title: Presence of potential toxin-producing cyanobacteria in an oligo-mesotrophic lake in Baltic Lake District, Germany: an ecological, genetic and toxicological survey.
abstract: Massive developments of potentially toxic cyanobacteria in Lake Stechlin, an oligo-mesotrophic lake in the Baltic Lake District of Germany raised concerns about toxic contamination of these important ecosystems. Field samples in the phase of mass developments of cyanobacteria were used for genetic and toxicological analyses. Microcystins and microcystin genes were detected in field samples of the lake for the first time. However, the toxins were not produced by the dominant taxa (Dolichospermum circinale and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) but by taxa, which were present only in low biomass in the samples (Microcystis cf. aeruginosa and Planktothrix rubescens). The phytoplankton successions during the study period revealed an increase of cyanobacterial populations. The findings contribute to the changes that have been investigated in Lake Stechlin since the mid-1990s. The possible reasons behind these developments may be climate change, special weather conditions and an increased nutrient pool.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Alte Fischerhütte 2, Stechlin D-16775, Germany. pdadheech@curaj.ac.in.
authors.forename: Pawan K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Dadheech
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Alte Fischerhütte 2, Stechlin D-16775, Germany. selmeczy.geza@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Géza B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Selmeczy
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary. vasas.gabor@science.unideb.hu.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vasas
authors.affiliation: Department of Limnology, University of Pannonia, Egyetem utca 10, Veszprém H-8200, Hungary. padisak@almos.uni-pannon.hu.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Padisák
authors.affiliation: LimPlan, Gewässer- und Landschaftsökologie, Otawistr. 19, Berlin D-13351, Germany. w.arp@limplan.de.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Arp
authors.affiliation: Department of Limnology, University of Pannonia, Egyetem utca 10, Veszprém H-8200, Hungary. kalman.tapolczai@thonon.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Kálmán
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tapolczai
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Alte Fischerhütte 2, Stechlin D-16775, Germany. pc@igb-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Casper
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Alte Fischerhütte 2, Stechlin D-16775, Germany. krie@igb-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krienitz
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018533:Biomass; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005858:Germany; D060106:Lakes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D052998:Microcystins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D046931:Microcystis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins