Variability in a permanent cyanobacterial bloom: species-specific responses to environmental drivers.

Cyanobacterial blooms are characterized by intense growth of one or few species that will dominate the phytoplankton community for periods of few months to an entire year or more. However, even during persistent blooms, important seasonal changes among dominant species can be observed. Pampulha reservoir is a tropical eutrophic reservoir presenting permanent blooms. To identify the main species in this environment, a closer analysis performed by microscopy and 16S-rRNA DGGE revealed Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii as highly dominant throughout the year. The second most abundant group comprised species belonging to the Microcystis genus. They followed a well-defined seasonal pattern described by interesting species-specific ecological trends. During thermal stratification in the rainy/warmer season, C. raciborskii dominated in the water column, while Microcystis spp. were abundant at the end of the dry season, a period characterized by higher total phosphorus concentrations. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the two dominant taxa and their seasonal trends. The results showed that cyanobacteria major controlling factors were strongly species dependent, shifting from physical/climate related (stratification) to more chemical driven (nutrients/eutrophication). Identifying these drivers is therefore essential for the understanding of the bloom dynamics and the real risks associated with each species, and to eventually adopt the most appropriate and effective management strategies.

Efeito do herbicida glifosato sobre o crescimento e produção de metabólitos secundários em Microcystis aeruginosa e Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii / The effect of herbicide glyphosate on the growth and of secondary metabolites production in Microcystis aeruginosa and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii

ianobactérias, conhecidas por sua habilidade de sintetizar metabólitos com ação tóxica, podem se tornar dominantes em águas com altas concentrações de nitrogênio e fósforo. Embora a toxicidade do glifosato, o herbicida mais usado no mundo, em alguns organismos aquáticos seja conhecida, poucos estudos abordam o efeito desse composto sobre a produção de metabólitos secundários por cianobactérias. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes concentrações de glifosato (produto técnico) sobre o crescimento e produção de cianotoxinas e microgininas pelas cepas brasileiras Microcystis aeruginosa LTPNA 08 e Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii CENA 302. Na presença de 15 mg/L de glifosato, o crescimento e a produção de toxinas pela M. aeruginosa foram reduzidos e de microgininas significativamente aumentada. Já a C. raciborskii, quando exposta à 20 mg/L de glifosato teve seu crescimento e síntese de clorofila-a, carotenoides e saxitoxinas aumentados. Concentrações superiores a 20 e 30 mg/L impediram o crescimento celular das cepas LTPNA 08 e CENA 302, respectivamente. A análise de ácidos graxos mostrou perfis bastante distintos entre as cepas. Na cepa LTPNA 08, enquanto que na presença de 10 mg/L de glifosato ocorreu diminuição do teor do ácido linoleico, o ácido estearidônico foi aumentado. Nenhuma das concentrações testadas promoveu alteração sobre o perfil de ácidos graxos da cepa CENA 302. A toxicidade de 5 produtos formulados a base de glifosato foi comparada ao produto técnico em ambas as linhagens-teste. Observou-se uma resistência distinta entre as cepas e toxicidade também variável entre as formulações comerciais. Sendo assim, diante da elevada resistência das cianobactérias M. aeruginosa e C. raciborskii ao glifosato, e considerando-se a elevada interferência antrópica através das práticas agrícolas, pode-se inferir que o uso excessivo e frequente desse herbicida é capaz de estimular o crescimento e dominância desses organismos, podendo modificar a estrutura e funcionalidade de ecossistemas aquáticos

Cyanobacteria, known for their ability to synthesize toxic metabolites, can become dominant in water bodies with high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus. Although the toxicity of glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the world, in some aquatic organisms is well known, few studies address the effect of this compound on the production of secondary metabolites by cyanobacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different concentrations the herbicide glyphosate (technical grade) on growth and production of cyanotoxins and microginins by Brazilian strains of Microcystis aeruginosa LTPNA 08 and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii CENA 302. In the presence of 15 mg/L of glyphosate, growth and toxin production by M. aeruginosa were reduced and microginins cell quota significantly increased. The C. raciborskii strain, when exposed to 20 mg/L of glyphosate, had the growth, and chlorophyll-a, carotenoids and saxitoxins production increased. Concentrations above 20 and 30 mg/L prevented cell growth of LTPNA 08 and CENA 302 strains, respectively. Fatty acid analysis showed distinct profiles among the strains. When exposed to 10 mg/L of glyphosate, a decrease in the linoleic acid and increase in stearidonic acid content were observed in M. aeruginosa LTPNA 08 strain. None of the tested concentrations of glyphosate promoted change on the fatty acid profile of CENA 302 strain. The toxicity of 5 glyphosate formulated products was compared to technical product to both strains. There was a distinct resistance among strains and also a variable toxicity among formulated products. Thus, given the high glyphosate resistance of M. aeruginosa and C. raciborskii cyanobacteria, and considering the high anthropogenic interference through agri cultural practices, it can be inferred that excessive and frequent use of this herbicide is able to stimulate growth and dominance of these organisms, which may modify the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems

Toxicity phenotype does not correlate with phylogeny of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii strains.

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a species of freshwater, bloom-forming cyanobacterium. C. raciborskii produces toxins, including cylindrospermopsin (hepatotoxin) and saxitoxin (neurotoxin), although non toxin-producing strains are also observed. In spite of differences in toxicity, C. raciborskii strains comprise a monophyletic group, based upon 16S rRNA gene sequence identities (greater than 99%). We performed phylogenetic analyses; 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA gene internally transcribed spacer (ITS-1) sequence comparisons, and genomic DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), resolved by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), of strains of C. raciborskii, obtained mainly from the Australian phylogeographic cluster. Our results showed no correlation between toxic phenotype and phylogenetic association in the Australian strains. Analyses of the 16S rRNA gene and the respective ITS-1 sequences (long L, and short S) showed an independent evolution of each ribosomal operon. The genes putatively involved in the cylindrospermopsin biosynthetic pathway were present in one locus and only in the hepatotoxic strains, demonstrating a common genomic organization for these genes and the absence of mutated or inactivated biosynthetic genes in the non toxic strains. In summary, our results support the hypothesis that the genes involved in toxicity may have been transferred as an island by processes of gene lateral transfer, rather than convergent evolution.