Ecological Implications in a Human-Impacted Lake—A Case Study of Cyanobacterial Blooms in a Recreationally Used Water Body

Agnieszka Napiórkowska-Krzebietke (), Julita Anna Dunalska and Elżbieta Bogacka-Kapusta
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Agnieszka Napiórkowska-Krzebietke: Department of Ichthyology, Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecology, National Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Oczapowskiego 10, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Julita Anna Dunalska: Institute of Geography, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Jana Bażyńskiego 8, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland
Elżbieta Bogacka-Kapusta: Department of Lake Fisheries, National Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Rajska 2, 11-500 Giżycko, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: This study was aimed primarily at describing the planktonic assemblages with special attention to invasive and toxin-producing cyanobacterial species in the context of ecological and health threats. The second aim was to analyze the aspect of recreational pressure, which may enhance the cyanobacterial blooms, and, as a consequence, the negative changes and loss of planktonic biodiversity. This study was carried out in recreationally used Lake Sztynorckie throughout the whole growing season of 2020 and included an assessment of the abundance and biomass of phytoplankton (cyanobacteria and algae) in relation to environmental variables. The total biomass was in the range of 28–70 mg L −1 , which is typical for strong blooms. The dominant filamentous cyanobacteria were Pseudanabaena limnetica , Limnothrix redekei , Planktolyngbya limnetica , and Planktothrix agarhii , and three invasive nostocalean species Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides , Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi , and Raphidiopsis raciborskii . They can pose a serious threat not only to the ecosystem but also to humans because of the possibility of cyanobacteria producing cyanotoxins, such as microcystins, saxitoxins, anatoxin-a, and cylindrospermopsins, having hepatotoxic, cytotoxic, neurotoxic, and dermatoxic effects. The water quality was assessed as water bodies had bad ecological status (based on phytoplankton), were highly meso-eutrophic (based on zooplankton), and had very low trophic efficiency and low biodiversity.

Keywords: cyanobacterial bloom; cyanotoxin; Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides; Cuspidothrix issatschenkoi; Raphidiopsis raciborskii (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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