Strain-specific responses of toxic and non-toxic Microcystis aeruginosa to exudates of heterotrophic bacteria
Although the cyanobacterium Microcystis is colonial during water blooms, isolated Microcystis strains become unicellular in culture. Studies indicate that heterotrophic bacteria can promote Microcystis colonies in culture, but little is known about the underlying mechanism or how widespread it is am...
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Published in | Hydrobiologia Vol. 847; no. 1; pp. 75 - 89 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Cham
Springer International Publishing
2020
Springer Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Although the cyanobacterium
Microcystis
is colonial during water blooms, isolated
Microcystis
strains become unicellular in culture. Studies indicate that heterotrophic bacteria can promote
Microcystis
colonies in culture, but little is known about the underlying mechanism or how widespread it is among bacteria. This study investigated the identity and colony-promoting effects of bacteria isolated from the 2014
Microcystis
bloom in Lake Erie. Isolates were classified by their 16S rRNA gene sequences. Toxic and non-toxic cultures of
M. aeruginosa
were exposed to exudates of bacterial isolates, and their morphology, polysaccharide content, and reflectance spectra were compared to those of
M. aeruginosa
control cultures. Six isolates belonging to three genera enhanced the frequency or size of
M. aeruginosa
colonies in cultures where a dialysis barrier prevented direct contact between heterotrophic cells and
M. aeruginosa
cells. Toxic and non-toxic
M. aeruginosa
strains differed in how their morphology and optical properties responded to treatment. This study demonstrates that heterotrophic bacteria can promote colonial morphology in
Microcystis
without making physical contact with the
Microcystis
cells, as well as the first to indicate that toxic and non-toxic strains of the same morphospecies have different morphological and optical responses. |
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ISSN: | 0018-8158 1573-5117 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s10750-019-04073-4 |