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Distribution of Microcystins in a Lake Foodweb: No Evidence for Biomagnification

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Abstract

Microcystins, toxins produced by cyanobacteria, may play a role in fish kills, although their specific contribution remains unclear. A better understanding of the eco-toxicological effects of microcystins is hampered by a lack of analyses at different trophic levels in lake foodwebs. We present 3 years of monitoring data, and directly compare the transfer of microcystin in the foodweb starting with the uptake of (toxic) cyanobacteria by two different filter feeders: the cladoceran Daphnia galeata and the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha. Furthermore foodwebs are compared in years in which the colonial cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa or the filamentous cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii dominated; there are implications in terms of the types and amount of microcystins produced and in the ingestion of cyanobacteria. Microcystin concentrations in the seston commonly reached levels where harmful effects on zooplankton are to be expected. Likewise, concentrations in zooplankton reached levels where intoxication of fish is likely. The food chain starting with Dreissena (consumed by roach and diving ducks) remained relatively free from microcystins. Liver damage, typical for exposure to microcystins, was observed in a large fraction of the populations of different fish species, although no relation with the amount of microcystin could be established. Microcystin levels were especially high in the livers of planktivorous fish, mainly smelt. This puts piscivorous birds at risk. We found no evidence for biomagnification of microcystins. Concentrations in filter feeders were always much below those in the seston, and yet vectorial transport to higher trophic levels took place. Concentrations of microcystin in smelt liver exceeded those in the diet of these fish, but it is incorrect to compare levels in a selected organ to those in a whole organism (zooplankton). The discussion focuses on the implications of detoxication and covalent binding of microcystin for the transfer of the toxin in the foodweb. It seems likely that microcystins are one, but not the sole, factor involved in fish kills during blooms of cyanobacteria.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Rijkswaterstaat (Hoofdkantoor and Regionale Directie IJsselmeergebied - RDIJ). Harro Reeders and later Winfried Laane made funding available for the study at RDIJ and participated in supervising the study that was carried out by AquaSense. Several employees at AquaSense including Ad van Mullem were involved in the study reported here. Staff from the Ecology Department of the Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment—RIZA contributed to the study via many valuable discussions. N. Stockhofe-Zurwieden from ID-Lelystad performed the histological studies. Analysis of microcystin using the MMPB method was kindly carried out by Krister Karlsson at the laboratory of Dr. Jussi Meriluoto from the Åbo Akademi University in Turku, Finland. We also acknowledge the advice of Dr. Lisette De Senerpont Domis on statistics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment (RIZA), Lelystad, The Netherlands

    B.W. Ibelings, J. de Jonge & K. Wolfstein

  2. Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Centre for Limnology, Department of Foodweb Studies, Nieuwersluis, The Netherlands

    B.W. Ibelings & L.M. Dionisio Pires

  3. AquaSense, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    K. Bruning, J. Postma & T. Burger

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  1. B.W. Ibelings
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Correspondence to B.W. Ibelings.

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Ibelings, B., Bruning, K., de Jonge, J. et al. Distribution of Microcystins in a Lake Foodweb: No Evidence for Biomagnification. Microb Ecol 49, 487–500 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-004-0014-x

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