Long-term trends and causal factors associated with Microcystis abundance and toxicity in San Francisco Estuary and implications for climate change impacts

The impacts of climate change on Microcystis blooms in San Francisco Estuary are uncertain because factors associated with the abundance and distribution of Microcystis blooms since their inception in 1999 are poorly understood. Discrete and continuous data collected between 2004 and 2008 were used to assess what factors controlled bloom initiation and persistence, if there was an impact of the bloom on mesozooplankton abundance and toxicity or dissolved organic carbon concentration, and how these might vary with climate change. Microcystis abundance was greater in dry years than wet years and both total microcystins concentration and the microcystins content of mesozooplankton tissue increased with abundance. The bloom began in the upstream portions of the estuary and spread farther west during dry years. Bloom initiation required water temperature above 19°C and surface irradiance in the visible range above 100 W m^?2. The bloom persisted during a wide range of water quality conditions but was closely correlated with low turbidity. The intensity of Microcystis blooms will likely increase with climate change due to increased water temperature and low streamflow during droughts. Elevated water temperature earlier in the spring could also extend the duration of Microcystis blooms by up to 3 months.     

Toxicity to Daphnia of a compound extracted from laboratory and natural Microcystis spp., and the role of microcystins

1. The microcystin content of a variety of Microcystis spp., from both laboratory strains and natural blooms, was analysed by HPLC. The microcystin content of laboratory strains ranged from 1.6 to 4.3μgmg^?1 dry weight. Yearly and seasonal variation was detected in an analysis of bloom material collected from Bautzen Reservoir over a 3-year period. The microcystin concentration in bloom material ranged from undetectable to 1.16 μg ml^?1 dry weight. 2. Toxicity of laboratory and natural Microcystis to Daphnia pulicaria was determined using an established LC₅₀ technique. Partially purified water extracts from different Microcystis samples exhibited a wide range of toxicity. The highest activity was found in natural Microcystis samples, with an LC₅₀ of 36 μgm^?1 dry weight of Microcystis, whereas one strain did not appear toxic at 1600 μg ml^?1. 3. No correlation was found between the concentrations of microcystins of different laboratory and natural Microcystis strains and the toxicity of extracts to Daphnia pulicaria from the same strains. Therefore, we discriminated between hepatotoxic microcystins and the compound(s) that is toxic to Daphnia, here termed DTC (Daphnia-toxic compound), which is independent of microcystins.     

A PCR‐BASED TEST TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL FOR MICROCYSTIN OCCURRENCE IN CHANNEL CATFISH PRODUCTION PONDS1,2

Microcystis aeruginosa is a common form of cyanobacteria (blue‐green algae) capable of forming toxic heptapeptides (microcystins) that can cause illness or death. Occasionally, blooms of cyanobacteria have caused toxic fish‐kills in catfish production ponds. We have developed a PCR test that will detect the presence of microcystin‐producing cyanobacteria. Microcystin producers are detected by the presence of the microcystin peptide synthetase B gene (an obligate enzyme in the microcystin pathway), which appears to be present only in toxin‐producing cyanobacteria. These PCR amplifications can be performed in multiplex using purified DNA from pond waters or by two‐stage amplification from native water samples. A synoptic survey of 476 channel catfish production ponds from four states in the southeastern United States revealed that 31% of the ponds have the genetic potential to produce microcystins by toxic algae.     

A Field Study to Investigate Environmental Factors that Could Effect Microcystin Synthesis of a Microcystis Population in the Bautzen Reservoir

Toxicity of Microcystis blooms to warm-blooded animals generated by microcystins has bew reported world wide. The ecological relevance of microcystin production for cyanobacteria remains unknown. The microcystin concentration in Microcystis blooms occurring in the Bautzen reservoir Was investigated. The microcystin content of samples were determined by HPLC and ranged from undetectabel to 14.7 μg mg⁻¹. Various chemical and physical parameters were monitored at the same time as Microcystis sampling, however, there was no correlation between these parameters and microcystin dynamics. The spatial distribution of microcystin in the Microcystis population was investigated once and showed no difference between samples taken at five stations. The microcystin concentration in ihc cell free water from the reservoir was below the detection threshold (< 1 μg L⁻¹). Size dependent Fractions of the Microcystis population analyzed for microcystin concentration correlated with colony sim. In the small fraction (>30 <66 μm) microcystin was not detected. In the medium fraction (> 6 h < 100μm) lower microcystin concentrations were detected than in large fraction (>100μm) in which the highest microcystin concentrations were found.     

A review of the global ecology,genomics, and biogeography of the toxic cyanobacterium,Microcystis spp.

This review summarizes the present state of knowledge regarding the toxic, bloom-forming cyanobacterium, Microcystis, with a specific focus on its geographic distribution, toxins, genomics, phylogeny, and ecology. A global analysis found documentation suggesting geographic expansion of Microcystis, with recorded blooms in at least 108 countries, 79 of which have also reported the hepatatoxin microcystin. The production of microcystins (originally “Fast-Death Factor”) by Microcystis and factors that control synthesis of this toxin are reviewed, as well as the putative ecophysiological roles of this metabolite. Molecular biological analyses have provided significant insight into the ecology and physiology of Microcystis, as well as revealed the highly dynamic, and potentially unstable, nature of its genome. A genetic sequence analysis of 27 Microcystis species, including 15 complete/draft genomes are presented. Using the strictest biological definition of what constitutes a bacterial species, these analyses indicate that all Microcystis species warrant placement into the same species complex since the average nucleotide identity values were above 95%, 16S rRNA nucleotide identity scores exceeded 99%, and DNA–DNA hybridization was consistently greater than 70%. The review further provides evidence from around the globe for the key role that both nitrogen and phosphorus play in controlling Microcystis bloom dynamics, and the effect of elevated temperature on bloom intensification. Finally, highlighted is the ability of Microcystis assemblages to minimize their mortality losses by resisting grazing by zooplankton and bivalves, as well as viral lysis, and discuss factors facilitating assemblage resilience.     

Competition for Light between Toxic and Nontoxic Strains of the Harmful Cyanobacterium Microcystis

The cyanobacterium Microcystis can produce microcystins, a family of toxins that are of major concern in water management. In several lakes, the average microcystin content per cell gradually declines from high levels at the onset of Microcystis blooms to low levels at the height of the bloom. Such seasonal dynamics might result from a succession of toxic to nontoxic strains. To investigate this hypothesis, we ran competition experiments with two toxic and two nontoxic Microcystis strains using light-limited chemostats. The population dynamics of these closely related strains were monitored by means of characteristic changes in light absorbance spectra and by PCR amplification of the rRNA internal transcribed spacer region in combination with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, which allowed identification and semiquantification of the competing strains. In all experiments, the toxic strains lost competition for light from nontoxic strains. As a consequence, the total microcystin concentrations in the competition experiments gradually declined. We did not find evidence for allelopathic interactions, as nontoxic strains became dominant even when toxic strains were given a major initial advantage. These findings show that, in our experiments, nontoxic strains of Microcystis were better competitors for light than toxic strains. The generality of this finding deserves further investigation with other Microcystis strains. The competitive replacement of toxic by nontoxic strains offers a plausible explanation for the gradual decrease in average toxicity per cell during the development of dense Microcystis blooms.     

FATE OF THE TOXIC CYCLIC HEPTAPEPTIDES,THE MICROCYSTINS,FROM BLOOMS OF MICROCYSTIS (CYANOBACTERIA) IN A HYPERTROPHIC LAKE1

The in situ fate of the toxic cyclic heptapeptides, the microcystins, produced by blooms of Microcystis was examined at two stations in a hypertrophic Japanese lake. Microcystins were detected in all samples of Microcystis with quantities varying seasonally and spatially (230–950 μg · g dry wt^?1 at St. 1 and 160–746 μg · g dry wt^?1 at St. 2) and composed of microcystin-LR, -RR, and-YR. Microcystin-RR was the dominant toxin in most samples. A large amount of microcystin (1.1 μg · L^?1) was detected in only one sample of filtered lake water. Accumulation of microcystin in zooplankton was indirectly estimated from a newly developed equation model. Large amounts of microcystin (75–1387 μg · g dry wt^?1) were accumulated in the zooplankton community, which consisted of two cladocerans, Bosmina fatalis Burckhardt and Diaphanosoma brachyurum Lieve, and a copepod, Cyclops vicinus Uljanin, that co-occurred with the toxic Microcystis blooms. The maximum percent of microcystin content in zooplankton to that in Microcystis was 202%. Among the three species of zooplankton, only B. fatalis seemed to be responsible for accumulation of the microcystins because C. vicinus appeared to avoid contact with Microcystis cells and D. brachyurum did not consume colonies of Microcystis. Microcystins may be transferred to higher trophic levels through B. fatalis.     

