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MEPS 287:1-9 (2005)
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Abstract
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Effects of cyanobacterial allelochemicals on a natural plankton community
Sanna Suikkanen1,*, Giovana O. Fistarol2,3, Edna Granéli2
1Finnish Institute of Marine Research, PO Box 33, 00931 Helsinki, Finland
2Department of Marine Sciences, University of Kalmar, Landgången 3, 39231 Kalmar, Sweden
3Present address: LabTox., Dept. de
Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, Centro Tecnológico da UFSC, Campus UniversitárioTrinidade, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, CEP 88040-900, Brazil
*Email: sanna.suikkanen@fimr.fi
ABSTRACT: We investigated the effects of cell-free filtrates of the cyanobacteria Nodularia spumigena, Aphanizomenon sp. and Anabaena sp. on a brackish-water plankton community (< 150 µm). In a laboratory experiment, we
monitored the concentration of chlorophyll a and cell numbers of bacteria, phytoplankton and ciliates in the experimental units treated with cyanobacterial filtrates and the control medium. Cyanobacterial filtrates altered the cell numbers of many
phytoplankton groups; they stimulated both colonial (Snowella spp.) and filamentous cyanobacteria (Pseudanabaena spp., Anabaena spp., Aphanizomenon sp., N. spumigena), a chlorophyte (Oocystis sp.), a
dinoflagellate (Amphidinium sp.) and nanoflagellates, but inhibited cryptophytes. The filtrates also increased the numbers of bacteria at the beginning of the experiment, whereas they had no effect on ciliate abundances. Our results suggest that
cyanobacteria may enhance the effects of eutrophication by stimulating various phytoplankton groups. The specific compounds causing this stimulation remain to be studied. On the other hand, cyanobacteria also seem able to reduce the biomass of certain
phytoplankton species, via an allelopathic mechanism.
KEY WORDS: Cyanobacteria · Nodularia · Aphanizomenon · Anabaena · Allelopathy · Baltic Sea
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
287
(2005) on February 18
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2005
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