Are blue-green algae a suitable food for zooplankton? An overview

Bernardi, R. de; Giussani, G.

doi:10.1007/bf02530326

Cited by 199 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…During bloom events, cyanobacteria can form large colonies or aggregates, which are generally unpalatable to the majority of planktonic herbivores (De Bernardi and Giussani, 1990;Gliwicz, 1990). In addition, the presence of certain metabolic compounds considerably limits the grazing of herbivorous zooplankton on these algae particles (Engström-Öst, 2002), and is a decisive factor in shaping the composition of the zooplankton.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the more drastic effects associated with eutrophication is algal blooms dominated by cyanobacteria. During bloom events, the cyanobacteria can form large colonies or aggregates, which are generally unpalatable to the majority of planktonic herbivores because of the direct physical interference with their filtration apparatus (Webster & Peters, 1978;De Bernardi and Giussani, 1990;De Mott et al, 2001). Because of their chemical composition, the cyanobacteria are also considered to be nutritionally deficient as a food for zooplankton (Brett and Müller-Navarra, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Zooplankton assemblages in eutrophic reservoirs of the Brazilian semi-arid

Menezes

et al. 2013

Braz. J. Biol.

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Species composition, density, and temporal dynamics of zooplankton were studied in six reservoirs in a semi-arid region in tropical northeastern Brazil (Rio Grande do Norte state). All the reservoirs are highly eutrophic, with high contents of total nitrogen (minimum of 1200 µg.L -1 ) and total phosphorus (minimum of 10 µg.L -1 ), and extremely high algal biomass was registered (surpassing 20 µg Chl a.L -1). All the reservoirs showed an enduring condition of high turbidity and phytoplankton assemblages dominated by cyanobacteria. Zooplankton also showed quantitative patterns suggestive of eutrophic conditions, expressed by high densities, mainly in Passagem das Traíras and Sabugi reservoirs. A spatial differentiation in the composition of the zooplankton community was registered. Rotifers (especially Keratella tropica, Brachionus havanensis, and Keratella americana) were the dominant forms in the zooplankton community of Itans, Passagem das Traíras, and Sabugi reservoirs, while calanoid copepods (mainly Notodiaptomus cearensis) dominated in the Armando Ribeiro, Gargalheiras, and Parelhas systems. The existence of novel relationships in zooplankton community composition in eutrophic reservoirs in this tropical semi-arid region must be considered in designating zooplankton indicators of eutrophic conditions. Keywords: reservoirs, semi-arid, zooplankton, eutrophication. Assembléias zooplanctônicas em reservatórios eutróficos do semiárido brasileiro ResumoA composição de espécies, a densidade e a dinâmica temporal do zooplâncton foram estudadas em seis reservatórios de uma região semiárida no nordeste do Brasil (Estado do Rio Grande do Norte). Todos os reservatórios estão altamente eutróficos, com altas concentrações de nitrogênio total (mínimo de 1.200 µg.L -1 ) e fósforo total (mínimo de 10 µg.L -1), e biomassa algal extremamente alta (muitas vezes, superando 20 µg.L -1 de Chl a). Todos os reservatórios apresentaram alta turbidez e assembleias fitoplanctônicas dominadas por cianobactérias. O zooplâncton também apresentou padrões quantitativos sugestivos de condições eutróficas, expressas por altas densidades, principalmente nos Reservatórios Passagem das Traíras e Sabugi. Foi registrada uma diferenciação espacial na composição da comunidade zooplanctônica. Rotíferos (especialmente Keratella tropica, Brachionus havanensis e Keratella americana) foram as formas dominantes na comunidade zooplanctônica dos Reservatórios Itans, Passagem das Traíras e Sabugi, enquanto copépodos Calanoida (principalmente Notodiaptomus cearensis) dominaram nos Reservatórios Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves, Gargalheiras e Parelhas. A existência de novas relações na composição da comunidade zooplanctônica em reservatórios eutróficos dessa região semiárida tropical deve ser considerada no estabelecimento de indicadores zooplanctônicos de condições eutróficas.Palavras-chave: reservatórios, semiárido, zooplâncton, eutrofização.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zooplankton assemblages in eutrophic reservoirs of the Brazilian semi-arid

Menezes

et al. 2013

Braz. J. Biol.

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“…1). Microcystis is generally considered 'poor' food for herbivorous zooplankton; it produces toxic substances, lacks essential nutrients, and can form inedible colonies and filaments (reviewed in Debernardi and Giussani 1990). In laboratory feeding experiments, cladocerans showed reduced survivorship, growth, and reproduction when they were fed solely with cyanobacteria (reviewed in Lampert 1987).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyanobacteria as a carbon source for zooplankton in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China, measured by ¹³C labeling and fatty acid biomarkers

Kluijver

Houtekamer

et al. 2012

Limnology & Oceanography

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Using a combined stable-isotope and fatty-acid approach, we examined carbon-transfer routes from the cyanobacterium Microcystis to zooplankton in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China. Microcystis is generally considered poor food for zooplankton, and we hypothesized that most Microcystis carbon flows to zooplankton via dissolved organic matter (DOM)-bacteria and detritus-bacteria pathways rather than via direct grazing. The hypothesis was tested by analyzing 13 C isotopes at natural abundance in field samples and in tracer experiments with 13 Cenriched Microcystis. 13 C-enriched Microcystis was added as live Microcystis, Microcystis detritus, or Microcystis DOM to lake-water incubations with Bosmina sp. and Daphnia similis as the dominant species. The 13 C isotope signatures of Microcystis, heterotrophic bacteria, and eukaryotic algae in seston were determined from isotope analyses of specific fatty acids, and the presence and labeling of these fatty acids were also analyzed in zooplankton consumers. Bosmina and Daphnia consumed carbon via all pathways, but the amount of carbon transfer from the Microcystis DOM was the highest, followed by the Microcystis detritus. Bosmina consumed relatively more live Microcystis than Daphnia. The presence and high 13 C enrichment of bacteria-specific fatty acids in the zooplankton consumers showed that heterotrophic bacteria were an important link between Microcystis and zooplankton. Microbial pathways dominate the energy flow from cyanobacteria to zooplankton in eutrophic lakes with heavy cyanobacteria blooms, such as Lake Taihu.

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“…population growth, particularly in eutrophic lakes in the summer when mass developments of toxic cyanobacteria lead to a suppression of Daphnia sp. biomass [4,5]. The low predictability of intensity and seasonality of both predation pressure and dominance of toxic cyanobacteria should lead to the evolution of plastic instead of fixed adaptations [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Target gene approaches: Gene expression in Daphnia magna exposed to predator-borne kairomones or to microcystin-producing and microcystin-free Microcystis aeruginosa

2009

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BackgroundTwo major biological stressors of freshwater zooplankton of the genus Daphnia are predation and fluctuations in food quality. Here we use kairomones released from a planktivorous fish (Leucaspius delineatus) and from an invertebrate predator (larvae of Chaoborus flavicans) to simulate predation pressure; a microcystin-producing culture of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa and a microcystin-deficient mutant are used to investigate effects of low food quality. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) allows quantification of the impact of biotic stressors on differential gene activity. The draft genome sequence for Daphnia pulex facilitates the use of candidate genes by precisely identifying orthologs to functionally characterized genes in other model species. This information is obtained by constructing phylogenetic trees of candidate genes with the knowledge that the Daphnia genome is composed of many expanded gene families.ResultsWe evaluated seven candidate reference genes for QPCR in Daphnia magna after exposure to kairomones. As a robust approach, a combination normalisation factor (NF) was calculated based on the geometric mean of three of these seven reference genes: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, TATA-box binding protein and succinate dehydrogenase. Using this NF, expression of the target genes actin and alpha-tubulin were revealed to be unchanged in the presence of the tested kairomones. The presence of fish kairomone up-regulated one gene (cyclophilin) involved in the folding of proteins, whereas Chaoborus kairomone down-regulated the same gene.We evaluated the same set of candidate reference genes for QPCR in Daphnia magna after exposure to a microcystin-producing and a microcystin-free strain of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. The NF was calculated based on the reference genes 18S ribosomal RNA, alpha-tubulin and TATA-box binding protein. We found glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and ubiquitin conjugating enzyme to be up-regulated in the presence of microcystins in the food of D. magna. These findings demonstrate that certain enzymes of glycolysis and protein catabolism are significantly upgregulated when daphnids ingest microcystins. Each differentially regulated gene is a member of an expanded gene family in the D. pulex genome. The cyclophilin, GapDH and UBC genes show moderately large sequence divergence from their closest paralogs. Yet actin and alpha-tubulin genes targeteted by our study have nearly identical paralogs at the amino acid level.ConclusionGene expression analysis using a normalisation factor based on three reference genes showed that transcription levels of actin and alpha-tubulin were not substantially changed by predator-borne chemical cues from fishes or invertebrates, although changes in expression on the protein level were shown elsewhere. These changes in protein level could be caused by others than the investigated paralogs, showing the importance of the construction of phylogenetic trees for candidate gene approac...

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Are blue-green algae a suitable food for zooplankton? An overview

Cited by 199 publications

References 29 publications

Zooplankton assemblages in eutrophic reservoirs of the Brazilian semi-arid

Zooplankton assemblages in eutrophic reservoirs of the Brazilian semi-arid

Cyanobacteria as a carbon source for zooplankton in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China, measured by ¹³C labeling and fatty acid biomarkers

Target gene approaches: Gene expression in Daphnia magna exposed to predator-borne kairomones or to microcystin-producing and microcystin-free Microcystis aeruginosa

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Are blue-green algae a suitable food for zooplankton? An overview

Cited by 199 publications

References 29 publications

Zooplankton assemblages in eutrophic reservoirs of the Brazilian semi-arid

Zooplankton assemblages in eutrophic reservoirs of the Brazilian semi-arid

Cyanobacteria as a carbon source for zooplankton in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China, measured by 13C labeling and fatty acid biomarkers

Target gene approaches: Gene expression in Daphnia magna exposed to predator-borne kairomones or to microcystin-producing and microcystin-free Microcystis aeruginosa

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Cyanobacteria as a carbon source for zooplankton in eutrophic Lake Taihu, China, measured by ¹³C labeling and fatty acid biomarkers