Abstract
As increases in anthropogenic eutrophication and climate change contribute to more severe and frequent cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, understanding the effects and consequences cyanobacterial blooms have on aquatic organisms is crucial. Microcystis aeruginosa is one of the most common cyanobacteria taxa found in cyanobacterial blooms, producing a number of toxins including Microcystins. This study examined the effects of Microcystis aeruginosa on aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates, specifically the pollution intolerant taxa Ephemeroptera, the pollution moderately intolerant taxa Zygoptera, and the pollution tolerant taxa Chironomidae. In a controlled lab environment, macroinvertebrates were exposed to approximately 100,000 cells/ml of Microcystis aeruginosa. The survival percentage was lower for macroinvertebrates exposed to Microcystis aeruginosa in all three tolerance groups (p 0.001) while corresponding with the pollution tolerance levels of the species. Mayflies had a survival percentage of 38% in the treatment groups compared to a 98% survival percentage for control groups. Damselflies had a 43% survival percentage in the treatment groups compared to a 98% survival percentage in the control groups. Midges had a 72% survival percentage in the treatment groups compared to a 100% survival percentage in the control groups. These findings support the notion that cyanobacterial blooms have deleterious effects on freshwater ecosystems and can affect aquatic food webs.
Highlights
Microcystis aeruginosa had an effect on these specific species of macroinvertebrates, that may not be the case for other species of the same taxonomic order
There is no statistical difference in survival means between any macroinvertebrate species. These results further suggest that measures to mitigate or control CyanoHAB, their monitoring and evaluation components, should consider the relationship between macroinvertebrate survival percentages as it pertains to Microcystis aeruginosa exposure and pollution tolerance levels
Because this study suggests a link between CyanoHAB and a reduction in biodiversity among benthic macroinvertebrate communities, climate change should be approached with even greater urgency because of the critical role macroinvertebrate biodiversity plays in an ecosystem
Summary
The quality of fresh water around the world has declined in recent decades, decreasing the suitability for human use and for supporting healthy ecosystems. This poses a problem due to fresh water being an invaluable natural resource. Unhygienic and poor quality of water makes up 3.1% of the world’s deaths [1]. Fresh water sustains wildlife, including those that are of ecological importance. Plants, insects, and fish, suffers from poor water quality as they can be sensitive to short-term changes. One major factor related to the decline in water quality is an increase in cyanobacterial abundance in many freshwater systems [2]
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