, Garcia JA, Refsnider JM, Lad A, Breidenbach JD, Modyanov N, Malhotra D, Haller ST, Kennedy DJ. Harmful Algal Bloom Toxicity in Lithobates catesbeiana Tadpoles. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12060378. [PMID: 32521650 PMCID: PMC7354472 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12060378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HAB) have become a major health concern worldwide, not just to humans that consume and recreate on contaminated waters, but also to the fauna that inhabit the environments surrounding affected areas. HABs contain heterotrophic bacteria, cyanobacterial lipopolysaccharide, and cyanobacterial toxins such as microcystins, that can cause severe toxicity in many aquatic species as well as bioaccumulation within various organs. Thus, the possibility of trophic transference of this toxin through the food chain has potentially important health implications for other organisms in the related food web. While some species have developed adaptions to attenuate the toxic effects of HAB toxins, there are still numerous species that remain vulnerable, including Lithobates catesbeiana (American bullfrog) tadpoles. In the current study we demonstrate that acute, short-term exposure of tadpoles to HAB toxins containing 1 µg/L (1 nmol/L) of total microcystins for only 7 days results in significant liver and intestinal toxicity within tadpoles. Exposed tadpoles had increased intestinal diameter, decreased intestinal fold heights, and a constant number of intestinal folds, indicating pathological intestinal distension, similar to what is seen in various disease processes, such as toxic megacolon. HAB-toxin-exposed tadpoles also demonstrated hepatocyte hypertrophy with increased hepatocyte binucleation consistent with carcinogenic and oxidative processes within the liver. Both livers and intestines of HAB-toxin-exposed tadpoles demonstrated significant increases in protein carbonylation consistent with oxidative stress and damage. These findings demonstrate that short-term exposure to HAB toxins, including microcystins, can have significant adverse effects in amphibian populations. This acute, short-term toxicity highlights the need to evaluate the influence HAB toxins may have on other vulnerable species within the food web and how those may ultimately also impact human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin C. Su
- Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (R.C.S.); (E.A.W.); (A.L.); (J.D.B.); (D.M.)
| | - Casey M. Meyers
- Department of Biology, Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH 45504, USA;
| | - Emily A. Warner
- Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (R.C.S.); (E.A.W.); (A.L.); (J.D.B.); (D.M.)
| | - Jessica A. Garcia
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA; (J.A.G.); (J.M.R.)
| | - Jeanine M. Refsnider
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA; (J.A.G.); (J.M.R.)
| | - Apurva Lad
- Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (R.C.S.); (E.A.W.); (A.L.); (J.D.B.); (D.M.)
| | - Joshua D. Breidenbach
- Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (R.C.S.); (E.A.W.); (A.L.); (J.D.B.); (D.M.)
| | - Nikolai Modyanov
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA;
| | - Deepak Malhotra
- Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (R.C.S.); (E.A.W.); (A.L.); (J.D.B.); (D.M.)
| | - Steven T. Haller
- Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (R.C.S.); (E.A.W.); (A.L.); (J.D.B.); (D.M.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
- Correspondence: (S.T.H.); (D.J.K.); Tel.: +1-419-383-6822 (D.J.K. & S.T.H.)
| | - David J. Kennedy
- Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA; (R.C.S.); (E.A.W.); (A.L.); (J.D.B.); (D.M.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
- Correspondence: (S.T.H.); (D.J.K.); Tel.: +1-419-383-6822 (D.J.K. & S.T.H.)
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16
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Huang Y, Liu S, Shen Y, Hong J, Peng L, Li L, Xu P, Hu J, Chen X, Ostrovsky I. Nitrogen availability affects the dynamics of Microcystis blooms by regulating the downward transport of biomass. HARMFUL ALGAE 2020; 93:101796. [PMID: 32307076 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2020.101796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen availability is one of the key factors affecting the dynamics of non-diazotrophic cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic lakes. While previous studies mainly focused on the promoting effect of nitrogen on the growth of cyanobacteria, this study aimed to investigate the role of nitrogen availability in the downward transport of biomass and its effects on the dynamics of Microcystis blooms. We performed field enclosure experiments which demonstrated that nitrogen availability negatively affects the downward transport of biomass. With a nitrogen loading of 0.02 g N m-2 d-1, the Microcystis biomass in the water column decreased by 56.2% over a 4-day period. During the same period of time, the average sinking ratio was 0.23 d-1; moreover, the termination of biomass growth was detected. At the notably higher nitrogen loading of 0.5 g N m-2d-1, the downward transport of biomass could still compensate for the biomass growth, although the average sinking ratio was lower at 0.16 d-1. Additional laboratory culture experiments demonstrated that the increase in the downward transport of Microcystis occurred in parallel to an increase in the carbohydrate content and a decrease in gas vesicle content. Further proteomic analysis indicated that the carbohydrate accumulation induced by nitrogen deficiency was a result of the slowing down of catabolic consumption, especially the downregulation of glycolysis. Thus, our study suggests that increased intracellular carbohydrate accumulation at low nitrogen availability causes a higher sinking ratio of Microcystis, indicating that nitrogen limits the duration of Microcystis blooms; thus, decreased nitrogen availability may lead to increased sinking of biomass out of the water column, accelerating the dissipation of Microcystis blooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Huang
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Silu Liu
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Yingshi Shen
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Jingjie Hong
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Lin Peng
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Lei Li
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Ping Xu
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Jun Hu
- Shanghai Qingpu Environmental Monitoring Station, No. 15 Xi Dayinggangyi Road, Shanghai 201700, PR China
| | - Xuechu Chen
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dong Chuan Road, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Institute of Eco-Chongming, No. 3663N. Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, PR China.
