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Temporal evolution and vertical stratification of Microcystis toxic potential during a first bloom event

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Abstract

In order to study the setup of a Microcystis bloom and the evolution of its toxic potential, we studied the temporal and vertical variations in Microcystis aeruginosa abundance, microcystins (MC) concentrations (intracellular and extracellular), and the relative proportion of potentially microcystin-producing cells (MC-producing cells) in relation to physicochemical parameters in the recently setup Moroccan reservoir “Yaacoub Al Mansour.” The Microcystis bloom appeared relatively late in the season and was associated with a low proportion of MC-producing cells in the water surface layer, probably related to non-limiting nutrient concentrations. Interestingly, the setup of the bloom leads to a vertical gradient, showing a decrease in Microcystis cell abundance inversely coupled with an increase in the proportion of MC-producing cells. Thus, this can be the result of the growth where non-MC-producing cells remain in the lighted water layer easier than MC-producing ones. Nevertheless, parameters other than light intensity may influence the toxic potential of bloom as no vertical pattern was observed concerning microcystins cellular quotas. The high microcystins concentrations measured in the deep water layer have also proved the importance of considering the deep part of aquatic ecosystem in the management of health risks associated with cyanobacterial proliferations.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by French-Moroccan committee of Volubilis program no: MA/10/239. The toxic potential analysis (microcystins analysis and proportion of MC-producing cells) was carried out in the Laboratoire of Microorganismes: Génome et Environment at the Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont Ferrand. We thank Laura Sheehy for improving the English text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie et de Biotechnologie des Microorganismes, Faculté des Sciences Semlalia, Université Cadi Ayyad, BP 2390, 40000, Marrakech, Morocco

    H. Ait Hammou, S. Samoudi, Kh. Mouhri & M. Loudiki

  2. Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome et Environnement, Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, BP 10448, 63000, Clermont Ferrand, France

    D. Latour & M. Sabart

  3. UMR 6023, LMGE, CNRS, BP 80026, 63171, Aubière Cedex, France

    D. Latour & M. Sabart

  4. UMR5023 LEHNA, Université Lyon 1, ENTPE, CNRS, ISARA, Université de Lyon, 23 Rue Jean Baldassini, 69364, Lyon Cedex 07, France

    J. Robin

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  1. H. Ait Hammou
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  2. D. Latour
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  3. M. Sabart
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  7. M. Loudiki
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Correspondence to D. Latour.

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Handling Editor: Bas W. Ibelings

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Ait Hammou, H., Latour, D., Sabart, M. et al. Temporal evolution and vertical stratification of Microcystis toxic potential during a first bloom event. Aquat Ecol 48, 219–228 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-014-9477-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-014-9477-0

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