Eutrophic lakes are hot spots of CH₄ and volatile sulfur compound (VSC) emissions, especially during algal blooms and decay. However, the response of CH₄ and VSC emissions to lake eutrophication and algae growth as well as the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the emissions of CH₄ and VSCs from four regions of Lake Taihu with different eutrophic levels were investigated in four months (i.e., March, May, August and December). The CH₄ emissions ranged from 20.4 to 126.9 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ in the investigated sites and increased with eutrophic levels and temperature. H₂S and CS₂ were the dominant volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) emitted from the lake. The CH₄ oxidation potential of water ranged from 2.1 to 14.9 μg h⁻¹ L⁻¹, which had positive correlations with trophic level index and the environmental variables except for the NH₄⁺-N concentration. Eutrophic levels could increase the abundances of bacteria and methanotrophs in lake water. α-Proteobacteria methanotroph Methylocystis was more abundant than γ-Proteobacteria methanotrophs in March and May, while the latter was more abundant in August and November. The relative abundance of Cyanobacteria, including Microcystis, A. granulata var. angustissima and Cyanobium had significantly positive correlations with temperature, turbidity, SO₄²⁻-S, and total sulfur. Partial least squares path modelling revealed that the algal growth could promote VSC emissions, which had a positive correlation with CH₄ oxidation potential, likely due to the positive correlation between the CH₄ and VSC emissions from lakes. These findings indicate that water eutrophication and algae growth could increase the emissions of CH₄ and VSCs from lakes. Controlling algae growth might be an effective way to mitigate the emissions of CH₄ and VSCs from freshwater lakes.

Antibiotics can stimulate the growth of model cyanobacterial species under pure culture conditions, but their influence on cyanobacterial blooms in natural aquatic ecosystems remains unclear. In this study, three commonly detected antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin) and their ternary mixture were proved to selectively stimulate (p < 0.05) the growth and photosynthetic activity of cyanobacteria in an aquatic microcosm at an environmentally relevant exposure dose of 300 ng/L under both oligotrophic and eutrophic conditions. Under the eutrophic condition, cyanobacteria reached a bloom density of 1.61 × 10⁶ cells/mL in 15 days without antibiotics, while the cyanobacteria exposed to tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and their ternary mixture exceeded this bloom density within only 10, 8, 7, and 6 days, respectively. Principal coordinate analysis indicated that the antibiotic contaminants accelerated the prokaryotic community succession towards the formation of a cyanobacterial bloom by promoting the dominance of Microcystis, Synechococcus, and Oscillatoria under the eutrophic condition. After 15 days of culture, the antibiotic exposure increased the density of cyanobacteria by 1.38–2.31-fold and 2.28–3.94-fold under eutrophic and oligotrophic conditions, respectively. Antibiotic exposure generated higher stimulatory effects on cyanobacterial growth under the oligotrophic condition, but the antibiotic(s)-treated cyanobacteria did not form a bloom due to nutrient limitation. Redundancy analysis indicated that the three target antibiotics and their ternary mixture affected the prokaryotic community structure in a similar manner, while tetracycline showed some differences compared to sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and the ternary antibiotic mixture with regard to the regulation of the eukaryotic community structure. This study demonstrates that antibiotic contaminants accelerate the formation of cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic lake water and provides insights into the ecological effects of antibiotics on aquatic microbial communities.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution frequently co-occur with Microcystis-dominated blooms in freshwaters, but MPs effects on toxigenic Microcystis growth and effect mechanisms remained poorly understood. This study used 0.5 μm-size polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to explore dose- and time-dependent effects of single and combined MPs (i.e., PE + PVC) on toxigenic Microcystis growth and cellular responses during 16 day-test. Results showed that Microcystis growth and cellular responses depended on exposure time, MPs dose and type. MPs elicited hormesis effect in early stage at low dose (5 mg/L), while increasingly inhibited growth with rising PVC or PE + PVC dose but declining PE dose (5, 10, 50 mg/L) in mid-late stage, with stress intensity of PE + PVC > PVC > PE. Further analyses revealed unobvious cell damage under MPs stress, largely because antioxidases were increasingly activated as MPs stress enhanced. Unicellular MCs release ability during mid stage almost coincided with total/bound amount and each fraction of ex-poly and ex-pro trends under MPs stress. Significant positive relationship existed between MCs release ability and ex-poly/ex-pro fractions and total amount of Microcystis cells along mid-late stage under MPs stress, validating that ex-poly/ex-pro production was regulated as a result of MCs release. Besides, unicellular MCs production ability was generally positively correlated with soluble, tightly-bound and total ex-poly and ex-pro at late stage. These suggested that cellular antioxidants, MCs production/release ability and ex-poly/ex-pro production of Microcystis could be coupled to exert integrated defense against MPs stress to protect surviving cells in Microcystis population. These findings are crucial for acquiring the fate of Microcystis-dominated blooms co-occurring with MPs pollution, and reasonably assessing and managing involved eco-risks.

