Hydrobiologia

, Volume 548, Issue 1, pp 117–126 | Cite as

Impacts of a Toxic Microcystis Bloom on the Macroinvertebrate Fauna of Lake Elphinstone, Central Queensland, Australia

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Abstract

The biological, physical and chemical properties of Lake Elphinstone were studied during a dense, toxic cyanoprokaryote bloom dominated by Microcystis. Decreases in total abundance and richness in macroinvertebrate communities coincided with increases in Microcystis toxicity. Water quality was characterized by high light attenuation values caused by abiogenic turbidity and shading and absorbance from thick algal scums. The study highlights the potential for multidimensional environmental impacts associated with toxic cyanoprokaryote blooms, and the consequent implications for the management of shallow, inland and tropical lakes that are susceptible to toxic blooms.

Keywords

cyanoprokaryotes macroinvertebrates Microsystis shallow lakes 
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Copyright information

© Springer 2005

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre for Environmental ManagementCentral Queensland UniversityRockhamptonAustralia

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