The influence of environmental conditions on the seasonal variation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microcystis</Emphasis> cell density and microcystins concentration in San Francisco Estuary

A bloom of the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa was sampled over the summer and fall in order to determine if the spatial and temporal patterns in cell density, chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration, total microcystins concentration, and percent microcystins composition varied with environmental conditions in San Francisco Estuary. It was hypothesized that the seasonal variation in Microcystis cell density and microcystin concentration was ecologically important because it could influence the transfer of toxic microcystins into the aquatic food web. Sampling for Microcystis cell density, chl a concentration, total microcystins concentration and a suite of environmental conditions was conducted biweekly at nine stations throughout the freshwater tidal and brackish water regions of the estuary between July and November 2004. Total microcystins in zooplankton and clam tissue was also sampled in August and October. Microcystis cell density, chl a concentration and total microcystins concentration varied by an order of magnitude and peaked during August and September when and α^B were high. Low streamflow and high water temperature were strongly correlated with the seasonal variation of Microcystis cell density, total microcystins concentration (cell)⁻¹ and total microcystins concentration (chl a)⁻¹ in canonical correlation analyses. Nutrient concentrations and ratios were of secondary importance in the analysis and may be of lesser importance to seasonal variation of the bloom in this nutrient rich estuary. The seasonal variation of Microcystis density and biomass was potentially important for the structure and function of the estuarine aquatic food web, because total microcystins concentration was high at the base of the food web in mesozooplankton, amphipod, clam, and worm tissue during the peak of the bloom. Handling editor: D. Hamilton     

Microcystins in natural blooms and laboratory cultured Microcystis aeruginosa from Laguna de Bay,Philippines

Laguna de Bay, the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines, experiences periodic blooms of the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa. Blooms of these cyanobacteria in 1996, 1998 and 1999 were sampled. HPLC and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were used to analyze for microcystins. A total of 16 structural variants of the toxin were isolated from the samples with microcystin LR (MC-LR) as the most abundant variant in the samples from 1996 and 1999 making up 77 to 85% of the total, respectively. MC-RR was the dominant variant in the 1998 bloom making up 38%. The samples from 1996 had the highest total toxin concentration (4049 microg g(-1)) followed by those from 1998 (1577 microg g(-1)) and 1999 (649 microg g(-1)). A strain of M. aeruginosa previously isolated from the lake was also cultured in the laboratory under different nitrogen concentrations (1, 3 and 6 mg L(-1)) and elevated phosphorus concentration (0.5 mg L(-1)) to determine the influence of these factors on toxin production. A total of 9 different structural variants of microcystin were isolated from the laboratory cultures with MC-LR consisting more than 75% of the total in all treatments. No significant differences in the total toxin concentration as well as the % distribution of the different variants among treatments were observed. However, the strain of M. aeruginosa cultured in the laboratory had from 3 to 20 times higher total microcystin than those harvested from the lake.     

Microcystin-Degrading Activity of an Indigenous Bacterial Strain Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila MC-LTH2 Isolated from Lake Taihu

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and microcystin-RR (MC-RR) produced by harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs) pose substantial threats to the ecosystem and public health due to their potential hepatotoxicity. Degradation of microcystins (MCs) by indigenous bacteria represents a promising method for removing MCs from fresh water without harming the aquatic environment, but only a few microcystin (MC)-degrading bacteria have been isolated and had their mechanisms reported. This study aimed to isolate indigenous bacteria from Lake Taihu, and investigate the capability and mechanism of MC degradation by these bacteria. During a Microcystis bloom, an indigenous MC-degrading bacterium designated MC-LTH2 was successfully isolated from Lake Taihu, and identified as Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila based on phylogenetic analysis. In the presence of MC-LR together with MC-RR, the strain MC-LTH2 was capable of totally degrading both simultaneously in 8 days, at rates of 3.0 mg/(L⋅d) and 5.6 mg/(L⋅d), respectively. The degradation rates of MCs were dependent on temperature, pH, and initial MC concentration. Adda (3-amino-9-methoxy-2, 6, 8-trimethyl-10-phenyldeca-4, 6-dienoic acid) was detected as an intermediate degradation product of MCs using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-TOF-MS). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila capable of degrading two MC analogues and other compounds containing Adda residue completely under various conditions, although the mlrA gene in the strain was not detected. These results indicate the Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila strain MC-LTH2 possesses a significant potential to be used in bioremediation of water bodies contaminated by MC-LR and MC-RR, and is potentially involved in the degradation of MCs during the disappearance of the HCBs in Lake Taihu.     

Microcystins derived from lysing Microcystis cells do not cause negative effects on crustacean zooplankton in Lake Taihu, China

Microcystins (MCs) have a toxic effect on crustacean zooplankton in the laboratory, but there is little or no unequivocal evidence in the literature of their lethal effects on crustacean zooplankton in the field. We used the natural microcystins extracted from Microcystis spp. to test if they could cause any negative effects on crustacean zooplankton. We conducted three experiments in enclosures with water from Lake Taihu, China, and microcystins derived by extraction from Microcystis spp. collected from the lake when the species was in bloom conditions. Initial concentrations of extracellular microcystins (EMCs = MC-RR + MC-LR + MC-YR) ranged from 9.7 to 44.9 μg/L in treatments with microcystin addition. Microcystin concentrations sharply decreased on second day in all the three experiments. EMCs at the end of the experiments varied from only 2.7 to 14.2 % of the levels at the start of the experiments. The dominant species of crustacean zooplankton in the lake were Bosmina longirotris, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, Mesocyclops spp., Limnoithona sinensis, Sinocalanus dorrii and Schmackeria inopinus. ANOVA analysis showed that the density and biomass of cladoceran and copepod did not significantly differ between treatments with microcystin addition and controls. Our results indicate that microcystins derived from lysing Microcystis do not cause any negative effects on crustacean zooplankton.     

Spatial and temporal diversity of microcystins and microcystin-producing genotypes in Oneida Lake, NY

Oneida Lake is a shallow, eutrophic lake with a well-established cyanobacterial population with reported toxic blooms containing hepatotoxic microcystins (MC). Peak bloom events from the summers of 2002 and 2003 were analyzed to determine the principal cyanobacterial genera containing microcystin synthetase (mcy) genes. Sequence analysis of a partial mcyA amplicon targeting Microcystis, Anabaena and Planktothrix sp. indicated that Microcystis sp. was the dominant mcy genotype. This Microcystis clade was split into two distinct sub-clades. Bloom events contained members of both sub-clades with the higher MC concentrations found when both sub-clades were present in near equal proportions. The proportion of Microcystis containing the mcyD gene ranged from 0 to 37% of the total Microcystis population as determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The total concentration of Microcystis containing mcyD genes was linearly related to the concentration of MCs (r² = 0.63). The relationship between mcy genotype and physiochemical variables was examined to determine the factor(s) controlling the periodicity in MC production in Oneida Lake. Multivariate statistical analyses, used to correlate the continuous-response variables, revealed a strong relationship between chlorophyll a, MCs and total Microcystis.     

Impacts of the 2014 severe drought on the Microcystis bloom in San Francisco Estuary

The increased frequency and intensity of drought with climate change may cause an increase in the magnitude and toxicity of freshwater cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (CHABs), including Microcystis blooms, in San Francisco Estuary, California. As the fourth driest year on record in San Francisco Estuary, the 2014 drought provided an opportunity to directly test the impact of severe drought on cyanobacteria blooms in SFE. A field sampling program was conducted between July and December 2014 to sample a suite of physical, chemical, and biological variables at 10 stations in the freshwater and brackish reaches of the estuary. The 2014 Microcystis bloom had the highest biomass and toxin concentration, earliest initiation, and the longest duration, since the blooms began in 1999. Median chlorophyll a concentration increased by 9 and 12 times over previous dry and wet years, respectively. Total microcystin concentration also exceeded that in previous dry and wet years by a factor of 11 and 65, respectively. Cell abundance determined by quantitative PCR indicated the bloom contained multiple potentially toxic cyanobacteria species, toxic Microcystis and relatively high total cyanobacteria abundance. The bloom was associated with extreme nutrient concentrations, including a 20-year high in soluble reactive phosphorus concentration and low to below detection levels of ammonium. Stable isotope analysis suggested the bloom varied with both inorganic and organic nutrient concentration, and used ammonium as the primary nitrogen source. Water temperature was a primary controlling factor for the bloom and was positively correlated with the increase in both total and toxic Microcystis abundance. In addition, the early initiation and persistence of warm water temperature coincided with the increased intensity and duration of the Microcystis bloom from the usual 3 to 4 months to 8 months. Long residence time was also a primary factor controlling the magnitude and persistence of the bloom, and was created by a 66% to 85% reduction in both the water inflow and diversion of water for agriculture during the summer. We concluded that severe drought conditions can lead to a significant increase in the abundance of Microcystis and other cyanobacteria, as well as their associated toxins.     

Microcystin mcyA and mcyE Gene Abundances Are Not Appropriate Indicators of Microcystin Concentrations in Lakes

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) are a primary source of water quality degradation in eutrophic lakes. The occurrence of cyanoHABs is ubiquitous and expected to increase with current climate and land use change scenarios. However, it is currently unknown what environmental parameters are important for indicating the presence of cyanoHAB toxins making them difficult to predict or even monitor on time-scales relevant to protecting public health. Using qPCR, we aimed to quantify genes within the microcystin operon (mcy) to determine which cyanobacterial taxa, and what percentage of the total cyanobacterial community, were responsible for microcystin production in four eutrophic lakes. We targeted Microcystis-16S, mcyA, and Microcystis, Planktothrix, and Anabaena-specific mcyE genes. We also measured microcystins and several biological, chemical, and physical parameters—such as temperature, lake stability, nutrients, pigments and cyanobacterial community composition (CCC)—to search for possible correlations to gene copy abundance and MC production. All four lakes contained Microcystis-mcyE genes and high percentages of toxic Microcystis, suggesting Microcystis was the dominant microcystin producer. However, all genes were highly variable temporally, and in few cases, correlated with increased temperature and nutrients as the summer progressed. Interestingly, toxin gene abundances (and biomass indicators) were anti-correlated with microcystin in all lakes except the largest lake, Lake Mendota. Similarly, gene abundance and microcystins differentially correlated to CCC in all lakes. Thus, we conclude that the presence of microcystin genes are not a useful tool for eliciting an ecological role for toxins in the environment, nor are microcystin genes (e.g. DNA) a good indicator of toxins in the environment.     

Seasonal variation of cyanobacteria and microcystins in the Nui Coc Reservoir, Northern Vietnam

In order to understand the environmental variables which promote the proliferation of cyanobacteria and variation in microcystin concentrations in the Nui Coc reservoir, Vietnam, physicochemical parameters, the occurrence, and abundance of phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, and microcystin concentration were monitored monthly through the year 2009–2010. The relationships between these parameters were explored using principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation analysis. The phytoplankton community was mainly dominated by the cyanobacterium Microcystis with higher cyanobacteria abundance during summer and autumn season. PCA and Pearson correlation results showed that water temperature and phosphate concentration were the most important variables accounting for cyanobacteria, Microcystis, and microcystin occurrence. Analysis of the toxins by high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated the presence of two microcystin variants: microcystin-LR (MC-RR) and microcystin-ddRR (MC-ddRR) with total concentrations of the toxins in filtered samples from surface water ranging from 0.11 to 1.52 μg MC-LR equiv L^?1. The high concentrations of microcystin in the Nui Coc reservoir highlighted the potential risk for human health in the basin. Our study underlined the need for regular monitoring of cyanobacteria and toxins in lakes and reservoirs, which are used for drinking water supplies, not only in Vietnam but also in tropical countries.     

Strong effects of amoebae grazing on the biomass and genetic structure of a Microcystis bloom (Cyanobacteria)

Despite its importance for bloom toxicity, the factors determining the population structure of cyanobacterial blooms are poorly understood. Here, we report the results of a two‐year field survey of the population dynamics of Microcystis blooms in a small hypertrophic urban pond. Microscopic enumeration of Microcystis and its predators and parasites was combined with pigment and microcystin analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the ITS rDNA region to assess population dynamics and structure. Two main Microcystis morpho‐ and ITS types were revealed, corresponding to M. aeruginosa and M. viridis. In both years, high population densities of naked amoebae grazing on Microcystis coincided with rapid decreases in Microcystis biomass. In one year, there was a shift from heavily infested M. aeruginosa to the less‐infested M. viridis, allowing the bloom to rapidly recover. The preference of amoebae for M. aeruginosa was confirmed by grazing experiments, in which several amoeba strains were capable of grazing down a strain of M. aeruginosa, but not of M. viridis. Zooplankton and chytrid parasites appeared to be of minor importance for these strong and fast reductions in Microcystis biomass. These findings demonstrate a strong impact of small protozoan grazers on the biomass and genetic structure of Microcystis blooms.     

Ecological Dynamics of Toxic Microcystis spp. and Microcystin-Degrading Bacteria in Dianchi Lake,China

Toxic cyanobacterial blooms directly threaten both human safety and the ecosystem of surface waters. The widespread occurrence of these organisms, coupled with the tumor-promoting properties of the microcystin toxins that they produce, demands action to mitigate their potential impacts and, thus, a robust understanding of their ecological dynamics. In the present work, the abundance of toxic Microcystis spp. and microcystin (MC)-degrading bacteria in Dianchi Lake, located in Yunnan Province, China, was studied using quantitative PCR. Samples were taken at monthly intervals from June 2010 to December 2011 at three sampling stations within this freshwater lake. Results revealed that variation in the abundance of both total Microcystis spp. and toxic Microcystis spp. exhibited similar trends during the period of the algal bloom, including the reinvasion, pelagic growth, sedimentation, and overwintering periods, and that the proportion of toxic Microcystis was highest during the bloom and lowest in winter. Importantly, we observed that peaks in mlrA gene copy numbers of MC-degrading bacteria occurred in the months following observed peaks in MC concentrations. To understand this phenomenon, we added MCs to the MC-degrading bacteria (designated strains HW and SW in this study) and found that MCs significantly enhanced mlrA gene copy numbers over the number for the control by a factor of 5.2 for the microcystin-RR treatment and a factor of 3.7 for the microcystin-LR treatment. These results indicate that toxic Microcystis and MC-degrading bacteria exert both direct and indirect effects on each other and that MC-degrading bacteria also mediate a shift from toxic to nontoxic populations of Microcystis.     

Harmful cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins in Egyptian fresh waters – state of knowledge and research needs

Cyanobacterial blooms have increased in freshwater ecosystems worldwide in the last century, mostly resulting from eutrophication and climate change. These blooms represent serious threats to environmental and human health because of the production of harmful metabolites, called cyanotoxins. Like many countries, Egypt has been plagued with cyanobacterial blooms in most water sources, including the Nile River, irrigation canals, lakes and fishponds. However, the data about cyanotoxins produced in these blooms are limited. Only two types of cyanotoxins, microcystins and cylindrospermopsin, have been identified and characterised, mainly from Microcystis and Cylindrospermopsis blooms. The data revealed the presence of microcystins in raw and treated drinking waters at concentrations (0.05–3.8 µg l^?1), exceeding the WHO limit (1 µg l^?1) in some drinking water treatment plants. In addition, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus caught from ponds containing heavy cyanobacterial blooms have accumulated considerable amounts of cyanotoxins in their edible tissues. The data presented here could be the catalyst for the establishment of a monitoring and management programme for harmful cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins in Egyptian fresh waters. This review also elucidates the important research gaps and possible avenues for future research on cyanobacterial blooms and cyanotoxins in Egypt.     

Depth profiles of cyanobacterial hepatotoxins (microcystins) in three Turkish freshwater lakes

The Turkish freshwater lakes, Sapanca, Iznik and Taskisi (Calticak) have been enriched with nutrients from agriculture and domestic sources for many years. A major bloom of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Lake Sapanca was recorded in May 1997, closely followed by a fish kill. Investigations were subsequently made on the cyanobacteria and water quality of the lakes, including analysis for cyanobacterial hepatotoxins (microcystins) in the filtered particulate fraction. Samples, taken from the beginning of May to end of August 1998, were analysed for microcystins by high–performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA), protein phosphatase inhibition assay (PPIA) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No microcystins were detected in the water column in Lake Sapanca above 10 m, but toxins were found in filtered cyanobacterial samples from 20 m depth at a concentration of 3.65 μg l^?1 microcystin–LR equivalents. Ninety percent of the microcystin pool detected in L. Sapanca was found between depths of 15 and 25 m. The principal microcystin detected by HPLC-PDA was similar to microcystin–RR. Two unidentified microcystin variants were found in Lake Taskisi surface samples at a concentration of 2.43 μg l^?1 microcystin–LR equivalents in the filtered cyanobacterial cell fraction. Although 10 water samples (10 × 5 l) were taken from Lake Iznik (surface to 20 m, 5 m intervals), no microcystins were detected by HPLC-PDA (limit of detection 10 ng). The depth at which microcystins were detected in L. Sapanca coincided with the draw-off depth for the drinking water supply for the city of Sakarya