title: Increased risk of exposure to microcystins in the scum of the filamentous cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae accumulated on the western shoreline of the Curonian Lagoon.
abstract: Concentration of toxic cyanobacteria blooms on the downwind shore of high recreational amenity water bodies with largely increases the risk of exposure to cyanotoxins. In this study analysis of phytoplankton structure, cyanotoxin composition and concentration was performed on cyanobacteria scum material, high- and low-density bloom samples in the Curonian Lagoon. We found that the concentration of cyanotoxins in the scum material increased from ∼30 to ∼300-fold compared to bloom samples. In Microcystis aeruginosa dominated samples microcystin-LR was present at the highest concentration, while the dominance of Planktothrix agardhii was associated with the occurrence of dmMC-RR as the major microcystin variant. The toxicological potential of cyanobacterial scums in the Curonian Lagoon is emphasized, and management by removal of these scums is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Open Access Centre for Nature Research, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania. Electronic address: sigitas.sulcius@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sigitas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Šulčius
authors.affiliation: Open Access Centre for Marine Research, Klaipėda University, H. Manto Str. 84, LT-92294 Klaipėda, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pilkaitytė
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, al. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, PL-81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mazur-Marzec
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Algology and Microbial Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Jūratė
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kasperovičienė
authors.affiliation: Atlantic Branch of P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, 1 Pr. Mira, Kaliningrad 236000, Russia.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ezhova
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk, al. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, PL-81-378 Gdynia, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Błaszczyk
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Algology and Microbial Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos Str. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Ričardas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paškauskas
mesh_terms: D046890:Aphanizomenon / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005068:Eutrophication; D008097:Lithuania; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D052998:Microcystins / Q000032:analysis*; D046931:Microcystis; D010839:Phytoplankton; D012426:Russia
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; C078588:microcystin; C057862:cyanoginosin LR
keywords: Baltic Sea; Harmful cyanobacterial blooms; Microbiological pollutants; Planktothrix agardhii; Recreational waters