冬季太湖表层底泥产毒蓝藻群落结构和种群丰度

应用荧光定量PCR对冬季太湖不同湖区底泥表面有毒微囊藻和总微囊藻种群丰度进行调查,同时基于PCR-DGGE技术对底泥中有毒微囊藻群落结构进行分析。结果表明:微囊藻在太湖底泥表面分布广泛,所有采样点都检测到有毒微囊藻存在,且不同湖区有毒微囊藻和总微囊藻种群丰度存在显著差异,有毒微囊藻和微囊藻基因型丰度范围分别为1.23×10⁴-3.75×10⁶拷贝数/g干重和2.56×10⁴-1.07×10⁷ 拷贝数/g干重,有毒微囊藻与微囊种群丰度的比例为4.8％-35.2％;DGGE指纹图谱显示,冬季太湖不同湖区表层底泥中有毒微囊藻群落结构相似性较高,相似性系数为70.2％-96.0％。虽然不同湖区基因型组成存在差异,但所有样品中占优势的基因型是一致的。同时发现,优势基因型所占的比例与样品的香农多样性指数呈负相关。序列分析表明,mcyA序列长度为291bp,序列相似性超过97％。综合定量PCR结果和底泥中叶绿素a和藻蓝素浓度的测定结果,可以得出2010年冬季太湖蓝藻越冬主要集中在梅梁湾、竺山湾、贡湖湾和湖心。通过建立荧光定量PCR分析方法,为研究湖泊底泥中蓝藻种群丰度动态变化奠定了基础。     

太湖大型底栖动物群落结构及多样性

为揭示现阶段太湖大型底栖动物群落现状及其对生态环境变化的响应, 于2007年2月至2008年11月对太湖大型底栖动物进行为期两周年的季度调查。30个采样点共记录底栖动物3门7纲19科40种, 底栖动物平均密度和生物量空间差异较大, 平均密度高值出现在梅梁湾、竺山湾及河口, 主要为寡毛纲颤蚓类; 平均生物量高值出现在贡湖湾、西湖区、东太湖和东部湖湾, 主要为软体动物。霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)、中华河蚓(Rhyacodrilus sinicus)、河蚬(Corbicula fluminea)、铜锈环棱螺(Bellamya aeruginosa)、中国长足摇蚊(Tanypus chinensis)和钩虾属一种(Gammarus sp.)是现阶段太湖大型底栖动物的优势种。聚类分析将30个采样点分成3组, 相似性分析检验表明各聚类组大型底栖动物群落具有显著差异(P<0.05)。多样性分析结果表明, 东太湖和东部湖湾物种多样性、丰富度和均匀度最高, 优势种为腹足纲螺类; 梅梁湾、竺山湾及河口多样性最低、密度最高, 霍甫水丝蚓和中华河蚓在该区占据绝对优势; 贡湖湾、湖心和西湖区多样性处于中等水平, 其优势种为河蚬。研究结果表明营养水平、底质类型以及水生植被的分布是决定太湖大型底栖动物群落结构及多样性的关键因子。     

入侵地加拿大一枝黄花根际和非根际土壤微生物群落结构及多样性

[目的] 探明严重入侵地加拿大一枝黄花根际和非根际土壤微生物群落结构。[方法] 采集长沙县黄花镇郭公渡5处严重入侵地加拿大一枝黄花根际和非根际土壤,应用Illumina高通量测序技术研究加拿大一枝黄花根际和非根际土壤微生物群落结构及多样性。[结果] 加拿大一枝黄花根际土壤有机质含量显著高于非根际土壤,二者间含水量差异不显著。在微生物群落多样性和丰度上,根际土壤细菌的Shannon指数和Simpson指数均大于非根际土壤,Chao1指数和ACE指数均小于非根际土壤,而根际土壤真菌的Shannon指数和Simpson指数均小于非根际土壤,Chao1指数和ACE指数均大于非根际土壤。在门水平上,酸杆菌门Acidobacteriota和变形菌门Proteobacteria的细菌总相对丰度在根际和非根际土壤样品中占比分别为42.92%和34.23%。子囊菌门Ascomycota的真菌相对丰度在根际土壤和非根际土壤样品中占比分别为58.6%和57.3%。在属水平上,根际土壤细菌中太阳念珠菌属Candidatus Solibacter、Ellin6067、伯克氏菌属Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia和慢生根瘤菌属Bradyrhizobium的相对丰度明显高于非根际土壤,而不动杆菌属Acinetobacter的相对丰度显著低于非根际土壤。根际土壤真菌中的小画线壳属Monographella、鬼笔属Phallus、被孢霉属Mortierella、镰刀菌属Fusarium、斜盖伞属Clitopilus的相对丰度均明显高于非根际土壤,而Sistotrema、unidentified_Ascomycota_sp、unidentified_Paraglomerales_sp、茶渍属Lecanora的相对丰度明显低于非根际土壤。[结论] 加拿大一枝黄花的入侵改变了根际微生物群落结构及组成,使之与非根际存在一定的差异,为加拿大一枝黄花成功入侵的机理研究提供理论支撑。     

不同季节冬水田紫色土细菌群落的垂直分布规律

【背景】土壤细菌对环境变化非常敏感,是土壤环境质量检测的重要指标。【目的】为研究不同季节冬水田紫色土细菌的垂直分布规律,揭示土壤细菌群落结构和物种多样性与土壤环境因子的相互关系。【方法】以冬水田紫色土为研究对象,分别于2020年8月(夏季)和2021年 1月(冬季)采集不同深度土壤样品,对土壤细菌16S rRNA基因进行Illumina MiSeq高通量测序,分析在不同季节细菌群落组成和多样性的垂直分布规律。【结果】冬水田紫色土细菌ACE指数、Chao1指数和Shannon指数均呈现出夏季高于冬季,并且随土层深度增加呈现降低的趋势。冬水田紫色土优势菌门为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)和浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes),优势菌属为Desulfobacca、Haliangium、Anaeromyxobacter、Candidatus_Omnitrophus和Defluviicoccus。Chloroflexi和Actinobacteria在夏季相对丰度较高,Proteobacteria和Nitrospirae在冬季相对丰度较高;Anaeromyxobacter和Candidatus_Omnitrophus在夏季相对丰度较高,Desulfobacca、Haliangium和Defluviicoccus在冬季相对丰度较高。冗余分析(redundancy analysis,RDA)和环境因子热图分析结果均表明,总氮(total nitrogen,TN)、土壤有机质(soil organic matter,SOM)和土壤氧化还原电位(soil redox potential,Eh)是显著影响紫色水稻土细菌群落的主要因子。【结论】本研究丰富了对冬水田紫色水稻土细菌群落组成和多样性的认识,证实了不同季节冬水田紫色土细菌群落组成和多样性存在差异。     

东太湖鱼类群落结构特征及其与环境因子的关系

基于2019年4月、7月和10月的调查数据,用多元分析方法研究了围网拆除后东太湖鱼类群落结构的变化,及其与主要环境因子的关系。共调查到鱼类4目10科31属39种,其中鲤形目鱼类占69.23%。按不同生态类型东太湖鱼类主要为定居性鱼类、中上层鱼类以及肉食性和杂食性鱼类。优势种为鲫（Carassius auratus）、大鳍鱊（Acheilognathus macropterus）和（Hemiculter leucisculus）等。鱼类的种类数、渔获量、丰富度指数和多样性指数在监测月份间均差异显著（P＜0.05）,均为4月 > 7月 > 10月。鱼类个体呈现小型化,鱼类物种多样性处在一般水平。等级聚类分析（Cluster）结果表明,除10月份的1号点和3号点外,各样方间的相似度在46.75%以上。单因子相似性分析（ANOSIM）和相似性百分比分析（SIMPER）也表明,4月和10月的鱼类群落物种组成差异显著,平均相异性为59.41%。丰度/生物量曲线（ABC）分析表明,东太湖鱼类群落结构处于中度干扰状态。冗余分析（RDA）表明,总磷对主要鱼类变化的解释量为21.0%,是重要的解释因子（蒙特卡罗检验P＝0.036）。而总磷、pH、溶解氧等是目前影响东太湖鱼类群落的主要环境因子。     

连作花魔芋软腐病株与健株根域丛枝菌根真菌群落多样性

【目的】解析不同连作年限花魔芋软腐病株、健株根域的丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)群落多样性。【方法】使用AMF 18S SSU rRNA基因特异引物AMV4.5NF/AMDGR对正茬及连作2年和3年的软腐病株、健株魔芋根系和根际土壤DNA扩增建库,通过高通量测序和生物信息学分析探究魔芋软腐病与其根域AMF群落多样性的关系。【结果】魔芋根系具有明显的AMF菌丝、泡囊和丛枝等结构。在相同连作年限条件下,健株根系AMF总侵染率、侵染强度和孢子密度均显著高于病株(P<0.05);在不同连作年限条件下,病株根系AMF总侵染率和侵染强度随连作年限延长而降低。从所有样品中共鉴定到9属53种AMF,其中有49个已知种和4个新种。球囊霉属(Glomus)和类球囊霉属(Claroideoglomus)是AMF群落的优势属,其AMF种分别占总AMF种数的41.5%和26.4%;丰度最高的Paraglomus sp.VTX00308是所有样品的共有种。连作、软腐病及二者的交互作用显著影响根系AMF群落的Shannon指数和Simpson指数及根际土壤AMF的Chao1指数(P<0.05)。通过丰度差异分析发现6个在连作软腐病发生后丰度差异显著的AMF种(P<0.05);NMDS分析表明,不同连作年限的魔芋软腐病株与健株之间的根域AMF菌种组成、相对丰度和群落结构存在差异。相关性分析表明,软腐病发病率和病情指数与魔芋根系和根际土壤AMF的Shannon指数、根系AMF的Chao1和Simpson指数以及AMF总侵染率、侵染强度和孢子密度极显著负相关(P<0.01)。【结论】比对健株,连作魔芋软腐病株根际土壤AMF孢子密度以及根系AMF侵染率、种数和多样性均降低,其群落结构显著改变。     

甘肃白银铜矿矿坑土壤细菌和古菌的多样性及坡度分布特征

【背景】甘肃白银铜矿作为西部地区的重要矿区，探究其细菌和古菌多样性及坡度分布特征对明确矿区微生物多样性分布具有关键意义。【目的】通过分析白银铜矿矿坑不同坡度的土壤细菌群落多样性和古菌群落多样性，探究不同坡度土壤样品细菌及古菌多样性与理化性质之间的关系。【方法】以不同坡度的白银铜矿土样为材料，采用Illumina HiSeq测序技术，分析样品的细菌多样性和古菌多样性。【结果】α和β多样性分析表明，ACE、Chao1、Shannon和Simpson等多样性指数在样品间存在显著差异。白银铜矿矿坑土壤的细菌排名前十的纲是Gammaproteobacteria、Oxyphotobacteria、Alphaproteobacteria、Bacteroidia、Actinobacteria、Clostridia、Nitrospira、Bacilli、Mollicutes和Acidimicrobiia，相对丰度最高的是Gammaproteobacteria。在纲水平上，白银铜矿的古菌由Thermoplasmata、Nitrososphaeria、Methanomicrobia、Halobacteria、Methanobacteria、Group_1.1c和Bathyarchaeia组成，相对丰度最高的是Thermoplasmata。冗余分析(redundancy analysis,RDA)得出，pH和速效磷是影响土壤多样性的最重要因素。【结论】白银铜矿为强酸性铜矿，其土壤铜离子含量最高。从坡顶到坡底，pH呈现先降低再升高的趋势(2.18-4.75)，铜离子(20-150mg/kg)和总铁(2.5-50mg/kg)呈现先升高后降低的趋势，铵态氮(3.61-44.90mg/kg)、速效磷(0-56.79mg/kg)和速效钾(9.07-35.65mg/kg)含量低且呈现波动趋势，硫化物(1mg/kg)无明显变化。白银铜矿矿坑土壤细菌相对丰度最高的属为Acidithiobacillus，古菌相对丰度较高的属为uncultured_bacterium_f_Ferroplasmaceae和uncultured_bacterium_f_Nitrososphaeraceae。其中，细菌多样性受到pH驱动，古菌多样性受到速效磷的驱动。本研究有助于我们进一步了解白银铜矿土壤微生物群落的变化。     

鄱阳湖流域锦江水体污染胁迫下浮游细菌群落结构及交互作用

【目的】为了探索河流水体污染胁迫对浮游细菌群落的影响。【方法】本研究使用主成分分析将水体污染胁迫分为高、中、低3级,基于高通量测序技术分析了鄱阳湖流域锦江干流浮游细菌群落的多样性、组成以及交互作用。【结果】锦江污染胁迫下的浮游细菌群落优势菌群包括假单胞菌门(Pseudomonadota,13.53%–45.83%)、放线菌门(Actinobacteriota,17.05%–40.50%)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidota,5.79%–31.56%)、蓝藻菌门(Cyanobacteria,0.41%–59.31%)和芽孢杆菌门(Bacillota,0.11%–4.81%)。其中Bacillota在污染胁迫等级下显著差异(P=0.03)。浮游细菌群落组成在不同水体污染胁迫等级下存在显著差异(P=0.046)。群落丰富度Chao1与ACE指数在低污染胁迫地区显著高于中污染胁迫地区(P=0.024和0.037),Shannon多样性指数差异不显著。共生网络拓扑特征表明,随着水体污染胁迫减小,细菌共生网络的复杂性与稳定性增强,浮游细菌群落之间的交互作用增强。【结论】污染胁迫显著改变了水体细菌群落结构与交互作用。以上研究有助于从微生物角度为水体污染的检测、监测和控制提供生态学参考。     

青海不同区域农田作物土壤细菌多样性及群落结构分析

【目的】探讨青海省农田土壤细菌多样性及群落结构组成。【方法】采用高通量测序技术分析都兰县、互助县、共和县和大通县种植小麦、油菜、青稞土壤细菌群落结构组成及多样性差异,并解析其与土壤理化特性的关系。【结果】4个地区的土壤pH、水分、有机质、Chao1指数、Shannon指数、线性判别分析效应大小(linear discriminant analysis effect size, LEfSe)组间差异这些指标中部分指标存在极显著差异性(P<0.01),而3种作物的这些指标无显著差异(P>0.05)。主成分分析(principal component analysis, PCA)显示,不同区域细菌群落组成差异性较大,3种作物农田土壤细菌群落、物种组成相似度较高。4个地区共有3 127个可操作性分类单元(operational taxonomic units, OTUs),3种作物农田土壤细菌共有OTUs为3 694个;细菌物种隶属于36门93纲192目276科450属423种;4个地区或3种作物土壤具有相似的优势门、属、种,但相对丰度不同。水分、pH、有机质与Chao1、Shannon存在显著相关性,pH、有机质与未分类种、unclassified RB41、unclassified Sphingomonas具有显著正相关或负相关。Chao1、Shannon与unclassified Sphingomonas显著负相关,与unclassified RB41、unclassified Vicinamibacteraceae显著正相关。【结论】区域差异对土壤的理化性质、细菌群落结构和多样性具有显著影响,相较于作物而言其影响更加明显。     

黑曲霉菌剂不同处理对西瓜根际细菌群落及土壤理化性质的影响

【背景】针对我国设施栽培西瓜土传病害发生严重、土壤理化性质劣变等问题,探究微生物菌剂对西瓜根际土壤微生物群落调控及土壤营养改良的作用。【目的】研究黑曲霉菌剂不同处理方式对设施栽培西瓜根际细菌多样性、群落结构及土壤理化性质的影响。【方法】通过高通量测序分析黑曲霉菌剂不同处理对西瓜根际土壤细菌多样性和群落结构的影响;采用分析化学方法测定西瓜根际土壤理化性质并解析驱动西瓜根际细菌群落动态变化的主要理化因素。【结果】黑曲霉菌剂(Y)、氨基寡糖素水剂(A)及黑曲霉菌剂与氨基寡糖素水剂配施(YA)处理,细菌α多样性指数如Chao1、Ace和Shannon等较对照均有所增加;不同处理西瓜根际优势细菌在门水平包括变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteriota)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteriota)等,其中Proteobacteria相对丰度最高,依次为A (28.26%)>Y (26.74%)>YA (22.61%);黑曲霉菌剂处理西瓜根际土壤芽单胞菌科(Gemmatimonadaceae)和类诺卡氏菌科(Nocardioidaceae)相对丰度较对照明显提高到4.06%和2.43%,氨基寡糖素水剂处理中根际土壤假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)丰度显著提高(P<0.05),不同处理组微枝形杆菌属(Microvirga)相对丰度较对照均有所提高;黑曲霉菌剂单独或与氨基寡糖素水剂配施处理,西瓜根际土壤全氮、全磷及速效磷含量明显提高;冗余分析(redundancy analysis, RDA)表明,土壤pH、全氮、速效磷、速效钾与西瓜根际细菌群落结构具有显著相关性(P<0.05);Spearman相关性分析表明,根际假单胞菌科相对丰度与土壤全氮、全磷、速效磷、速效钾呈显著或极显著正相关。【结论】黑曲霉菌剂在设施栽培西瓜种植中单独或与氨基寡糖素水剂配施处理,具有提高西瓜根际土壤细菌多样性、增加有益菌群相对丰度、改良土壤理化性质从而提高土壤肥力的作用,该结果为黑曲霉菌剂产品开发及在设施栽培西瓜种植中合理应用提供了科学依据。     

Dominant genera of cyanobacteria in Lake Taihu and their relationships with environmental factors

Cyanobacterial blooms in freshwaters have become one of the most widespread of environmental problems and threaten water resources worldwide. Previous studies on cyanobacteria in Lake Taihu often collected samples from one site (like Meiliang Bay or Zhushan Bay) and focused on the variation in patterns or abundance of Microcystis during the blooming season. However, the distribution of cyanobacteria in Lake Taihu shows differing pattern in various seasons. In this study, water samples were collected monthly for one year at five sites in Lake Taihu with different trophic status and a physicochemical analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were conducted. DGGE fingerprint analysis showed that Microcystis (7/35 bands) and Synechococcus (12/35 bands) were the two most dominant genera present during the study period at all five sites. Cyanobium (3/35 bands) was the third most common genus which has seldom been previously reported in Lake Taihu. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that the cyanobacterial community structure was significantly correlated with NO₃^--N, COD_Mn, and NH₄⁺-N in the winter and spring, whereas it was correlated with water temperature in the summer and autumn. Limiting the nutrient input (especially of N and C loading) in Lake Taihu would be a key factor in controlling the growth of different genera of cyanobacteria.     

太湖西北湖区2003-2012年间氮磷浓度及浮游植物主要类群变化趋势分析

基于2003-2012年太湖竺山湖和西部沿岸区水体理化指标与浮游植物丰度的逐月监测数据,分析了两个湖区氮磷营养盐状态和浮游植物丰度以及浮游植物主要类群的年际变化趋势及季节变化特征,探讨了浮游植物群落变化与水温及营养盐指标间的关系。结果表明：10年间两个湖区氮磷营养盐浓度总体呈下降趋势,以竺山湖TN、NH₃-N浓度和西部沿岸区NO₃-N浓度下降最为显著;浮游植物丰度总体呈上升趋势,蓝藻在群落结构中日益占据绝对优势;季节变化上,氮营养盐浓度表现为春冬季节高于夏秋季节,TP浓度和浮游植物丰度呈相反的变化趋势。Pearson相关分析显示,水温、NH₃-N浓度和TN/TP是影响蓝藻丰度及其在浮游植物群落中所占比例的主要因素。在温度和营养盐结构的共同作用下,10年间两个湖区蓝藻水华暴发时间逐渐提前,而消退时间逐渐滞后,水华持续时间逐年上升。在全球变暖背景下,太湖水华治理需执行更加严格的氮磷限制阈值,且在重污染的西北湖区控磷依然是关键。     

Diversity and dynamics of microcystin—Producing cyanobacteria in China's third largest lake, Lake Taihu

