Occurrence of microcystin-producing cyanobacteria in Ugandan freshwater habitats.

ABSTRACT: Microcystins (MCs) are cyclic heptapeptides, which are the most abundant toxins produced by cyanobacteria in freshwater. The phytoplankton of many freshwater lakes in Eastern Africa is dominated by cyanobacteria. Less is known, however, on the occurrence of MC producers and the production of MCs. Twelve Ugandan freshwater habitats ranging from mesotrophic to hypertrophic conditions were sampled in May and June of 2004 and April of 2008 and were analyzed for their physicochemical parameters, phytoplankton composition, and MC concentrations. Among the group of the potential MC-producing cyanobacteria, Anabaena (0-10(7) cells ml(-1)) and Microcystis (10(3)-10(7) cells ml(-1)) occurred most frequently and dominated in eutrophic systems. A significant linear relationship (n = 31, r(2) = 0.38, P

SUBMITTER: Okello W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3024051 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature