Planktothrix rubescens: a perennial presence and toxicity in Lake Sapanca

Abstract

IntroductionClimate variability is expected to have a significant impact on inland waters, including lakes. It is widely accepted that water temperature is a key parameter in most biological systems, directly influencing water chemistry, biochemical reactions, and aquatic biota. Increasing water temperatures can change the hydrodynamics and expand the thermal stratification period of lakes (Komatsua et al., 2007). On the other hand, climatic effects on phytoplankton are also of considerable importance, since the composition and quantity of phytoplankton are important parameters of water quality (Shams et al., 2012) and a good indicator of the ecological status of water bodies (Demir et al., 2014).Regional impacts of climate warming on water ecosystems represent a new and growing threat (Liboriussen et al., 2005). Climate change has been considered a potential tool for the further expansion of harmful cyanobacterial blooms, particularly in eutrophic waters with rising temperatures, enhanced stratification, increased residence time, and high nutrient loading all favoring cyanobacterial dominance (

Molecular detection of hepatotoxic cyanobacteria in inland water bodies of the Marmara Region, Turkey

“…Because of these contradictory results, it is necessary to analyse higher number of Microcystis mor- It is known that P. agardhii and P. rubescens have specific ecological niches. While P. rubescens occurs in oligo-to mesotrophic physically stratified lakes (Akçaalan et al, 2014a), P. agardhii become dominant in shallow, eutrophic and polymictic water bodies . In this study, P. rubescens was isolated from Sapanca Lake, which is a moderately deep, oligo-mesotrophic lake.…”

“…On the other hand, in typical freshwater Sapanca Lake, which is used for drinking water and has low nutrient concentration, toxic P. rubescens form massive blooms. The most important factors are the high water transparency, thermal stratification, a long water residence time and low nutrient availability, which have negative effect on other phytoplankton species in the lake (Legnani et al, 2005;Akçaalan et al, 2014a) …”

“…resulted in fish mortality in İznik Lake (Albay et al, 2003a). Cyanotoxin research has started at the end of 1990s and increased in recent years (Albay et al, 2003a,b;Albay et al, 2005;Akçaalan et al, 2006Akçaalan et al, , 2014aAkçaalan et al, , 2014bAkçaalan et al, , 2016 It is well known that microscopic identification of cyanobacteria is time consuming and it requires taxonomic expertise. Due to this limitation, molecular tools have been increasingly applied also to environmental studies (Kurmayer and Christiansen, 2009;Bukowska et al, 2014).…”

Untitled

“…Studies on the effects of environmental variables on distribution on algae started in the 80s (Altuner, 1984;Gönülol & Aykulu, 1984). and a huge amount of data on algal communities of various water resources was published so far (Akçaalan et al, 2014;OngunSevindik, 2010;Çelik & Ongun-Sevindik, 2015;Ongun-Sevindik et al, 2017). However, although the subject gained attention of many researchers, the dams in Thrace region was neglected except Kadıköy Reservoir on which a single study was performed so far (Öterler, 2013).…”

“…Turbidity caused by excessive overpopulation of algae in certain layers of the water body due to various reasons (nutrients, water and air temperature, climate conditions, etc.) will create a pressure on the community structure of species in deeper layers (Reynolds, Huszar, Kruk, Naselli-Flores & Melo, 2002;Akçaalan et al, 2006;Akçaalan, Köker, Gürevin & Albay, 2014). Studies on algal flora in inland waters of Turkey started in the 70s and have increased in frequency up to now (Demirhindi, 1972;Tanyolaç & Karabatak, 1972;Aykulu & Obalı, 1981;Ünal, 1984;Gönülol, 1985;Yıldız, 1985).…”