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Evidence Against Fluvial Seeding of Recurrent Toxic Blooms of Microcystis spp. in Lake Erie’s Western Basin | Ohio Sea Grant

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Evidence Against Fluvial Seeding of Recurrent Toxic Blooms of Microcystis spp. in Lake Erie’s Western Basin

OHSU-RS-459: Evidence Against Fluvial Seeding of Recurrent Toxic Blooms of Microcystis spp. in Lake Erie’s Western Basin

Published: Mar 1, 2012
Last Modified: Jun 21, 2017
Volume: 15 Issue:
Length: 6 pages
Journal: Harmful Algae
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Direct: Permalink

Contributors

R. Michael L. McKay

R. Michael L. McKay , PhD

Professor, BGSU Department of Biological Sciences

Steven W. Wilhelm , PhD

Faculty, University of Tennessee

 Douglas Donald Kane

Douglas Donald Kane , PhD

Faculty, Heidelberg University

Justin Chaffin

Justin Chaffin , PhD

Senior Researcher, Research Coordinator, Stone Laboratory

 Thomas B. Bridgeman

Thomas B. Bridgeman , PhD

Professor & Director, UT Lake Erie Center

 George S. Bullerjahn

George S. Bullerjahn , PhD

Professor, BGSU Department of Biological Sciences

Abstract

For almost two decades, the western basin of Lake Erie has been plagued with recurring toxic algal blooms dominated by the colonial cyanobacterium, Microcystis spp. Since the Maumee River is a major source of nutrients and sediment inputs into the lake, and Microcystis spp. has been identified as a member of the upstream river algal assemblage, the possibility exists that the river Microcystis species serve as a seed population for the toxic blooms occurring in the lake. Genetic profiling of toxic cyanobacteria using the microcystin synthesis gene, mcyA, clearly indicates that the toxic cyanobacteria of the river are distinct from the toxic Microcystis spp. of Lake Erie. Indeed, mcyA sequences are almost exclusively from toxic Planktothrix spp., similar to what has been documented previously for Sandusky Bay. UniFrac statistical analysis of cyanobacterial community composition by comparison of 16S–23S ITS sequences also show that the Maumee River and Lake Erie communities are distinct. Overall, these data show that despite the importance of nutrient inputs and sediments from the river, the toxic cyanobacterial blooms of Lake Erie do not originate from toxic species endemic to the Maumee River and instead must originate elsewhere, most likely from the lake sediments.