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Effect of nutrient concentration on growth and saxitoxin production of Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Cyanophyta) interacting with Monoraphidium contortum (Chlorophyceae)

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Abstract

Raphidiopsis raciborskii is the dominant species in several subtropical aquatic ecosystems. This study addressed the influence of nutrient concentration on cyanobacteria growth and saxitoxin synthesis. Therefore, we performed bioassays of interaction between the Chlorophyceae Monoraphidium contortum and R. raciborskii simulating oligotrophic and supereutrophic environments. Experiments were carried out in a climatized room for 15 days in pure cultures of each species (control) and mixed (interaction). The biomass growth (biovolume) and specific growth rates were measured. Saxitoxin was analyzed using the ELISA biochemical method. In the oligotrophic environment, the cell volume of R. raciborskii decreased. This species also showed senescence in interaction with M. contortum. However, there were no statistical differences in the saxitoxin synthesis in both conditions. In the supereutrophic environment, the growth of R. raciborskii and saxitoxin production was similar in both the control and interaction conditions. However, M. contortum growth decreased in interaction with the cyanobacteria. The increase in trophic status from oligo- to supereutrophic contributes to the growth of M. contortum in subtropical aquatic ecosystems, but the decrease in the area/volume ratio of cyanobacteria and the saxitoxin synthesis is an evident survival strategy in oligotrophic environments.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the thematic project team from Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos da Universidade de São Paulo (EESC-USP), Universidade Federal de São Carlos-Campus Sorocaba (UFSCar Sorocaba), Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), and Universidade Paulista Campus Sorocaba (Unesp Sorocaba).

Funding

We would like to thank the Conselho de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) (process 2008/55636-9) for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotoxicological laboratory of continental water and effluents, Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, Bairro Parque Arnold Schimidt, São Carlos, SP, CEP: 13566-590, Brazil

    Sarah Regina Vargas, Paulo Vagner dos Santos & Maria do Carmo Calijuri

  2. Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, Unidade Acadêmica de Passos, Avenida Juca Stockler, 1130, Bairro Belo Horizonte, Passos, MG, CEP: 37902-407, Brazil

    Flavia Bottino

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  1. Sarah Regina Vargas
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  2. Paulo Vagner dos Santos
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Correspondence to Sarah Regina Vargas.

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Vargas, S.R., dos Santos, P.V., Bottino, F. et al. Effect of nutrient concentration on growth and saxitoxin production of Raphidiopsis raciborskii (Cyanophyta) interacting with Monoraphidium contortum (Chlorophyceae). J Appl Phycol 32, 421–430 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-019-01972-w

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