Microcystins (MC), the most prevalent group of harmful cyanobacterial hepatotoxins, are primarily produced by strains of cyanobacteria in Microcystis, Anabaena and Planktothrix. Lake Taihu, which is the third largest freshwater lake in China, is a hypertrophic shallow lake in eastern China that has experienced lake-wide cyanobacterial blooms annually during the last few decades. In this study, PCR-DGGE was used to evaluate the diversity of potential MC-producing cyanobacteria and real-time PCR was used to analyze the dynamics of this population based on the presence of the mcy gene in samples collected during a year long study. The results revealed that all MC-producing genotypes detected belonged to the genus Microcystis. In addition, the MC-producing genotype communities were more diverse during the bloom season than the non-bloom season, and the diversity in the late bloom period was lower than the diversity in the early bloom period. Furthermore, the abundance of MC-producing genotypes increased dramatically during the bloom development period, reaching its peak in late summer (September). The results also suggested that the highest mcy gene concentration lagged behind the highest MC concentration, and the potential MC-producing cyanobacterial community shift lagged behind the development of blooms.     

Microcystis Genotype Succession and Related Environmental Factors in Lake Taihu during Cyanobacterial Blooms

From spring to autumn, heavy Microcystis blooms always occur in Lake Taihu, although environmental conditions vary markedly. We speculated that Microcystis genotype succession could play an important role in adaptation to environmental changes and long-term maintenance of the high Microcystis biomass. In this study, we investigated Microcystis genotype succession pattern and the related environmental variables in Lake Taihu during cyanobacterial blooms. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction -amplified the genus-specific cpcBA and mcyJ gene fragments was used to monitor the variations of Microcystis genotype and potential microcystin (MC)-producing Microcystis genotype compositions during blooms biweekly in three sites (Meiliang Bay, lake center, and Gonghu Bay) and CANOCO 4.5 for Windows were used for the multivariate statistical analysis of their relationships to environmental variables. DGGE patterns indicated that the number of dominant cpcBA genotype per sample increased from spring to autumn. Principal component analysis ordination plots of DGGE profiles showed clear temporal distribution pattern, but not spatial distribution pattern based on both cpcBA and mcyJ genotype compositions. These results indicated there were relatively gradual successions of Microcystis cpcBA and mcyJ genotype compositions in each site, and no distinct spatial difference among the three sites. Redundancy analyses of the gel patterns showed that, in all the three sites, three environmental factors (nitrate, pH, and chemical oxygen demand) were correlated significantly to successions of both cpcBA and mcyJ genotypes except for mcyJ genotype in the lake center. Spearman’s correlations indicated that the three environmental variables were also strongly correlated with chl a and MC concentrations. These results suggested that the environmental factors affecting succession of Microcystis community composition might also influence the growth of Microcystis and MC production.     

Estimating spatial variation in the abundance of potential microcystin-producing Microcystis spp. using real-time PCR during summer bloom in Lake Taihu

Lake Taihu, which is the third largest freshwater lakes in China, is a hypertrophic shallow lake in eastern China that has experienced lake-wide cyanobacterial blooms annually during the last few decades. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR assays targeting on phycocyanin intergenic spacer (PC-IGS) and a microcystin synthetase gene mcyD were established, respectively. Water samples collected from eight sampling sites (including Zhushan Bay (N5), Meiliang Bay (N2), Gonghu Bay (N4), West lake areas (W2 and W4), south-middle lake areas (S2, S4 and S5)) in August of 2009 and 2010 were analyzed using real time PCR for the distribution and abundance of toxic and total Microcystis populations. The results showed that Microcystis exists as a mixed population of potential toxic and non-toxic genotypes, and there was significant spatial changes in the abundance of potential toxic Microcystis on the basis of quantification by quantitative real-time PCR analysis: the abundance of toxic Microcystis population in 2009 and 2010 varied from 4.08 × 10⁴ to 8.28 × 10⁶ copies mL^?1, from 4.45 × 10⁵ to 5.22 × 10⁷ copies mL^?1, respectively. Meanwhile the ratio of the mcyD subpopulation to the total Microcystis varied considerably, from 5.7% to 41.1% in 2009 and from 10.3% to 65.8% in 2010 in all sampling sites, and the value is high in Zhushan Bay and Meiliang Bay with the high level of eutrophication. Correlation analysis showed the abundance of toxic and total Microcystis being strongly related (P < 0.01). However, there is different effects of environmental factors on the abundance of toxic and non-toxic Microcystis populations. The abundance of toxic and total Microcystis populations were positively correlated with chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration (P < 0.01) suggesting that Microcystis is dominated genera of cyanobacterial bloom in Lake Taihu. It was also found that the abundance of toxic Microcystis and the proportion of toxic subpopulation to the total Microcystis were positively correlated with total phosphorus and orthophosphate concentrations (P < 0.01), whereas there was no significant correlation with total nitrogen and nitrate concentration (P > 0.05). All data suggest that phosphorus concentration is a critical factor for determining the abundance of toxic Microcystis population.     

