Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Differences in vertical distribution of Microcystis morphospecies composition in a shallow hypertrophic lake (Lake Taihu, China)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cell density, morphospecies and colony size of Microcystis at different depths in Lake Taihu were investigated from spring to winter 2011 to identify differences in Microcystis morphospecies compositions at different depths and their causes. Microcystis ichthyoblabe, Microcystis wesenbergii and Microcystis aeruginosa successively dominated the water surface from June to October. However, the percentage of both M. wesenbergii and M. aeruginosa did not exceed 50 % in the mesosphere when M. wesenbergii and M. aeruginosa dominated the surface successively. M. ichthyoblabe dominated the water bottom from late spring to late autumn, while other Microcystis (including other Microcystis morphospecies and some small colonies that could not be identified) dominated the water bottom at other times. The colony size of other Microcystis showed little change during the study period and D50 (the colony size at which 50 % of the total mass of the particles was smaller than this size) was always smaller than 100 μm. D50 of M. ichthyoblabe was about 200 μm at most times, but reached 400 μm in early November. Colony size of M. wesenbergii and M. aeruginosa increased and then decreased, with the maximum D50 of 700 μm and 800 μm, respectively, occurring in October. Vertical distribution of cell density and colony sizes of different Microcystis morphospecies were also comparatively analyzed, and the results suggested that the Microcystis morphospecies composition varied with depth, with large Microcystis morphospecies dominating the water surface because of their large colony size.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahlgren G (1985) Growth of Microcystis wesenbergii in batch and chemostat cultures. Ver Int Verein Limnol 22:2813–2820

    Google Scholar 

  • de Figueiredo DR, Azeiteiro UM, Esteves SM, Gonçalves FJM, Pereira MJ (2004) Microcystin-producing blooms—a serious global public health issue. Ecotox Environ Safe 59:151–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Downing T, Sember C, Gehringer M, Leukes W (2005) Medium N: P ratios and specific growth rate comodulate microcystin and protein content in Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 and M. aeruginosa UV027. Microbial Ecol 49:468–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebina J, Tsutsui T, Shirai T (1983) Simultaneous determination of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in water using peroxodisulfate oxidation. Water Res 17:1721–1726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Zhu B, Wang T, Wang Y (2012) Seasonal change of non-point source pollution-induced bioavailable phosphorus loss: a case study of Southwestern China. J Hydrol 420:373–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Zhu B, He N, Yu G, Wang T, Chen W, Tian J (2014a) Phosphorus and carbon competitive sorption-desorption and associated non-point loss respond to natural rainfall events. J Hydrol 517:447–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Zhu B, Yu G, Chen W, He N, Wang T, Miao C (2014b) Coupled effects of biogeochemical and hydrological processes on C, N, and P export during extreme rainfall events in a purple soil watershed in southwestern China. J Hydrol 511:692–702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Imai H, Chang KH, Kusaba M, Nakano S (2009) Temperature-dependent dominance of Microcystis (Cyanophyceae) species: M. aeruginosa and M. wesenbergii. J Plankton Res 31:171–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia X, Shi D, Shi M, Li R, Song L, Fang H, Yu G, Li X, Du G (2011) Formation of cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Chaohu and the photosynthesis of dominant species hypothesis (in Chinese with English abstract). Acta Ecologica Sinica 31:2968–2977

    Google Scholar 

  • Joung SH, Kim CJ, Ahn CY, Jang KY, Boo SM, Oh HM (2006) Simple method for a cell count of the colonial cyanobacterium, Microcystis sp. J Microbiol 44:562–565

    Google Scholar 

  • Kromkamp J, Walsby AE (1990) A computer model of buoyancy and vertical migration in cyanobacteria. J Plankton Res 12:161–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurmayer R, Dittmann E, Fastner J, Chorus I (2002) Diversity of microcystin genes within a population of the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis spp. in lake Wannsee (Berlin, Germany). Microb Ecol 43:107–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li M, Zhu W, Gao L, Huang J, Li L (2013) Seasonal variations of morphospecies composition and colony size of Microcystis in a shallow hypertrophic lake (Lake Taihu, China). Fresen Environ Bull 22:3474–3483

    Google Scholar 

  • Li M, Zhu W, Sun Q (2014) Solubilisation of mucilage induces changes in Microcystis colonial morphology. New Zeal J Mar Fresh 48:38–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura T, Adachi Y, Suzuki M (1993) Flotation and sedimentation of a single Microcystis floc collected from surface bloom. Water Res 27:979–983