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) have been found to transmit from N₂ fixer-dominated to non-N₂ fixer-dominated in many freshwater environments when the supply of N decreases. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying such “counter-intuitive” CyanoHAB species succession, metatranscriptomes (biotic data) and water quality-related variables (abiotic data) were analyzed weekly during a bloom season in Harsha Lake, a multipurpose lake that serves as a drinking water source and recreational ground. Our results showed that CyanoHABs in Harsha Lake started with N₂-fixing Anabaena in June (ANA stage) when N was high, and transitioned to non-N₂-fixing Microcystis- and Planktothrix-dominated in July (MIC-PLA stage) when N became limited (low TN/TP). Meanwhile, the concentrations of cyanotoxins, i.e., microcystins were significantly higher in the MIC-PLA stage. Water quality results revealed that N species (i.e., TN, TN/TP) and water temperature were significantly correlated with cyanobacterial biomass. Expression levels of several C- and N-processing-related cyanobacterial genes were highly predictive of the biomass of their species. More importantly, the biomasses of Microcystis and Planktothrix were also significantly associated with expressions of microbial genes (mostly from heterotrophic bacteria) related to processing organic substrates (alkaline phosphatase, peptidase, carbohydrate-active enzymes) and cyanophage genes. Collectively, our results suggest that besides environmental conditions and inherent traits of specific cyanobacterial species, the development and succession of CyanoHABs are regulated by co-occurring microorganisms. Specifically, the co-occurring microorganisms can alleviate the nutrient limitation of cyanobacteria by remineralizing organic compounds.

Microcystis blooms and their secondary metabolites microcystins (MCs) occurred all over the world, which have damaged aquatic ecosystems and threatened public health. Techniques to reduce the Microcystis blooms and MCs are urgently needed. This study aimed to investigate the algicidal and inhibitory mechanisms of a red pigment prodigiosin (PG) against the growth and MC-producing abilities of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa). The numbers of Microcystis cells were counted under microscope. The expression of microcystin synthase B gene (mcyB) and concentrations of MCs were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods, respectively. The inhibitory effects of PG against M. aeruginosa strain FACHB 905 with 50% algicidal concentration (LC50) at 120 h was 0.12 μg/mL. When M. aeruginosa cells exposed to 0.08 μg/mL, 0.16 μg/mL, 0.32 μg/mL PG, the expression of mcyB of M. aeruginosa was down-regulated 4.36, 8.16 and 18.51 times lower than that of the control at 120 h. The concentrations of total MC (TMC) also were 1.66, 1.72 and 5.75 times lower than that of the control at 120 h. PG had high algicidal effects against M. aeruginosa, with the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) initially increased and then decreased after 72 h, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) increase, the expression of mcyB gene down-regulation, and MCs synthesis inhibition. This study was first to report the PG can simultaneously lyse Microcystis cells, down-regulate of mcyB expression and inhibit MCs production effectively probably due to oxidative stress, which indicated PG poses a great potential for regulating Microcystis blooms and MCs pollution in the environment.

Controlling blooms of toxigenic phytoplankton, including cyanobacteria, is a high priority for managers of aquatic systems that are used for drinking water, recreation, and aquaculture production. Although a variety of treatment approaches exist, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has the potential to be an effective and ecofriendly algaecide given that this compound may select against cyanobacteria while not producing harmful residues. To broadly evaluate the effectiveness of H2O2 on toxigenic phytoplankton, we tested multiple concentrations of H2O2 on (1) four cyanobacterial cultures, including filamentous Anabaena, Cylindrospermopsis, and Planktothrix, and unicellular Microcystis, in a 5-day laboratory experiment and (2) a dense cyanobacterial bloom in a 7-day field experiment conducted in a nutrient-rich aquaculture pond. In the laboratory experiment, half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) were similar for Anabaena, Cylindrospermopsis, and Planktothrix (average EC50 = 0.41 mg L−1) but were ∼10x lower than observed for Microcystis (EC50 = 5.06 mg L−1). Results from a field experiment in an aquaculture pond showed that ≥1.3 and ≥ 6.7 mg L−1 of H2O2 effectively eliminated Planktothrix and Microcystis, respectively. Moreover, 6.7 mg L−1 of H2O2 reduced microcystin and enhanced phytoplankton diversity, while causing relatively small negative effects on zooplankton abundance. In contrast, 20 mg L−1 of H2O2 showed the greatest negative effect on zooplankton. Our results demonstrate that H2O2 can be an effective, rapid algaecide for controlling toxigenic cyanobacteria when properly dosed.

Elevated temperatures and nutrients can favor phytoplankton dominance by cyanobacteria, which can be toxic to zooplankton. There is growing awareness that maternal effects not only are common but can also significantly impact ecological interactions. Although climate change is broadly studied, relatively little is known regarding its influence on maternal effects in zooplankton. Given that lakes are sentinels for climate change and that elevated temperatures and nutrient pollution can favor phytoplankton dominance by toxic cyanobacteria, this study focused on elucidating the effects of maternal exposure to elevated temperatures on the tolerance of zooplankton offspring to toxic cyanobacteria in the diet. Three different maternal thermal environments were used to examine population fitness in the offspring of two cladoceran species that vary in size, including the larger Daphnia similoides and the smaller Moina macrocopa, directly challenged by toxic Microcystis. Daphnia and Moina mothers exposed to elevated temperatures produced offspring that were more resistant to Microcystis. Such findings may result from life-history optimization of mothers in different temperature environments. Interestingly, offspring from Moina fed with toxic Microcystis performed better than Daphnia offspring, which could partially explain the dominance of small cladocerans typically observed during cyanobacterial blooms. The present study emphasizes the importance of maternal effects on zooplankton resistance to cyanobacteria mediated through environmental warming and further highlights the complexities associated with the abiotic factors that influence zooplankton-cyanobacteria interactions.

Microcystis blooms pose a major threat to the quality of drinking water. Cyanobactericidal bacteria have attracted much attention in the research community as a vehicle for controlling Microcystis blooms because of their ecological safety. Nonetheless, most studies on cyanobactericidal bacteria have been conducted on a laboratory scale but have not been scaled-up as field experiments. Thus, our understanding of the microbial response to cyanobactericidal bacteria in natural ecosystems remains elusive. Herein, we applied Paucibacter aquatile DH15 to control Microcystis blooms in a 1000 L mesocosm experiment and demonstrated its potential with the following results: (1) DH15 reduced Microcystis cell density by 90.7% within two days; (2) microcystins released by Microcystis death decreased to the control level in four days; (3) during the cyanobactericidal processes, the physicochemical parameters of water quality remained safe for other aquatic organisms; and (4) the cyanobactericidal processes promoted the growth of eukaryotic microalgae, replacing cyanobacteria. The cyanobactericidal processes accelerated turnover rates, decreased stability, and altered the functional profile of the microbial community. Network analysis demonstrated that this process resulted in more complex interactions between microbes. Overall, our findings suggest that strain DH15 could be considered a promising candidate for controlling Microcystis blooms in an eco-friendly manner.

Several studies have reported the contamination of farmed fish by microcystins, however, alternations in levels of contamination resulting from seasonal changes are infrequently described. This investigation is focused on the seasonal accumulation of microcystins in farmed Nile Tilapia muscle tissue across three farms located in Zaria, Nigeria, as a means of assessing the health risks associated with the consumption of contaminated fish. Total microcystins and cyanobacteria content, respectively, in muscle tissue and gut of tilapia varied, seasonally in the farms. Microcystin levels were higher in fish tissues analyzed in the dry season than the rainy season at Nagoyi and Danlami ponds. Correlating with the levels of microcystins found in fish tissues, the highest dissolved microcystins levels in all the fish farms occurred in the dry season, where the Bal and Kol fish farm had the highest concentration (0.265 ± 0.038 μgL⁻¹). Gut analysis of fish obtained from the ponds, revealed a predominance of Microcystis spp. among other cyanobacteria. Estimation of total daily intake of consumed contaminated Nile tilapia muscles reveal values exceeding WHO recommended (0.04 μg kg⁻¹ body weight) total daily intake of MC-LR. Consumption of tilapia from Danlami pond presented the greatest risk with a value of 0.093 μg kg⁻¹ total daily intake. Results of the present study necessitate the implementation of legislation and monitoring programs for microcystins and other cyanobacteria contaminants of fish obtained from farms and other sources in Zaria and indeed several other African countries.

Aquatic ecosystems and drinking water supply systems worldwide are increasingly affected by taste and odor episodes. In this study, molecular approaches including next-generation sequencing (NGS) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used to study the diversity and dynamics of cyanobacteria and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB)-producing cyanobacteria in Yuqiao Reservoir, a eutrophicated drinking water reservoir in Tianjin city, northern China. NGS revealed that the entire cyanobacterial community consisted of 16 genera, with Planktothrix (28.8%), Pseudanabaena (18.4%), Cylindrospermosis (7.8%), and Microcystis (7.6%) being the dominant genera, while microscopic examination identified only eight cyanobacterial genera. NGS of the 2-MIB synthesis gene revealed that Pseudanabaena and Planktothricoides were the main 2-MIB producers, with Pseudanabaena being dominant. This finding demonstrated that NGS can identify 2-MIB producers quickly and accurately and it can thus play an important role in the practical monitoring of aquatic ecology. The qPCR test showed 2-MIB synthesis gene with 4.27 × 10⁶ copies/L to 2.24 × 10⁹copies/L occurring at the three sampling sites. The mic gene copy number increased before the 2-MIB concentration increased, indicating that forecasting role in dealing with the 2-MIB concentration by gene copy number. Predicting 2-MIB by qPCR in the field must be verified with additional studies. The combination of NGS and qPCR can be an even more comprehensive method to provide early warning information to managers of reservoirs and water utilities facing taste and odor incidents. This is the first amplicon NGS dataset based on 2-MIB gene to study the diversity and dynamics of 2-MIB-producing cyanobacteria.