Effects of secondary metabolites produced by different cyanobacterial populations on the freshwater zooplankters Brachionus calyciflorus and Daphnia pulex

Abstract

Cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic water bodies are a worldwide problem. Combined effects of mixtures of secondary metabolites produced by different cyanobacterial species on aquatic fauna are still not well recognised. We compared the survivorship of Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas (Rotifera) and Daphnia pulex Leyding (Cladocera) exposed to pure microcystin LR (MC-LR), anatoxin-a (ANTX) and to five extracts obtained from bloom-forming cyanobacteria Microcystis , Planktothrix and Dolichospermum. The obtained results revealed different response of the organisms to high concentrations of pure MC-LR, ANTX and complex cyanobacterial extracts. The extracts’ toxicity to invertebrates was higher than that exerted by pure cyanotoxins and was dependent on the composition of cyanobacterial metabolites: Microcystis spp. extract containing anabaenopeptins A and B, aeruginosamide, four variants of cyanopeptolins and five MCs was not toxic to either of the organisms, whereas Planktothrix agardhii extract (I), containing anabaenopeptins A, B, F, 915, oscillamide Y, five different aeruginosins and four variants of MC was more toxic to daphnids than to rotifers. The extracts of another P. agarhdii (II) biomass and two different biomass samples of Dolichospermum spp. also affected survivorship of the rotifer and cladoceran, however, to various extent. It strongly suggests that non-ribosomal oligopeptides, other than MCs, had essential contribution to the observed toxicity to invertebrates and their effects on particular species or populations can vary depending on the secondary metabolite profiles of cyanobacteria.

Anabaenopeptins: What We Know So Far

“…Deleterious effects in organisms belonging to aquatic fauna were also linked to APs production and other cyanopeptides [ 123 , 124 , 125 ]. The negative impact of these metabolites can partially justify the substitution of large-bodied zooplankton by small-bodied species during the blooming process since they affect differently these living beings [ 126 , 127 ]. The absorption of such molecules can occur by ingestion of cyanobacteria or through uptake of water.…”

Planktonic Invertebrates in the Assessment of Long-Term Change in Water Quality of the Sorbulak Wastewater Disposal System (Kazakhstan)

“…Species of the genus Microcystis affect both the phytoplankton community itself, due to the deterioration of illumination and the zooplankton and ichthyofauna, due to the release of toxins and changes in pH [75]. The reaction of Daphnia to toxins of blue-green algae is species-specific [76]. Experimental and field studies have shown that Daphnia thrives in the presence of green algae, cryptophytes, chrysophytes, or diatoms [77][78][79].…”

Inhibition of Intestinal Lipid Absorption by Cyanobacterial Strains in Zebrafish Larvae

“…Cyanobacteria constitute a diverse and widely distributed group of Gram-negative prokaryotes, found in freshwater, marine environments, and even terrestrial habitats [ 16 ]. They are well known to produce harmful toxins, but also a huge variety of secondary metabolites [ 16 , 17 ]. In fact, the cyanobacterial compound dolastatin 10 inspired the FDA-approved brentuximab vedotin for the treatment of soft carcinoma [ 18 ].…”