ABSTRACT: Expansive blooms of the toxic cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula were observed in 2 shallow water regions of Moreton Bay, Australia. The rapid bloom decline (8 to <1 km² in <7 d) prompted an investigation of the role of cyanophage viruses in the ecophysiology of L. majuscula. Virus-like particles produced by decaying L. majuscula were observed using electron microscopy. The virus-like particles were similar in morphology to viruses in the genus Cyanostyloviridae. The effect of viruses on L. majuscula photosynthesis was investigated by: (1) creating a virus concentrate using tangential-flow ultrafiltration of seawater surrounding L. majuscula; (2) inoculating L. majuscula with the concentrate; and (3) measuring photosynthetic response using a pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometer. Virus concentrate addition resulted in decreased initial fluorescence, decreased photochemical efficiency and decreased electron transport rate in rapid light curves after 5 d. Viruses present within L. majuscula filaments may play an important role in the bloom dynamics of this ecologically important cyanobacterium.

KEY WORDS: Lyngbya majuscula · Cyanophage · Virus · Lysogeny

Full text in pdf format

Published in AME Vol. 25, No. 3 (2001) on September 28
Print ISSN: 0948-3055; Online ISSN: 1616-1564. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2001