Cyanobacterial community succession and associated cyanotoxin production in hypereutrophic and eutrophic freshwaters

ABSTRACT Intertidal mussels are important ecosystem engineers that increase habitat complexity and provide shelter, substratum and food to associated communities. They thus play a key role in the maintenance of local biodiversity. Intertidal mussels are frequently parasitized by endolithic cyanobacteria that erode and significantly weaken their shells. We examined succession of cyanobacterial infestation in the shells of the mussels Perna perna and Mytilus galloprovincialis on the south coast of South Africa. We examined variations in species composition of the endolithic cyanobacterial community across regions of mussel shells of different ages (variation in space) and by exposing non-infested shells in field experiments for known periods (variation in time). The results on the spatial distribution of endolith species within a shell supported those from the field experiment evaluating temporal succession. Endolithic species that were early colonists of clean shells were similar to those that were found at the distal edge, the new and growing region of the shell. These species were also found near the umbo, the oldest region of the shell, but cyanobacterial communities near the umbo also included species that appeared late in time. Thus, succession when viewed in either time or space involved the accumulation, rather than the replacement of species. Species that arrived late in the succession were similar to endolithic species found near the umbo, the oldest region of the shell. Overall, the study shows clear patterns of endolithic cyanobacterial succession within mussel shells.

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Change in population niche during vegetation community succession in the Yellow River Delta

CHINESE JOURNAL OF ECO-AGRICULTURE ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1011.2010.00581 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 581-587 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shi-Hong BAI ◽

Feng-Yun MA ◽

Dong HOU ◽

Di WANG

Keyword(s):

Yellow River ◽

Yellow River Delta ◽

River Delta ◽

The Yellow River ◽

Community Succession ◽

Vegetation Community ◽

The Yellow River Delta

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Cyanobacterial Mats in Calcite-Precipitating Serpentinite-Hosted Alkaline Springs of the Voltri Massif, Italy

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9010062 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 62

Author(s):

Aysha Kamran ◽

Kathrin Sauter ◽

Andreas Reimer ◽

Theresa Wacker ◽

Joachim Reitner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Microbial Mats ◽

Environmental Dna ◽

Cyanobacterial Mats ◽

Cyanobacterial Community ◽

Mineral Precipitation ◽

Community Based ◽

Specific Adaptation ◽

Carbonate Buildups ◽

Generation Sequencing

(1) Background: Microbial communities in terrestrial, calcifying high-alkaline springs are not well understood. In this study, we investigate the structure and composition of microbial mats in ultrabasic (pH 10–12) serpentinite springs of the Voltri Massif (Italy). (2) Methods: Along with analysis of chemical and mineralogical parameters, environmental DNA was extracted and subjected to analysis of microbial communities based upon next-generation sequencing. (3) Results: Mineral precipitation and microbialite formation occurred, along with mat formation. Analysis of the serpentinite spring microbial community, based on Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons, point to the relevance of alkaliphilic cyanobacteria, colonizing carbonate buildups. Cyanobacterial groups accounted for up to 45% of all retrieved sequences; 3–4 taxa were dominant, belonging to the filamentous groups of Leptolyngbyaceae, Oscillatoriales, and Pseudanabaenaceae. The cyanobacterial community found at these sites is clearly distinct from creek water sediment, highlighting their specific adaptation to these environments.

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