Does the potentially toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis exist in the soda lakes of East Africa?

Abstract

Presently, the food chains of the famous saline alkaline flamingo-lakes of East Africa are the focus of intense scientific discussion as the lakes host toxic cyanobacteria, which when consumed by Lesser Flamingos, weaken the birds and therefore make them susceptible to attacks by infective diseases. The distribution, genetic and toxicological aspects of Microcystis in Kenya has been studied extensively. Although there are reports on the occurrence of Microcystis in Kenya's hypersaline alkaline lakes, they have not been confirmed. Our investigations carried out over a 10-year period in about 50 inland waters showed that Microcystis occurs exclusively in freshwaters, but never in the hypersaline alkaline lakes. Microscopic examinations of the phytoplankton of these lakes revealed the presence of Anabaenopsis abijatae (Nostococales) whose lumpy structure makes it roughly similar to Microcystis when viewed under an inverted microscope. We conclude that the possible occurrence of Microcystis in hypersaline alkaline lakes is doubtful and, as such, confirmatory studies including microphotographic documentation of findings should be carried out.

Molecular detection of hepatotoxic cyanobacteria in inland water bodies of the Marmara Region, Turkey

“…Especially Nodularia spumigena is an euryhaline species living in hyposaline to brackish waters in Turkey (Kocasari et al, 2015;Kızılkaya et al, 2016). Similarly, A. elenkinii is also known as a hyposaline species (Kemp, 2009;Kotut and Krienitz, 2011). The growth of these species might have been supported by high conductivity of the lake water.…”

Sudden flamingo deaths in Kenyan Rift Valley lakes

“…While some scientists proposed a link between Microcystis and flamingo die-offs (Ndetei and Muhandiki 2005, Stewart et al 2008, Githaiga 2003, others challenged the growth of Microcystis in such alkaline-saline environments (Kotut and Krienitz 2011). Former Microcystis occurrences (Ndetei and Muhandiki 2005) were probably misidentified and may belong to Anabaenopsis abijatae, which at a first glance could be mixed up with Microcystis colonies.…”

Haloleptolyngbya alcalis gen. et sp. nov., a new filamentous cyanobacterium from the soda lake Nakuru, Kenya

“…Over long periods in the last decade, Arthrospira populations in Nakuru were associated with heterocyst-forming nostocalean cyanobacteria of the genus Anabaenopsis (A. abijatae, and A. arnoldii) (Ballot et al, 2004a(Ballot et al, , 2008Oduor & Schagerl, 2007;Schagerl & Oduor, 2008;Kotut & Krienitz, 2011), and Cyanospira (Sili et al, 2011). In periods of low water level, mats of cyanobacteria with tiny filaments (*2 lm in diameter) of uncertain taxonomic designation have been observed to rise from the sediments and establish on the water surface (Kotut, unpubl.…”