The Complicated and Confusing Ecology of <italic toggle="yes">Microcystis</italic> Blooms
ABSTRACT Blooms of the toxin-producing cyanobacterium Microcystis are increasing globally, leading to the loss of ecosystem services, threats to human health, as well as the deaths of pets and husbandry animals. While nutrient availability is a well-known driver of algal biomass, the factors control...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society for Microbiology
2020-06-01
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| Series: | mBio |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00529-20 |
| _version_ | 1818424645909479424 |
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| author | Steven W. Wilhelm George S. Bullerjahn R. Michael L. McKay |
| author_facet | Steven W. Wilhelm George S. Bullerjahn R. Michael L. McKay |
| author_sort | Steven W. Wilhelm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Blooms of the toxin-producing cyanobacterium Microcystis are increasing globally, leading to the loss of ecosystem services, threats to human health, as well as the deaths of pets and husbandry animals. While nutrient availability is a well-known driver of algal biomass, the factors controlling “who” is present in fresh waters are more complicated. Microcystis possesses multiple strategies to adapt to temperature, light, changes in nutrient chemistry, herbivory, and parasitism that provide a selective advantage over its competitors. Moreover, its ability to alter ecosystem pH provides it a further advantage that helps exclude many of its planktonic competitors. While decades of nutrient monitoring have provided us with the tools to predict the accumulation of phytoplankton biomass, here, we point to factors on the horizon that may inform us why Microcystis is presently the dominant bloom former in freshwaters around the world. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T14:01:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e68b0f747b61467cadbf2f08b0152442 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-7511 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T14:01:21Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | mBio |
| spelling | doaj.art-e68b0f747b61467cadbf2f08b01524422022-12-21T22:58:42ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymBio2150-75112020-06-0111310.1128/mBio.00529-20The Complicated and Confusing Ecology of <italic toggle="yes">Microcystis</italic> BloomsSteven W. Wilhelm0George S. Bullerjahn1R. Michael L. McKay2Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USAGreat Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, CanadaABSTRACT Blooms of the toxin-producing cyanobacterium Microcystis are increasing globally, leading to the loss of ecosystem services, threats to human health, as well as the deaths of pets and husbandry animals. While nutrient availability is a well-known driver of algal biomass, the factors controlling “who” is present in fresh waters are more complicated. Microcystis possesses multiple strategies to adapt to temperature, light, changes in nutrient chemistry, herbivory, and parasitism that provide a selective advantage over its competitors. Moreover, its ability to alter ecosystem pH provides it a further advantage that helps exclude many of its planktonic competitors. While decades of nutrient monitoring have provided us with the tools to predict the accumulation of phytoplankton biomass, here, we point to factors on the horizon that may inform us why Microcystis is presently the dominant bloom former in freshwaters around the world.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00529-20competitioncyanobacteriaharmful algal bloomsnutrient cycling |
| spellingShingle | Steven W. Wilhelm George S. Bullerjahn R. Michael L. McKay The Complicated and Confusing Ecology of <italic toggle="yes">Microcystis</italic> Blooms mBio competition cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms nutrient cycling |
| title | The Complicated and Confusing Ecology of <italic toggle="yes">Microcystis</italic> Blooms |
| title_full | The Complicated and Confusing Ecology of <italic toggle="yes">Microcystis</italic> Blooms |
| title_fullStr | The Complicated and Confusing Ecology of <italic toggle="yes">Microcystis</italic> Blooms |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Complicated and Confusing Ecology of <italic toggle="yes">Microcystis</italic> Blooms |
| title_short | The Complicated and Confusing Ecology of <italic toggle="yes">Microcystis</italic> Blooms |
| title_sort | complicated and confusing ecology of italic toggle yes microcystis italic blooms |
| topic | competition cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms nutrient cycling |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00529-20 |
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