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Microcystins and cyanophyte extracts inhibit or promote the photosynthesis of fluvial algae. Ecological and management implications

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Abstract

The ecological influence of cyanotoxins on aquatic biota remains unclear despite the numerous published references on toxicological and sanitary problems related with cyanophyte proliferation. The effects of microcystins and cyanophyte extracts on the photosynthesis of the algae that belong to two taxonomic groups, Rhodophyta and Bacillariophyta, were studied in an attempt to elucidate their role in the intraspecific competence and physiognomy of fluvial communities. The data showed that both cyanobacteria extracts and pure microcystin-LR affected the photosynthetic activity of all the tested organisms, diatoms (Fistulifera pelliculosa, Gomphonema parvulum, Nitzschia frustulum and Stephanodiscus minutulus) and red algae (Chroothece richteriana) at environmentally relevant concentrations. Effects varied with strains and time, and promoted or inhibited photosynthesis. The microcystins and the other compounds present in cyanobacteria extracts may explain the competence effects observed in nature, especially in calcareous environments where they predominate, and after disturbing events like heavy rains or floods, which may destroy cyanophyte mats and release toxic or inhibitory compounds in a seasonal scale pattern.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Seneca Foundation of the Murcia Region (05762/PI/07), the Consejería de Universidades, Empresa e Investigación of the Murcia Region (PEPLAN-S5), the Science and Innovation Spanish Ministry (CGL2009-09563) for their support, and the PASPA-DGAPA-UNAM programme for support to the second author for a sabbatical stay. We also wish to thank V Osorio and MÀ Puig for their help with the statistical analysis, MD Pardo for the HPLC analysis, and H Warburton for her assistance with the English version of the text.

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  1. Laboratory of Algology, Faculty of Biology, Espinardo Campus, Murcia University, Murcia, E-30100, Spain

    Laura García-Espín & Marina Aboal

  2. Multidisciplinary Teaching and Research Unit, Faculty of Sciences, Juriquilla Campus, National Autonomous University of México, Querétaro, C. P. 76230, Mexico

    Enrique A. Cantoral

  3. Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Elche Campus, Miguel Hernández University, Elche, E-03202, Alicante, Spain

    Antonia D. Asencio

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  1. Laura García-Espín
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Correspondence to Antonia D. Asencio.

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García-Espín, L., Cantoral, E.A., Asencio, A.D. et al. Microcystins and cyanophyte extracts inhibit or promote the photosynthesis of fluvial algae. Ecological and management implications. Ecotoxicology 26, 658–666 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-017-1798-z

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