Crustacean Zooplankton Ingestion of Potentially Toxic <i>Microcystis</i>: In Situ Estimation Using <i>mcyE</i> Gene Gut Content Detection in a Large Temperate Eutrophic Lake.

ABSTRACT: Grazing by zooplankton can regulate bloom-forming cyanobacteria but can also transfer toxin-producing cells, as well as toxic metabolites, to the food web. While laboratory investigations have provided extensive knowledge on zooplankton and toxic cyanobacteria interactions, information on zooplankton feeding on toxin-producing cyanobacteria in natural water bodies remains scarce. In this study, we quantified Microcystis-specific mcyE synthase genes from the gut contents of various cladoceran and copepod taxa to assess the in situ crustacean community and taxon-specific ingestion of potentially toxic Microcystis in Lake Peipsi, a large eutrophic lake in Estonia, Northern Europe. Microcystis cells with mcyE genes were found in all crustaceans examined. Howe

SUBMITTER: Agasild H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11768910 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature