Cyanobacterial Diversity and the Presence of Microcystins in the Küçük Menderes River Basin, Turkiye

Authors : Latife KÖKER, Ayça OĞUZ ÇAM, Reyhan AKÇAALAN, Meriç ALBAY

Pages : 129-139

Doi:10.26650/ASE20221088270

View : 24 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2022-06-11

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Although cyanobacteria are commonly associated with eutrophic lakes, they are the basic compo-nents of phytoplankton communities in lakes that have different trophic statuses. In inland waters, both nutrient loading from watersheds and warmer conditions promote phytoplankton growth and cause extensive cyanobacterial blooms. Certain bloom-forming cyanobacterial species can pose a health risk to humans and aquatic ecosystems through cyanotoxin production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cyanobacterial composition and toxins in five reservoirs and two natural lakes in the Küçük Menderes River Basin, all with varying trophic statuses. Within this scope, sam-ples were collected in autumn 2017 and spring 2018. Cyanobacterial species were enumerated according to the Utermöhl method. Cyanotoxin samples were analyzed using HPLC. To find the trophic status of the water bodies, the Trophic State Index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(TSI); developed by Carlson insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1977); was used and Total Phosphorus insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(TP);, Secchi Depth insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SD);, and Chlorophyll-ɑ insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(chl-ɑ); measurements were performed. Cyanobacterial abundance, species composition, and cyanotoxin production differed significantly between the lakes and reservoirs. A total of 13 cyanobacteria species were identified including potential cyanotoxin producers such as Microcystis, Aphanizomenon, and Dolichospermum. According to the TSI, three reservoirs were mesotrophic and the other four waterbodies had eutro-phic-hypereutrophic conditions. Microcystis is the most common bloom-forming freshwater cyano-bacteria in the Küçük Menderes River Basin. However, microcystin concentrations were relatively low and the highest microcystin concentration was detected in the Tahtalı Reservoir at 9 μg/L. The Küçük Menderes River Basin is under water-stressed conditions and the cyanobacteria blooms in the region might pose another threat for wildlife and humans.
Keywords : Cyanobacteria, Cyanotoxin, Reservoir, Algal Blooms, Eutrophication