Ecological Implications in a Human-Impacted Lake-A Case Study of Cyanobacterial Blooms in a Recreationally Used Water Body

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Mar 13;20(6):5063. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20065063.

Abstract

This study was aimed primarily at describing the planktonic assemblages with special attention to invasive and toxin-producing cyanobacterial species in the context of ecological and health threats. The second aim was to analyze the aspect of recreational pressure, which may enhance the cyanobacterial blooms, and, as a consequence, the negative changes and loss of planktonic biodiversity. This study was carried out in recreationally used Lake Sztynorckie throughout the whole growing season of 2020 and included an assessment of the abundance and biomass of phytoplankton (cyanobacteria and algae) in relation to environmental variables. The total biomass was in the range of 28-70 mg L-1, which is typical for strong blooms. The dominant filamentous cyanobacteria were Pseudanabaena limnetica, Limnothrix redekei, Planktolyngbya limnetica, and Planktothrix agarhii, and three invasive nostocalean species Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides, Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi, and Raphidiopsis raciborskii. They can pose a serious threat not only to the ecosystem but also to humans because of the possibility of cyanobacteria producing cyanotoxins, such as microcystins, saxitoxins, anatoxin-a, and cylindrospermopsins, having hepatotoxic, cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and dermatoxic effects. The water quality was assessed as water bodies had bad ecological status (based on phytoplankton), were highly meso-eutrophic (based on zooplankton), and had very low trophic efficiency and low biodiversity.

Keywords: Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi; Raphidiopsis raciborskii; Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides; cyanobacterial bloom; cyanotoxin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cyanobacteria*
  • Ecosystem*
  • Humans
  • Lakes / microbiology
  • Phytoplankton

Grants and funding

The studies on phytoplankton and zooplankton were supported by the National Inland Fisheries Research Institute in Olsztyn (NIFRI statutory research topic no. Z-014). The study was also supported by the King Cross Shopping Warsaw Sp. z o.o. (no. 29.690.052-500) and the Community of Nowy Sztynort. Chemical parameters of water were determined in the Institute of Oceanography of the University of Gdańsk (special thanks to Dorota Burska and Dorota Pryputniewicz-Flis). Publication cost was co-financed by the scholarship fund of the National Inland Fisheries Research Institute.