Publication Details
Please note this explorer contains 2017 and prior publications and is no longer updated. Visit Data Reports Explorer for the latest NCCOS research data and reports.
Niche Differentiation Among Cyanobacterial Populations Revealed via Eco-Transcriptomic Surveys of Lake Erie
Author(s): Gobler, Christopher J.; Matthew J. Harke
NCCOS Center: CSCOR
Name of Publisher: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Publication Type: Abstract
Journal Title: Program of the Eighth Symposium on Harmful Algae in the United States, November 15-19, 2015, Long Beach, CA
Date of Publication: 2015
Reference Information:
1 p.
Keywords: cyanobacteria; phosphorus; nitrogen; harmful algal blooms; Lake Erie; niche; transcriptomics; Microcystis; Anabaena; Planktothrix
Abstract: While toxic cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Erie threaten drinking water supplies and are promoted by nutrient loading, the precise nutrient regime that selects specific cyanobacteria populations is poorly understood. Here, we assess shifts in cyanobacterial abundances and global gene expression patterns in response to natural and manipulated gradients in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in western Lake Erie to identify gene pathways that facilitate dominance by different genera. Gradients in orthophosphate concentrations played a key role in shaping cyanobacteria communities and had the largest effect on transcriptomic responses. Under high P conditions, Anabaena and Planktothrix were the dominant cyanobacterial populations and P promoted nifH expression in Anabaena. While additions of P elicited the upregulation of genes involved in phage infection defense, genomic rearrangement, and nitrogen acquisition in Microcystis, these conditions also led to lower Microcystis abundances. In the presence of low levels of P, however, Microcystis became the dominate cyanobacteria as it upregulated genes associated with P scavenging (pstSCAB, phoX) and storage (ppk1). Nitrogen did not alter Microcystis abundances but did increase the expression of protease inhibitors (aer, mcn gene sets) that may deter zooplankton grazing as well as microcystin synthetase genes (mcy) with urea enrichment yielding significant increases in microcystin concentrations. The expression of genes that facilitate the adaptation of Anabaena and Planktothrix to high P regions and Microcystis low P zones suggest that management schemes that reduce the delivery of P to western Lake Erie may alter the composition, but not the persistence of cyanobacterial blooms.
Availability: Available from NCCOS Projects Explorer and from the publisher.
Related Attachment: Download file (.pdf)
Note to readers with disabilities: Some scientific publications linked from this website may not conform to Section 508 accessibility standards due to the complexity of the information being presented. If you need assistance accessing this electronic content, please contact the lead/corresponding author, Primary Contact, or nccos.webcontent@noaa.gov.