Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Microcystins induce morphological and physiological changes in selected representative phytoplanktons.

Bojan Sedmak1, Tina Elersek

  • 1National Institute of Biology, Vecna pot 111, SI-1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia. bojan.sedmak@nib.si

Microbial Ecology
|October 11, 2005
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Functional Genomics Screening in <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Maps the Genetic Landscape of Tolerance to Paraquat and Diuron.

Environmental science & technology·2026
Same author

Proficiency testing and cross-laboratory method comparison to support standardisation of diatom DNA metabarcoding for freshwater biomonitoring.

Metabarcoding and metagenomics·2025
Same author

A new quantitative PCR assay for detection of potentially anatoxin-producing cyanobacteria.

Harmful algae·2025
Same author

Cyanobacterial Cyclic Peptides Can Disrupt Cytoskeleton Organization in Human Astrocytes-A Contribution to the Understanding of the Systemic Toxicity of Cyanotoxins.

Toxins·2024
Same author

Molecular Screening for Cyanobacteria and Their Cyanotoxin Potential in Diverse Habitats.

Toxins·2024
Same author

Exploring BPA alternatives - Environmental levels and toxicity review.

Environment international·2024
Same journal

Emerging Threats in Southern U.S. Pine Plantations: Temporal Dynamics of Fungal Communities and the Impact of Lecanosticta acicola.

Microbial ecology·2026
Same journal

Gut Microbiota and Feeding Patterns of the Antarctic Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta gaini Daday, 1910): A Metabarcoding Perspective.

Microbial ecology·2026
Same journal

Exploring Metabolic Interaction between Ophiostoma novo-ulmi and Geosmithia spp.

Microbial ecology·2026
Same journal

Comparing Aquatic Environmental DNA, Microscopy and Sedimentary DNA to Investigate Cyanobacterial Community Dynamics Across a Trophic Gradient.

Microbial ecology·2026
Same journal

Shifts in the Rhizosphere Bacterial Community and Improved Essential Oil Yield and Quality in Chamomilla recutita L. Plant Through Cyanobacterial Inoculation.

Microbial ecology·2026
Same journal

Rainfall Drives Differentiation of Plant Rhizosphere Microbial Communities in Two Different Types of Alpine Wetlands: A Perspective Based on a Carbon-Water Coupling Framework.

Microbial ecology·2026
See all related articles

Dissolved microcystins (MC) impact phytoplankton metabolism and physiology, causing cell aggregation and pigment changes. These toxins may signal worsening light conditions in cyanobacterial blooms.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental toxicology
  • Aquatic ecology
  • Phycology

Background:

  • Dissolved microcystins (MC) are common in waters with bloom-forming cyanobacteria.
  • Microcystins are potent toxins affecting aquatic ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of common microcystins (MC-LR, -RR, -YR) on representative phytoplankton species.
  • To understand the physiological and morphological responses of phytoplankton to microcystins under simulated bloom conditions.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro experiments exposing phytoplankton (Microcystis aeruginosa, Scenedesmus quadricauda) to environmentally relevant microcystin concentrations (5 x 10(-7) M).
  • Assessment of morphological and physiological changes at light intensities mimicking cyanobacterial bloom environments (50 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹).

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Microcystins induced cell aggregation, increased cell volume, and overproduced photosynthetic pigments in both microcystin-producing and non-producing strains.
  • Observed effects suggest a relationship between these responses, potentially linked to light-harvesting complex signaling.
  • Microcystins influenced the physiology of both target algae and the producing cyanobacteria.

Conclusions:

  • Microcystins exert significant morphological and physiological effects on diverse phytoplankton species.
  • These effects may serve as a signal of deteriorating light conditions caused by cyanobacterial proliferation.
  • The role of microcystins differs between the producing cyanobacteria and the surrounding aquatic environment.