Growth of Microcystis strains isolated from environments with the presence and absence of submerged macrophytes in coexistence with Ceratophyllum demersum

Cyanobacterial blooms can cause severe ecological and health problems in drinking water reservoirs. To alleviate this problem, allelopathically active submerged macrophytes can be used to reduce cyanobacterial growth. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of strains of the Microcystis aeruginosa complex isolated from reservoirs with the presence and absence of submerged macrophytes to the allelochemicals of Ceratophyllum demersum. A coexistence experiment was carried out between the submerged macrophyte C. demersum and four Microcystis strains, with two treatments for each strain, one in coexistence with the submerged macrophyte (7 g L-1) and control (in the absence of the macrophyte). Two strains of M. aeruginosa (BMIUFRPE-06 and BMIUFRPE-07) and two of M. panniformis (BMIUFRPE-08 and BMIUFRPE-09) were used, which were isolated from Cajueiro (with submerged macrophytes) and Tapacurá (without submerged macrophytes) reservoirs, respectively. The biomass of Microcystis strains from the reservoir without macrophytes (BMIUFRPE-08 and BMIUFRPE-09) was significantly inhibited in 96% (T-test: p < 0.01) and 74% (T-test: p< 0.05), when compared to the control, respectively, with lower values of growth rates (ANOVA: p < 0.05). The strains isolated from the reservoir with macrophytes (BMIUFRPE-06 and BMIUFRPE-07) showed a growth delay (biomass reductions of 44 and 58%, respectively) in the coexistence treatment but without significant difference from the control on the sixth day of the experiment (biomass - T-test: p > 0.05; growth rate - ANOVA: p > 0.05). These results suggest that strains isolated from environments with submerged macrophytes are less sensitive to allelochemicals of these plants, as these strains may be adapted to the coexistence with submerged macrophytes.

Isolated and combined effects of a submerged macrophyte and a cladoceran on the interactions between Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanobacteria) and Raphidocelis subcapitata (Chlorophyta)

Introduction: Cyanobacterial blooms in tropical water bodies are increasingly common, because of eutrophication and rising temperatures. Consequently, many freshwater systems are affected, by reducing water quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. With the increased frequency of harmful algal blooms, the development of biological tools to improve water quality is an urgent issue. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a submerged macrophyte and a cladoceran on the microcystin-producing cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa (NPLJ-4) and the chlorophyte Raphidocelis subcapitata (BMIUFRPE-02) in mixed cultures. Methods: Two parallel experiments were carried out for ten days to evaluate the effects of the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum and the cladoceran Moina micrura on microalgal interactions. Microalgal strains were cultivated in the ASM1 culture medium, under controlled laboratory conditions. The first experiment presented four treatments: M (C. demersum), Z (M. micrura), MZ (C. demersum and M. micrura), and C (control). Meanwhile, the second experiment consisted of five treatments, in which the microalgae were cultivated together at different Microcystis:Raphidocelis ratios: 1:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:1. Biomass and growth rates of the strains were evaluated every two days, which were statistically treated with three-way or two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: In the first experiment, M. aeruginosa was significantly inhibited in M and MZ treatments from the second day, and Z from the fourth, while R. subcapitata showed no reduction in its biomass in any treatment. On the other hand, R. subcapitata was stimulated from the eighth and tenth days in M treatment and only on the eighth day in Z treatment. In the second experiment, M. aeruginosa was significantly inhibited when cultivated with R. subcapitata in low ratios (Microcystis:Raphidocelis ratio of 1:3) throughout the experiment, while the chlorophyte was stimulated in that treatment. Conclusions: The coexistence of a cyanobacterium with a green alga did not alter the main negative response of M. aeruginosa to the submerged macrophyte and zooplankton but stimulated the green alga. Accordingly, the introduction of submerged macrophytes and cladocerans already adapted to eutrophic conditions, both isolated and combined, proved to be a good method to control cyanobacterial blooms without negatively affecting other coexisting phytoplankton species.