Light and Phosphate Competition Between Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Microcystis aeruginosa is Strain Dependent

• Published in: Microbial ecology Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 479 - 488
• Main Authors: Marinho, Marcelo Manzi, Souza, Maria Betânia Gonçalves, Lürling, Miquel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Science + Business Media 01-10-2013; Springer US; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell growth; Competition; Cyanobacteria; cyanobacterium microcystis; Cylindrospermopsis - metabolism; Cylindrospermopsis - radiation effects; Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii; Ecological competition; Ecology; Ecophysiology; environmental-conditions; Fresh Water - microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetic diversity; Geoecology/Natural Processes; growth; harmful algal blooms; lake; Life Sciences; Light; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; MICROBIOLOGY OF AQUATIC SYSTEMS; Microcystins; Microcystis - metabolism; Microcystis - radiation effects; Monoculture; Nature Conservation; Phosphates; Phosphates - metabolism; Phosphorus; Phytoplankton; phytoplankton communities; Species; Species Specificity; temperature; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Microcystis Aeruginosa; Light Limitation; Strong Competitor; Competition Experiment; Phosphorus Limitation; Competition; Phosphates; Microcystis aeruginosa; Light; Cyanobacteria; Bacteria; Environmental factor; Ecology; Strain
• ISSN: 0095-3628; 1432-184X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00248-013-0232-1

The hypothesis that outcomes of phosphorus and light competition between Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Microcystis aeruginosa are strain dependent was tested experimentally. Critical requirements of phosphorus (P*) and of light (I*) of two strains of each species were determined through monoculture experiments, which indicated a trade-off between species and also between Microcystis strains. Competition experiments between species were performed using the weakest predicted competitors (with the highest values of P* and of I*) and with the strongest predicted competitors (with the lowest values of P* and of I*). Under light limitation, competition between the weakest competitors led C. raciborskii to dominate. Between the strongest competitors, the opposite was observed, M. aeruginosa displaced C. raciborskii, but both strains co-existed in equilibrium. Under phosphate limitation, competition between the weakest competitors led C. raciborskii to exclude M. aeruginosa, and between the strongest competitors, the opposite was observed, M. aeruginosa displaced C. raciborskii, but the system did not reach an equilibrium and both strains were washed out. Hence, outcomes of the competition depended on the pair of competing strains and not only on species or on type of limitation. We concluded that existence of different trade-offs among strains and between species underlie our results showing that C. raciborskii can either dominate or be displaced by M. aeruginosa when exposed to different conditions of light or phosphate limitation.