Toxic benthic freshwater cyanobacterial proliferations: Challenges and solutions for enhancing knowledge and improving monitoring and mitigation

1. This review summarises knowledge on the ecology, toxin production, and impacts of toxic freshwater benthic cyanobacterial proliferations. It documents monitoring, management, and sampling strategies, and explores mitigation options.
2. Toxic proliferations of freshwater benthic cyanobacteria (taxa that grow attached to substrates) occur in streams, rivers, lakes, and thermal and meltwater ponds, and have been reported in 19 countries. Anatoxin- and microcystin-containing mats are most commonly reported (eight and 10 countries, respectively).
3. Studies exploring factors that promote toxic benthic cyanobacterial proliferations are limited to a few species and habitats. There is a hierarchy of importance in environmental and biological factors that regulate proliferations with variables such as flow (rivers), fine sediment deposition, nutrients, associated microbes, and grazing identified as key drivers. Regulating factors differ among colonisation, expansion, and dispersal phases.
4. New -omics-based approaches are providing novel insights into the physiological attributes of benthic cyanobacteria and the role of associated microorganisms in facilitating their proliferation.
5. Proliferations are commonly comprised of both toxic and non-toxic strains, and the relative proportion of these is the key factor contributing to the overall toxin content of each mat.
6. While these events are becoming more commonly reported globally, we currently lack standardised approaches to detect, monitor, and manage this emerging health issue. To solve these critical gaps, global collaborations are needed to facilitate the rapid transfer of knowledge and promote the development of standardised techniques that can be applied to diverse habitats and species, and ultimately lead to improved management.

     

The effect of anti-foam agents on the ultrafiltration of a protease solution

Polydimethylsiloxane and polypropylene glycol-based anti-foam agents adversely influence the ultrafiltration rate of a protease solution with polysulfon membranes. Four propietary agents have been compared, of which Rhodosil 426 R (ex Rhone Poulenc, France), an emulsion of polydimethylsiloxane, proved to have the least influence. With this agent, the relative filtration flux of a protease solution decreased by a factor of two for concentrations of anti-foam agent higher than 0.25 cm³/dm³. A simple, quasisteady-state model developed on the basis of data obtained from total recycle experiments with this anti-foam agent, well predicted the temporal variation of protease concentration during batch ultrafiltration experiments with and without Rhodosil 426 R.List of Symbols A _uf m² total membrane area - C _af dm³/m³ concentration of anti-foam agent - C _af,0 dm³/m³ initial concentration of anti-foam agent in the feed solution - C _e kg/m³ protease powder concentration - C _e,0 kg/m³ initial protease powder concentration in the feed solution - J m³/s ultrafiltration rate - J _w m³/m²s water flow for a clean membrane under processing conditions - R _af rejection coefficient for anti-foam agent - R _e rejection coefficient for protein - RF % relative filtration rate - t s filtration time - V m³ concentrate volume - V ₀ m³ volume to be concentrated - V _t m³ end volume     

STORAGE AND GERMINATION OF CHARA OOSPORES

Germination tests were conducted on 39 collections of Chara oospores stored under 4 different conditions for periods of approximately 4 yr. In general, storage of dried oospores at low temperatures (3 C) provided the most satisfactory means for long-term preservation of viable disseminules. Oospore germination zuas higher in light than in darkness. Effects of temperature and substrate upon germination were explored briefly.     

Immunostimulating activity of the lipopolysaccharides of blue-green algae]

The whole cells of blue-gree algae and lipopolysaccharides isolated from these cells were shown to stimulate the production of macro-(mainly) and microglobulin antibodies in rabbits. The macro- and microphage indices in rabbits increased significantly after the injection of LPS isolated from blue-green algae 24--48 hours before infecting the animals with a virulent Y. pseudotuberculosis strain. Besides, the inhibiting action of this strain on the migration of phagocytes to the site of infection was abolished immediately after the injection. The use of the indirect hemagglutination test allowed to prove the absence of close antigenic interrelations between blue-green algae and the following organisms: Spirulina platensis, Microcystis aeruginosa, Phormidium africanum and P. uncinatum.     

Oceanographic features and limited dispersal shape the population genetic structure of the vase sponge Ircinia campana in the Greater Caribbean

Understanding population genetic structure can help us to infer dispersal patterns, predict population resilience and design effective management strategies. For sessile species with limited dispersal, this is especially pertinent because genetic diversity and connectivity are key aspects of their resilience to environmental stressors. Here, we describe the population structure of Ircinia campana, a common Caribbean sponge subject to mass mortalities and disease. Microsatellites were used to genotype 440 individuals from 19 sites throughout the Greater Caribbean. We found strong genetic structure across the region, and significant isolation by distance across the Lesser Antilles, highlighting the influence of limited larval dispersal. We also observed spatial genetic structure patterns congruent with oceanography. This includes evidence of connectivity between sponges in the Florida Keys and the southeast coast of the United States (>700 km away) where the oceanographic environment is dominated by the strong Florida Current. Conversely, the population in southern Belize was strongly differentiated from all other sites, consistent with the presence of dispersal-limiting oceanographic features, including the Gulf of Honduras gyre. At smaller spatial scales (<100 km), sites showed heterogeneous patterns of low-level but significant genetic differentiation (chaotic genetic patchiness), indicative of temporal variability in recruitment or local selective pressures. Genetic diversity was similar across sites, but there was evidence of a genetic bottleneck at one site in Florida where past mass mortalities have occurred. These findings underscore the relationship between regional oceanography and weak larval dispersal in explaining population genetic patterns, and could inform conservation management of the species.Subject terms: Genetic variation, Ecology     

Temporal and spatial trends in allozyme frequencies in house fly populations,Musca domestica L.

Summary Allelic and genotypic frequencies were sampled from a single age class of the common house fly, Musca domestica L., at five farms on six dates from July 6 to October 12, 1982. Allozymes at six loci were resolved with vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No consistent departures from random mating were detected. No consistent linkage disequilibrium was observed. Allele frequencies at the farms changed in independent and unpredictable ways. Gene frequencies at the five farms were initially divergent, converged in midsummer, and then progressively diverged. The divergence occured in mid-August when fly populations were large. Variation in gene frequencies at adjacent farms accounted for a large proportion of the variance in allele frequencies among all farms. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that allele frequencies in young adult flies reflected the habitat in which they matured as larvae.Journal Paper No. 11718 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, Project No. 2411     

Apparatus for the automated measurement of the responses of humans to odorants

An automated system for the measurement of the psychophysicaland physiological responses of humans to odorant stimulationof the nose and eyes is described. All aspects of the generationand production of odor stimuli, the recording of physiologicaland psychophysical responses of the subjects and the storageof data are managed by an Apple He computer. Both the nasaland ocular olfactometers are based on electronic mass flow controllerswhich are used to control the ratios of volume flow rates ofclean and odorant-saturated air. The output of each olfactometeris measured by a photo-ionization detector. Odor stimuli aredelivered to custom-fitted face masks, that allow separate stimulationof the nose and eyes, through Teflon (rtm) flow valves. A videocamera records the responses of the eyes and a pneumotachograph,in combination with a pressure transducer, records changes inrespiratory behavior. An electronic mouse is used to enter thesubject's psychophysical responses directly into the computer.The advantages of this methodology and its current and potentialapplications are discussed.     

The molecular and metabolic program by which white adipocytes adapt to cool physiologic temperatures

Although visceral adipocytes located within the body’s central core are maintained at approximately 37°C, adipocytes within bone marrow, subcutaneous, and dermal depots are found primarily within the peripheral shell and generally exist at cooler temperatures. Responses of brown and beige/brite adipocytes to cold stress are well studied; however, comparatively little is known about mechanisms by which white adipocytes adapt to temperatures below 37°C. Here, we report that adaptation of cultured adipocytes to 31°C, the temperature at which distal marrow adipose tissues and subcutaneous adipose tissues often reside, increases anabolic and catabolic lipid metabolism, and elevates oxygen consumption. Cool adipocytes rely less on glucose and more on pyruvate, glutamine, and, especially, fatty acids as energy sources. Exposure of cultured adipocytes and gluteal white adipose tissue (WAT) to cool temperatures activates a shared program of gene expression. Cool temperatures induce stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) expression and monounsaturated lipid levels in cultured adipocytes and distal bone marrow adipose tissues (BMATs), and SCD1 activity is required for acquisition of maximal oxygen consumption at 31°C.

Adipocytes in bone marrow, subcutaneous and dermal sites generally exist at temperatures below 37°C. This study identifies the molecular and metabolic program that adapts white adipocytes to these cooler environments.