Ecology of cyanobacteria and the role of cyanotoxins

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Aquatic ecosystems are subject to multiple anthropogenic stressors: excess nutrient loading, invasive species and climate change are impacting lakes and rivers worldwide. One highly visible consequence appears to be an increase in the magnitude and/or frequency of cyanobacterial blooms. These blooms can also produce potent toxins with repercussions on wildlife, human health and local economies. However, the specific environmental conditions leading to toxic cyanobacterial blooms are complex and not well understood. In lakes, while nutrients are typically the primary cause of cyanobacterial blooms, increases have been observed in the absence of any change in nutrients, and other causal or contributing factors have been suggested, namely climate change and invasive species. This research programme aims to determine: 1) the drivers of cyanobacterial dominance and cyanotoxin production in lakes that may be independant of nutrients, and 2) the biological and ecological role(s) of cyanotoxins which remain unclear. The approach will include laboratory experiments comparing isolated strains of cyanobacteria (both toxin and non-toxin producing) and lake ecosystem analyses along climate gradients (across Ontario/Quebec) and as a function of invasive zebra mussels and aquatic plants. This research will assist in the management of lakes and in mitigation measures to protect the health of aquatic ecosystems.