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Seasonal variation of cyanobacteria and microcystins in the Nui Coc Reservoir, Northern Vietnam

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Abstract

In order to understand the environmental variables which promote the proliferation of cyanobacteria and variation in microcystin concentrations in the Nui Coc reservoir, Vietnam, physicochemical parameters, the occurrence, and abundance of phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, and microcystin concentration were monitored monthly through the year 2009–2010. The relationships between these parameters were explored using principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation analysis. The phytoplankton community was mainly dominated by the cyanobacterium Microcystis with higher cyanobacteria abundance during summer and autumn season. PCA and Pearson correlation results showed that water temperature and phosphate concentration were the most important variables accounting for cyanobacteria, Microcystis, and microcystin occurrence. Analysis of the toxins by high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated the presence of two microcystin variants: microcystin-LR (MC-RR) and microcystin-ddRR (MC-ddRR) with total concentrations of the toxins in filtered samples from surface water ranging from 0.11 to 1.52 μg MC-LR equiv L−1. The high concentrations of microcystin in the Nui Coc reservoir highlighted the potential risk for human health in the basin. Our study underlined the need for regular monitoring of cyanobacteria and toxins in lakes and reservoirs, which are used for drinking water supplies, not only in Vietnam but also in tropical countries.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) 106.16-2010.71 project and the International Foundation for Science (IFS) W/4674-1 projects. The authors are grateful for the financial supports from Vietnam's NAFOSTED and the IFS. The authors thank many individuals for their help in collecting samples in the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Thi Thuy Duong, Trung Kien Hoang, Thi Nguyet Vu, Cuong Tu Ho & Dinh Kim Dang

  2. Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Thi Phuong Quynh Le

  3. Institute for Environment and Resources, 142 To Hien Thanh Street, District 10, Hochiminh City, Vietnam

    Thanh-Son Dao

  4. Department Aquaculture and Ecophysiology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany

    Stephan Pflugmacher

  5. IRD UMR BIOEMCO c/o Soils and Fertilisers Research Institute (SFRI), Dong Ngac, Tu Liem District, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Emma Rochelle-Newall

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  1. Thi Thuy Duong
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Duong, T.T., Le, T.P.Q., Dao, TS. et al. Seasonal variation of cyanobacteria and microcystins in the Nui Coc Reservoir, Northern Vietnam. J Appl Phycol 25, 1065–1075 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-012-9919-9

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