| | - Ilia Ostrovsky
- Kinneret Limnological Laboratory, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, P. O. Box 447, Migdal 1495001, Israel
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17
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Fang S, Del Giudice D, Scavia D, Binding CE, Bridgeman TB, Chaffin JD, Evans MA, Guinness J, Johengen TH, Obenour DR. A space-time geostatistical model for probabilistic estimation of harmful algal bloom biomass and areal extent. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 695:133776. [PMID: 31426003 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been increasing in intensity worldwide, including the western basin of Lake Erie. Substantial efforts have been made to track these blooms using in situ sampling and remote sensing. However, such measurements do not fully capture HAB spatial and temporal dynamics due to the limitations of discrete shipboard sampling over large areas and the effects of clouds and winds on remote sensing estimates. To address these limitations, we develop a space-time geostatistical modeling framework for estimating HAB intensity and extent using chlorophyll a data sampled during the HAB season (June-October) from 2008 to 2017 by five independent monitoring programs. Based on the Bayesian information criterion for model selection, trend variables explain bloom northerly and easterly expansion from Maumee Bay, wind effects over depth, and variability among sampling methods. Cross validation results demonstrate that space-time kriging explains over half of the variability in daily, location-specific chlorophyll observations, on average. Conditional simulations provide, for the first time, comprehensive estimates of overall bloom biomass (based on depth-integrated concentrations) and surface areal extent with quantified uncertainties. These new estimates are contrasted with previous Lake Erie HAB monitoring studies, and deviations among estimates are explored and discussed. Overall, results highlight the importance of maintaining sufficient monitoring coverage to capture bloom dynamics, as well as the benefits of the proposed approach for synthesizing data from multiple monitoring programs to improve estimation accuracy while reducing uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Fang
- Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7908, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Dario Del Giudice
- Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7908, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Donald Scavia
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, 440 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
| | - Caren E Binding
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 867 Lakeshore Rd, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Thomas B Bridgeman
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Lake Erie Center, University of Toledo, 6200 Bayshore Drive, Oregon, OH 43616, USA
| | - Justin D Chaffin
- F. T. Stone Laboratory and Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University, 878 Bayview Ave, Put-in-Bay, OH 43456, USA
| | - Mary Anne Evans
- U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, 1451 Green Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Joseph Guinness
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Cornell University, 1178 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Thomas H Johengen
- Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR), University of Michigan, 4840 South State Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA
| | - Daniel R Obenour
- Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7908, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7106, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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18
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Davenport EJ, Neudeck MJ, Matson PG, Bullerjahn GS, Davis TW, Wilhelm SW, Denney MK, Krausfeldt LE, Stough JMA, Meyer KA, Dick GJ, Johengen TH, Lindquist E, Tringe SG, McKay RML. Metatranscriptomic Analyses of Diel Metabolic Functions During a Microcystis Bloom in Western Lake Erie (United States). Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2081. [PMID: 31551998 PMCID: PMC6746948 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined diel shifts in metabolic functions of Microcystis spp. during a 48-h Lagrangian survey of a toxin-producing cyanobacterial bloom in western Lake Erie in the aftermath of the 2014 Toledo Water Crisis. Transcripts mapped to the genomes of recently sequenced lower Great Lakes Microcystis isolates showed distinct patterns of gene expression between samples collected across day (10:00 h, 16:00 h) and night (22:00 h, 04:00 h). Daytime transcripts were enriched in functions related to Photosystem II (e.g., psbA), nitrogen and phosphate acquisition, cell division (ftsHZ), heat shock response (dnaK, groEL), and uptake of inorganic carbon (rbc, bicA). Genes transcribed during nighttime included those involved in phycobilisome protein synthesis and Photosystem I core subunits. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) showed a tightly clustered group of nighttime expressed genes, whereas daytime transcripts were separated from each other over the 48-h duration. Lack of uniform clustering within the daytime transcripts suggested that the partitioning of gene expression in Microcystis is dependent on both circadian regulation and physicochemical changes within the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Davenport
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States,Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Michelle J. Neudeck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States
| | - Paul G. Matson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States
| | - George S. Bullerjahn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States,*Correspondence: George S. Bullerjahn,
| | - Timothy W. Davis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States
| | - Steven W. Wilhelm
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Maddie K. Denney
- Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Lauren E. Krausfeldt
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Joshua M. A. Stough
- Department of Microbiology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Kevin A. Meyer
- Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States,Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Gregory J. Dick
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Thomas H. Johengen
- Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Erika Lindquist
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, United States
| | - Susannah G. Tringe
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, United States
| | - Robert Michael L. McKay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, United States,Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
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