Impacts of two biomanipulation fishes stocked in a large pen on the plankton abundance and water quality during a period of phytoplankton seasonal succession

Silver and bighead carp were stocked in a large pen to control the nuisance cyanobacterial blooms in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu. Plankton abundance and water quality were investigated about once a week from 9 May to 7 July in 2005. Biomass of both total crustacean zooplankton and cladocerans was significantly suppressed by the predation of pen-cultured fishes. There was a significant negative correlation between the N:P weight ratio and phytoplankton biomass. The size-selective predation by the two carps had no effect on the biomass of green alga Ulothrix sp. It may be attributed to the low fish stocking density (less than 40 g m⁻³) before June. When Microcystis dominated in the water of fish pen, the pen-cultured carps effectively suppressed the biomass of Microcystis, as indicated by the significant decline of chlorophyll a in the >38 μm fractions of the fish pen. Based on the results of our experiment and previous other studies, we conclude that silver and bighead carp are two efficient biomanipulation tools to control cyanobacterial (Microcystis) blooms in the tropical/subtropical eutrophic waters. Moreover, we should maintain an enough stocking density for an effective control of phytoplankton biomass.     

The involvement of α-proteobacteria Phenylobacterium in maintaining the dominance of toxic Microcystis blooms in Lake Taihu,China

Lake Taihu in China has suffered serious harmful cyanobacterial blooms for decades. The algal blooms threaten the ecological sustainability, drinking water safety, and human health. Although the roles of abiotic factors (such as water temperature and nutrient loading) in promoting Microcystis blooms have been well studied, the importance of biotic factors (e.g. bacterial community) in promoting and meditating Microcystis blooms remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the ecological dynamics of bacterial community, the ratio of toxic Microcystis, as well as microcystin in Lake Taihu. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the bacteria community compositions (BCCs) clustered into three groups, the partitioning of which corresponded to that of groups according to the toxic profiles (the ratio of toxic Microcystis to total Microcystis, and the microcystin concentrations) of the samples. Further Spearman's correlation network showed that the α-proteobacteria Phenylobacterium strongly positively correlated with the toxic profiles. Subsequent laboratory chemostats experiments demonstrated that three Phenylobacterium strains promoted the dominance of the toxic Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 when co-culturing with the non-toxic PCC7806 mcyB⁻ mutant. Taken together, our data suggested that the α-proteobacteria Phenylobacterium may play a vital role in the maintenance of toxic Microcystis dominance in Lake Taihu.     

Targeted deep sequencing reveals high diversity and variable dominance of bloom-forming cyanobacteria in eutrophic lakes

Cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic lakes are severe environmental problems worldwide. To characterize the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of cyanobacterial blooms, a high-throughput method is necessary for the specific detection of cyanobacteria. In this study, the cyanobacterial composition of three eutrophic waters in China (Taihu Lake, Dongqian Lake, and Dongzhen Reservoir) was determined by pyrosequencing the cpcBA intergenic spacer (cpcBA-IGS) of cyanobacteria. A total of 2585 OTUs were obtained from the normalized cpcBA-IGS sequence dataset at a distance of 0.05. The 238 most abundant OTUs contained 92% of the total sequences and were classified into six cyanobacterial groups. The water samples of Taihu Lake were dominated by Microcystis, mixed Nostocales species, Synechococcus, and unclassified cyanobacteria. Besides, all the samples from Taihu Lake were clustered together in the dendrogram based on shared abundant OTUs. The cyanobacterial diversity in Dongqian Lake was dramatically decreased after sediment dredging and Synechococcus became exclusively dominant in this lake. The genus Synechococcus was also dominant in the surface water of Dongzhen Reservoir, while phylogenetically diverse cyanobacteria coexisted at a depth of 10 m in this reservoir. In summary, targeted deep sequencing based on cpcBA-IGS revealed a large diversity of bloom-forming cyanobacteria in eutrophic lakes and spatiotemporal changes in the composition of cyanobacterial communities. The genus Microcystis was the most abundant bloom-forming cyanobacteria in eutrophic lakes, while Synechococcus could be exclusively dominant under appropriate environmental conditions.     

Growth response of Microcystis spp. to iron enrichment in different regions of Lake Taihu, China

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for algal growth and can be a potential limiting nutrient in aquatic system, especially regions that exhibits nitrogen (N) limitation. Using short-term nutrient addition bioassays, we evaluated the potential role that iron might play in modifying the response of Microcystis spp. to the anthropogenic phosphorus (P) and N enrichment in hypereutrophic Lake Taihu, the third largest freshwater lake in China. Three nutrient enrichment experiments involving additions of N (as NO₃ ^?) and P (as PO₄ ^3?) with and without Fe were conducted during 2009?C2010 in Meiliang Bay, a region characterized by summer cyanobacterial (Microcystis spp.) blooms, and East Taihu, a region largely free of cyanobacterial blooms and dominated by macrophytes. In Meiliang Bay, Fe addition alone did not significantly increase Microcystis spp. biomass. However, Fe addition occasionally increased the stimulatory effect of N and P additions on Microcystis spp., indicating that Fe was not a primary limiting nutrient for Microcystis spp. growth. Occasionally Fe was co-limiting with N and P in this region. In East Taihu, the addition of Fe alone significantly stimulated Microcystis spp. growth, while addition of N and/or P had no effects on growth, indicating that Fe was a primary limiting nutrient in East Taihu. The combined addition of Fe and N resulted in a growth response similar to Fe alone, while combined addition of Fe and P yielded greater biomass increases than the addition of Fe alone. This indicated that in East Taihu, N was not limiting and Fe and P supplies facilitated Microcystis spp. growth. These results reflect differential availabilities and limitations of N, P, and Fe in distinct regions of Taihu. The potential role of Fe in eutrophication dynamics of large, regionally complex lakes like Taihu requires further attention.     

Genetic analysis on Dolichospermum (Cyanobacteria; sensu Anabaena) populations based on the culture-independent clone libraries revealed the dominant genotypes existing in Lake Taihu,China

Lake Taihu has been severely eutrophied during the last few decades and dense cyanobacterial blooms have led to a decrease in phytoplankton diversity. The cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Taihu were mainly composed of unicellular colony-forming Microcystis and filamentous heterocystous Dolichospermum (formerly known as planktonic species of Anabaena). In contrast to that of Microcystis spp., the fundamental knowledge about diversity, abundance and dynamics of Dolichospermum populations in Lake Taihu is lacking. The present study was conducted to understand genotypic distribution, dynamics and succession of Dolichospermum populations in Lake Taihu. By sequencing 688 internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes of Dolichospermum, we were able to confirm that all the sequences were Dolichospermum rather than Aphanizomenon. 118 different genotypes were identified from the obtained sequences, and two genotypes (W-type and L-type) were found to dominate in the lake, representing 36.6% and 26.2% of the total sequences, respectively. These two dominant genotypes of Dolichospermum displayed the significant seasonal pattern. Stepwise regressions analysis revealed that water temperature was associated with the two dominant genotypes. The combined results implied the possible existence of ecotypes in bloom-forming cyanobacteria, probably triggered by water temperature in the lake.