Understanding filamentous cyanobacteria and their adaptive niches in Lake Honghu, a shallow eutrophic lake
(2025) In Journal of Environmental Sciences (China) 152. p.219-234- Abstract
Freshwater lakes globally are witnessing an escalation in the frequency and intensity of cyanobacterial harmful blooms. However, underlying factors influencing the succession or coexistence of cyanobacteria, especially filamentous ones, remain poorly understood. Lake Honghu, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance with degrading aquatic ecological quality, served as a case study to elucidate the intricate relationship between environmental changes and cyanobacterial dynamics. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in the dominance of filamentous cyanobacteria, marked by high spatiotemporal variability in community structure. This dominance of filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacteria is attributed to a decrease in the ratio of... (More)
Freshwater lakes globally are witnessing an escalation in the frequency and intensity of cyanobacterial harmful blooms. However, underlying factors influencing the succession or coexistence of cyanobacteria, especially filamentous ones, remain poorly understood. Lake Honghu, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance with degrading aquatic ecological quality, served as a case study to elucidate the intricate relationship between environmental changes and cyanobacterial dynamics. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in the dominance of filamentous cyanobacteria, marked by high spatiotemporal variability in community structure. This dominance of filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacteria is attributed to a decrease in the ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen to total phosphorus and their capacity to utilize organic phosphorus in phosphorus-deficient conditions. Species-specific density variations were linked to diverse environmental factors, with total nitrogen or total phosphorus concentration remaining as a crucial factor influencing dominant cyanobacterial density fluctuations. The dominance of low-temperature-tolerant Aphanizomenon and Pseudanabaena was evident in spring and winter, whereas Dolichospermum and Cylindrospermopsis, which prefer higher temperatures, thrived in summer and autumn. Additionally, non-algal turbidity and heterogeneity can potentially alter the competitive outcome among filamentous cyanobacteria or foster coexistence under conditions of elevated temperatures and nutrient limitation. This study predicts that filamentous cyanobacteria may spread and persist in lakes spanning a wide trophic range. Current findings enhance our comprehension of the dynamic responses exhibited by filamentous bloom-forming cyanobacteria in the face of environmental changes within shallow eutrophic lakes and provide valuable insights for lake managers involved in the remediation of degraded shallow lakes.
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- author
- Gao, Guangbin ; Bai, Dong ; Li, Tianli ; Li, Jie ; Jia, Yunlu ; Li, Jing LU ; Wang, Zhi ; Cao, Xiuyun and Song, Lirong
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-06
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Aphanizomenon, Cylindrospermopsis, Dolichospermum, Phytoplankton, Pseudanabaena, Trophic status
- in
- Journal of Environmental Sciences (China)
- volume
- 152
- pages
- 16 pages
- publisher
- Science China Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85193426253
- ISSN
- 1001-0742
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jes.2024.05.010
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a01e48ff-3202-446a-8cb1-c6ce655e08c2
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-04 15:11:27
- date last changed
- 2024-06-04 15:11:27
@article{a01e48ff-3202-446a-8cb1-c6ce655e08c2,
abstract = {{<p>Freshwater lakes globally are witnessing an escalation in the frequency and intensity of cyanobacterial harmful blooms. However, underlying factors influencing the succession or coexistence of cyanobacteria, especially filamentous ones, remain poorly understood. Lake Honghu, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance with degrading aquatic ecological quality, served as a case study to elucidate the intricate relationship between environmental changes and cyanobacterial dynamics. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in the dominance of filamentous cyanobacteria, marked by high spatiotemporal variability in community structure. This dominance of filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacteria is attributed to a decrease in the ratio of dissolved inorganic nitrogen to total phosphorus and their capacity to utilize organic phosphorus in phosphorus-deficient conditions. Species-specific density variations were linked to diverse environmental factors, with total nitrogen or total phosphorus concentration remaining as a crucial factor influencing dominant cyanobacterial density fluctuations. The dominance of low-temperature-tolerant Aphanizomenon and Pseudanabaena was evident in spring and winter, whereas Dolichospermum and Cylindrospermopsis, which prefer higher temperatures, thrived in summer and autumn. Additionally, non-algal turbidity and heterogeneity can potentially alter the competitive outcome among filamentous cyanobacteria or foster coexistence under conditions of elevated temperatures and nutrient limitation. This study predicts that filamentous cyanobacteria may spread and persist in lakes spanning a wide trophic range. Current findings enhance our comprehension of the dynamic responses exhibited by filamentous bloom-forming cyanobacteria in the face of environmental changes within shallow eutrophic lakes and provide valuable insights for lake managers involved in the remediation of degraded shallow lakes.</p>}},
author = {{Gao, Guangbin and Bai, Dong and Li, Tianli and Li, Jie and Jia, Yunlu and Li, Jing and Wang, Zhi and Cao, Xiuyun and Song, Lirong}},
issn = {{1001-0742}},
keywords = {{Aphanizomenon; Cylindrospermopsis; Dolichospermum; Phytoplankton; Pseudanabaena; Trophic status}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{219--234}},
publisher = {{Science China Press}},
series = {{Journal of Environmental Sciences (China)}},
title = {{Understanding filamentous cyanobacteria and their adaptive niches in Lake Honghu, a shallow eutrophic lake}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2024.05.010}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.jes.2024.05.010}},
volume = {{152}},
year = {{2025}},
}