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otten TG, Paerl HW (2011) Phylogenetic inference of colony isolates comprising seasonal Microcystis blooms in Lake Taihu, China. Microb Ecol 62:907–918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozawa K, Fujioka H, Muranaka M, Yokoyama A, Katagami Y, Homma T, Ishikawa K, Tsujimura S, Kumagai M, Watanabe MF, Park H-D (2005) Spatial distribution and temporal variation of Microcystis species composition and microcystin concentration in Lake Biwa. Environ Toxicol 20:270–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paerl HW, Otten TG (2013) Harmful cyanobacterial blooms: causes, consequences, and controls. Microb Ecol 65:995–1010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park HD, Watanabe MF, Harada K, Suzuki M, Hayashi H, Okino T (1993) Seasonal variations of Microcystis species and toxic heptapeptide microcystins in Lake Suwa. Environ Toxicol Water Qual 8:425–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds CS, Jaworski G, Cmiech HA, Leedale GF (1981) On the annual cycle of the blue-green alga Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz. emend, Elenkin. Phil Trans R Soc B 293:419–477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takamura N, Watanabe M (1987) Seasonal changes in the biomass of four species of Microcystis in Lake Kasumigaura. Jpn J Limnol 48:S139–S144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace BB, Bailey MC, Hamilton DP (2000) Simulation of vertical position of buoyancy regulating Microcystis aeruginosa in a shallow eutrophic lake. Aquat Sci 62:320–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe M (1996) Isolation, cultivation and classification of bloom-forming Microcystis in Japan. In: Watanabe MF, Harada K, Carmichael WW, Fujiki H (eds) Toxic Microcystis. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 13–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe Y, Watanabe M, Watanabe M (1986) The distribution and relative abundance of bloom forming Microcystis species in several eutrophic waters. Jpn J Limnol 47:87–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe MF, Oishi S, Harada KI, Matsuura K, Kawai H, Suzuki M (1988) Toxins contained in Microcystis species of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Toxicon 26:1017–1025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu X, Kong F (2009) Effects of light and wind speed on the vertical distribution of Microcystis aeruginosa colonies of different sizes during a summer bloom. Int Rev Hydrobiol 94:258–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu T, Qin B, Zhu G, Luo L, Ding Y, Bian G (2013) Dynamics of cyanobacterial bloom formation during short-term hydrodynamic fluctuation in a large shallow, eutrophic, and wind-exposed Lake Taihu, China. Environ Sci Pollut R 20:8546–8556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xing W, Huang W, Li D, Liu Y (2007) Effects of iron on growth, pigment content, photosystem II efficiency, and siderophores production of Microcystis aeruginosa and Microcystis wesenbergii. Curr Microbiol 55:94–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto Y, Nakahara H (2009) Seasonal variations in the morphology of bloom-forming cyanobacteria in a eutrophic pond. Limnology 10:185–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto Y, Shiah FK, Chen YL (2011) Importance of large colony formation in bloom-forming cyanobacteria to dominate in eutrophic ponds. Ann Limnol Int J Lim 47:167–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye C, Xu Q, Kong H, Shen Z, Yan C (2007) Eutrophication conditions and ecological status in typical bays of Lake Taihu in China. Environ Monit Assess 135:217–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu G, Song L, Li R (2007) Taxonomic notes on water bloom forming Microcystis species (cyanophyta) from China - an example from samples of the Dianchi lake. J Syst Evol 45:727–741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yue T, Zhang D, Hu C (2014) Comparative studies on phosphate utilization of two bloom-forming Microcystis spp. (cyanobacteria) isolated from Lake Taihu (China). J Appl Phycol 26:333–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank two anonymous referees for carefully reviewing the manuscript and for their constructive comments which improved it substantially. We would like to thank the Taihu Laboratory for Lake Ecosystem Research (TLLER) for their assistance during field sampling. This study was funded by the National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China (2012CB719804), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK2011025) and the CRSRI Open Research Program (CKWV2014222/KY).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environment, Hohai University, No. 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing, 210098, People’s Republic of China

    Wei Zhu, Xiaoxuan Dai & Man Xiao

  2. College of Resources and Environment, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, 712100, People’s Republic of China

    Ming Li

  3. National Engineering Research Center of Water Resources Efficient Utilization and Engineering Safety, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, People’s Republic of China

    Wei Zhu

  4. Department of Water Environment Research, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan, 430010, People’s Republic of China

    Ming Li

Authors
  1. Wei Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ming Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiaoxuan Dai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Man Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ming Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhu, W., Li, M., Dai, X. et al. Differences in vertical distribution of Microcystis morphospecies composition in a shallow hypertrophic lake (Lake Taihu, China). Environ Earth Sci 73, 5721–5730 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3826-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3826-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation