From colonial clusters to colonial sheaths: Imaging flow cytometry analysis of Microcystis morphospecies dynamics in mesocosm and links to CyanoHABs management
Zhumakhanova A. Mirasbekov Y. Meirkhanova A. Malashenkov D.V. Davidson T.A. Levi E.E. Jeppesen E. Barteneva N.S.
June 2024Elsevier B.V.
Ecological Indicators
2024#163
The alarming increase in the frequency of blooms of Microcystis in freshwater lakes and reservoirs occurs worldwide, with major implications for their ecosystem functioning and water quality. The dominance of Microcystis is tightly related to colonial formation by Microcystis. However, studies of the colonial development of Microcystis morphospecies are rare. This research applied FlowCAM-based imaging flow cytometry to analyze the development of Microcystis morphospecies in the mesocosms mimicking eutrophic shallow lakes and the effect of temperature changes. A significant positive association was found between M. ichtyoblabe, M. aeruginosa, and M. smithii colonies, particularly in the high-temperature tanks, suggesting that these morphospecies belong to one ecocluster, which supports the hypothesis of the central transition pathways of colonial Microcystis. The small colonial clusters of Microcystis cells represented an important stage in the sequence of Microcystis bloom and were associated with the development of colonial forms. A correlation analysis showed that the higher pH was positively correlated with the abundance of M.wesenbergii independently of temperature changes. The colonial sheaths abundances increased following a maximum of M.wesenbergii abundance, reaching significant numbers (thousands), and a majority of sheaths contained at least some Microcystis cells. We hypothesize that colonial sheaths may be crucial at Microcystis spp. dispersal and represent an obligatory stage of colonies development. The sheaths may protect Microcystis cells against environmental stress factors, improve cell survival at low nutrient levels, and participate in Microcystis dispersal and spreading. Our findings can be applicable to early CyanoHAB detection and management of Microcystis dispersal.
Colonial clusters , Colonial sheaths , Cyanobacteria , Dispersal , FlowCAM , Imaging flow cytometry , Microcystis , Phytoplankton
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School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University& Centre for Water Technology (WATEC), Aarhus, Denmark
Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research, Beijing, China
Limnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Ecosystem Research and Implementation, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli-Mersin, Turkey
Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
Environment&Resource Efficiency Cluster, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
School of Sciences and Humanities
Department of Ecoscience
Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research
Limnology Laboratory
Institute of Marine Sciences
Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes
Environment&Resource Efficiency Cluster
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