title: Preliminary Assessment of Cyanobacteria Diversity and Toxic Potential in Ten Freshwater Lakes in Selangor, Malaysia.
abstract: Toxic cyanobacteria blooms are increasing in magnitude and frequency worldwide. However, this issue has not been adequately addressed in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aims to better understand eutrophication levels, cyanobacteria diversity, and microcystin concentrations in ten Malaysian freshwater lakes. The results revealed that most lakes were eutrophic, with total phosphorus and total chlorophyll-a concentrations ranging from 15 to 4270 µg L(-1) and 1.1 to 903.1 µg L(-1), respectively. Cyanobacteria were detected in all lakes, and identified as Microcystis spp., Planktothrix spp., Phormidium spp., Oscillatoria spp., and Lyngbya spp. Microcystis spp. was the most commonly observed and most abundant cyanobacteria recorded. Semi-quantitative microcystin analysis indicated the presence of microcystin in all lakes. These findings illustrate the potential health risk of cyanobacteria in Malaysia freshwater lakes, thus magnifying the importance of cyanobacteria monitoring and management in Malaysian waterways.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Sultan Idris Education University, 35900, Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia. somcit@fsmt.upsi.edu.my.
authors.forename: Som Cit
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sinang
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Sultan Idris Education University, 35900, Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Keong Bun
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Poh
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Sultan Idris Education University, 35900, Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Syakirah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shamsudin
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Sultan Idris Education University, 35900, Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinden
mesh_terms: D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005068:Eutrophication; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D008296:Malaysia; D052998:Microcystins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D046931:Microcystis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D052998:Microcystins; D010758:Phosphorus; C078588:microcystin
keywords: Cyanobacteria; Eutrophication; Freshwater lakes; Microcystin