<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Grazing of zooplankton on phytoplankton may contribute to a reduction of harmful cyanobacteria in eutrophic waters. However, the feeding capacity and interaction between zooplankton and toxic cyanobacteria vary among grazer species. In this study, laboratory feeding experiments were designed to measure the grazing rate of the copepod <italic>Cyclops vicinus</italic> on <italic>Microcystis aeruginosa</italic> and the potential microcystin (MC) accumulation in the grazer. Copepods were fed a mixed diet of the edible green alga <italic>Ankistrodesmus falcatus</italic> and toxic <italic>M. aeruginosa</italic> for 10 days. The results showed that C. <italic>vicinus</italic> efficiently ingested toxic <italic>Microcystis</italic> cells with high grazing rates, varying during the feeding period (68.9–606.3 <italic>Microcystis</italic> cells animal-1 d-1) along with <italic>Microcystis</italic> cell density. <italic>Microcystis</italic> cells exhibited a remarkable induction in MC production under grazing conditions with concentrations 1.67–12.5 times higher than those in control cultures. Furthermore, C. <italic>vicinus</italic> was found to accumulate MCs in its body with concentrations increasing during the experiment (0.05–3.21 μg MC animal-1). Further in situ studies are needed to investigate the ability of <italic>Cyclops</italic> and other copepods to assimilate and detoxify MCs at environmentally relevant concentrations before deciding on the biocontrol of <italic>Microcystis</italic> blooms by copepods.
</abstract>

Grazing of zooplankton on phytoplankton may contribute to a reduction of harmful cyanobacteria in eutrophic waters. However, the feeding capacity and interaction between zooplankton and toxic cyanobacteria vary among grazer species. In this study, laboratory feeding experiments were designed to measure the grazing rate of the copepod Cyclops vicinus on Microcystis aeruginosa and the potential microcystin (MC) accumulation in the grazer. Copepods were fed a mixed diet of the edible green alga Ankistrodesmus falcatus and toxic M. aeruginosa for 10 days. The results showed that C. vicinus efficiently ingested toxic Microcystis cells with high grazing rates, varying during the feeding period (68.9–606.3 Microcystis cells animal-1 d-1) along with Microcystis cell density. Microcystis cells exhibited a remarkable induction in MC production under grazing conditions with concentrations 1.67–12.5 times higher than those in control cultures. Furthermore, C. vicinus was found to accumulate MCs in its body with concentrations increasing during the experiment (0.05–3.21 μg MC animal-1). Further in situ studies are needed to investigate the ability of Cyclops and other copepods to assimilate and detoxify MCs at environmentally relevant concentrations before deciding on the biocontrol of Microcystis blooms by copepods.

Grazing of the copepod <italic>Cyclops vicinus</italic> on toxic <italic>Microcystis aeruginosa</italic>: potential for controlling cyanobacterial blooms and transfer of toxins

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

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Grazing of the copepod  on toxic : potential for controlling cyanobacterial blooms and transfer of toxins

Grazing of zooplankton on phytoplankton may contribute to a reduction of harmful cyanobacteria in eutrophic waters. However, the feeding capacity and...

Grazing of the copepod Cyclops vicinus on toxic Microcystis aeruginosa: potential for controlling cyanobacterial blooms and transfer of toxins

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Sep 21, 2018

Page range: 296 - 302

Received: Jan 01, 2018

Accepted: Feb 09, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2018-0028

© 2018 Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.