Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Distribution and toxicity of a new colonial Microcystis aeruginosa bloom in the San Francisco Bay Estuary, California

Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The first distribution, biomass and toxicity study of a newly established bloom of the colonial cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa was conducted on October 15, 2003 in the upper San Francisco Bay Estuary. Microcystis aeruginosa was widely distributed throughout 180 km of waterways in the upper San Francisco Bay Estuary from freshwater to brackish water environments and contained hepatotoxic microcystins at all stations. Other cyanobacteria toxins were absent or only present in trace amounts. The composition of the microcystins among stations was similar and dominated by demethyl microcystin-LR followed by microcystin-LR. In situ toxicity computed for the >75 μm cell diameter size fraction was well below the 1 μg l−1 advisory level set by the World Health Organization for water quality, but the toxicity of the full population is unknown. The toxicity may have been greater earlier in the year when biomass was visibly higher. Toxicity was highest at low water temperature, water transparency and salinity. Microcystins from the bloom entered the food web and were present in both total zooplankton and clam tissue. Initial laboratory feeding tests suggested the cyanobacteria was not consumed by the adult copepod Eurytemora affinis, an important fishery food source in the estuary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association and Water Environment Association. 1998. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC.

  • D.M. Anderson D.J. Garrison (1997) ArticleTitleThe ecology and oceanography of harmful algal blooms Special issue. Limnology and Oceanography 42 1009–1305

    Google Scholar 

  • W. A. Bennett P. B. Moyle (1996) Where have all the fishes gone? Interactive factors producing fish declines in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary J. T. Hollibaugh (Eds) San Francisco Bay: The Ecosystem. Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science San Francisco, California 519–542

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Brunberg P. Blomqvist (2003) ArticleTitleRecruitment of Microcystis (Cyanophyceae) from lake sediments: The importance of littoral inocula Journal of Phycology 39 58–63 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1529-8817.2003.02059.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G. L. Boyer G. D. Goddard (1999) ArticleTitleHigh performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with post-column electrochemical oxidation (ECOS) for the detection of PSP toxins Natural Toxins 7 353–359 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1522-7189(199911/12)7:6<353::AID-NT83>3.0.CO;2-D Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXktlWiuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11122529

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D. Breitburg (2002) ArticleTitleEffects of hypoxia, and the balance between hypoxia and enrichment, on coastal fishes and fisheries Estuaries 25 767–781

    Google Scholar 

  • California Bay-Delta Authority, 2000. Programatic Record of Decision. Technical Report. California Bay-Delta Authority, Sacramento, CA. URL: http://calwater.ca.gov/Archives/GeneralArchive/rod/ROD8-28-00.pdf.

  • W. W. Carmichael (1995) Toxic microcystis in the environment M. F. Watanabe K. Harada W. W. Carmichael H. Fujiki (Eds) Toxic Microcystis. CRC Press New York 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • W. W. Carmichael J. An (1999) ArticleTitleUsing an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a protein phosphatase inhibition assay (PP1A) for the detection of microcystins and nodularins Natural Toxins 7 377–385 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1522-7189(199911/12)7:6<377::AID-NT80>3.3.CO;2-# Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXktlWhsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11122533

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Christian, R. R., W. L. Bryant Jr. & D. W. Stanley, 1986. The relationship between river flow and Microcystis aeruginosablooms in the Neuse River, North Carolina. Water Resources Research Institute Report 223. North Carolina State University.

  • Cohen, A. N. & J. T. Carlton, 1995. Indigenous aquatic species in a United States estuary: study of the biological invasions of the San Francisco Bay and Delta. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC and the National Sea Grant College Program, Connecticut Sea Grant.

  • W. R. DeMott Q. Zhang W. W. Carmichael (1991) ArticleTitleEffects of toxic cyanobacteria and purified toxins on the survival and feeding of a copepod and three species of Daphnia Limnology and Oceanography 36 1346–1357 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38Xhs1yisr0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J. A. Downing S. B. Watson E. McCauley (2001) ArticleTitlePredicting cyanobacterial dominance in lakes Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 58 1905–1908 Occurrence Handle10.1139/cjfas-58-10-1905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F. Feyrer B. Herbold S. A. Matern P. Moyle (2003) ArticleTitleDietary shifts in a stressed fish assemblage: consequences of a bivalve invasion in the San Francisco Estuary Environmental Biology of Fishes 67 277–288 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1025839132274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A. Ghadouani B. Pinel-Alloul K. Plath G. A. Codd W. Lampert (2004) ArticleTitleEffects of Microcystis aeruginosaand purified microcystin-LR on the feeding behavior of Daphnia pulicaria Limnology and Oceanography 49 666–679

    Google Scholar 

  • R. J. Hallock R. F. Elwell D. H. Fry (1970) Migrations of Adult King Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the San Joaquin Delta, as Demonstrated by the Use of Sonic Tags. Bulletin 151 California Department of Fish and Game Fish Sacramento, California

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Harada (1995) Chemistry and detection of microcystins M. F. Watanabe K. Harada W. W. Carmichael H. Fujiki (Eds) Toxic Microcystis CRC Press New York 103–148

    Google Scholar 

  • T. Hanazato (1995) Toxic cyanobacteria and the zooplankton community M. F. Watanabe K. Harada W. W. Carmichael H. Fujiki (Eds) Toxic Microcystis. CRC Press New York 79–102

    Google Scholar 

  • R. A. Horner D. L. Garrison F. G. Plumley (1997) ArticleTitleHarmful algal blooms and red tide problems on the US west coast Limnology and Oceanography 42 1076–1088

    Google Scholar 

  • K. J. James I. R. Sherlock (1996) ArticleTitleDetermination of the cyanobacterial neurotoxin, anatoxin-a, by derivatization using 7-fluoro-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-F) and HPLC analysis with fluorimetric detection Biomedical Chromatography 10 46–47 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1099-0801(199601)10:1<46::AID-BMC551>3.0.CO;2-7 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK28XntVeitw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle8821873

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A. D. Jassby J. E. Cloern B. E. Cole (2002) ArticleTitleAnnual primary production: patterns and mechanisms of change in a nutrient-rich tidal ecosystem Limnology and Oceanography 47 698–712

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Kaya (1995) Toxicology of Microcystins M. F. Watanabe K. Harada W. W. Carmichael H. Fujiki (Eds) Toxic Microcystis. CRC Press New York 175–202

    Google Scholar 

  • P. W. Lehman (1992) ArticleTitleEnvironmental factors associated with long-term changes in chlorophyll concentration in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay, California Estuaries 15 335–348 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38Xmtl2hsrY%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lehman P.W. (1996). Changes in chlorophyll a concentration and phytoplankton community composition with water-year type in the upper San Francisco Bay Estuary. In: Hollibaugh J.T. (eds), San Francisco Bay: The Ecosystem. Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. San Francisco, California, pp. 351–374.

  • P. W. Lehman (2000) ArticleTitleThe influence of climate on phytoplankton community carbon in San Francisco Bay Estuary Limnology and Oceanography 45 580–590 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjsV2ltLY%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • P. W. Lehman (2004) ArticleTitleThe influence of climate on mechanistic pathways that impact lower food web production in northern San Francisco Bay estuary Estuaries 27 311–324

    Google Scholar 

  • P. W. Lehman R. W. Smith (1991) ArticleTitleEnvironmental factors associated with phytoplankton succession for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Bay Estuary California. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 32 105–128

    Google Scholar 

  • P. W. Lehman S. Waller (2003) ArticleTitleMicrocystis blooms in the Delta Interagency Ecological Program for the San Francisco Estuary Newsletter 16 18–19

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Lindstrom (1983) ArticleTitleSelenium as a growth factor for plankton algae in laboratory experiments and in some Swedish lakes Hydrobiologia 101 35–48

    Google Scholar 

  • V. F. Magalhaes M. M. Marinho P. Domingos A. C. Oliveira S. M. Costa L. O. Azevedo S. M. F. O. Azevedo (2003) ArticleTitleMicrocystins (cyanobacteria hepatotoxins) bioacccumulation in fish and crustaceans from Sepetiba Bay (Brazil, RJ) Toxicon 42 289–295 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0041-0101(03)00144-2 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXnvFGmtLg%3D Occurrence Handle14559080

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • A. F. Marker C. A. Crowther R. J. M. Gunn (1980) ArticleTitleMethanol and acetone as solvents for estimating chlorophyll aand phaeopigments by spectrophotometry Achiv fuer Hydrobiologie supplement 14 52–59 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3MXktVaru7s%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • A. B. Mueller-Solger A. D. Jassby D. C. Mueller-Navarra (2002) ArticleTitleNutritional quality for zooplankton (Daphnia) in a tidal freshwater system (Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, USA) Limnology and Oceanography 47 1468–1476

    Google Scholar 

  • K. R. O’Brien D. L. Meyer A. M. Waite G. N. Ivey D. P. Hamilton (2004) ArticleTitleDisaggregation of Microcystis aeruginosa colonies under turbulent mixing: laboratory experiments in a grid-stirred tank Hydrobiologia 519 143–152 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:HYDR.0000026501.02125.cf

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • H. W. Paerl (1988) ArticleTitleNuisance phytoplankton blooms in coastal, estuarine and inland waters Limnology and Oceanography 33 823–847 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXlslGkurw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H. Park M. F. Watanabe (1995) Toxic Microcystis in Eutrophic lakes M. F. Watanabe K. Harada W. W. Carmichael H. Fujiki (Eds) Toxic Microcystis CRC Press New York 57–78

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Reinikainen M. Ketola M. Walls (1994) ArticleTitleEffects of the concentrations of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa and an alternative food on the survival of Daphnia pulex Limnology and Oceanography 39 424–432

    Google Scholar 

  • C. S. Reynolds G. H. M. Jaworski H. A. Cmiech G. F. Leedale (1981) ArticleTitleOn the annual cycle of the blue-green alga Microcystis aeruginosa Kutz Emend. Elenkin. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences 293 419–477

    Google Scholar 

  • R. D. Robarts T. Zohary (1992) ArticleTitleThe influence of temperature and light on the upper limit of Microcystis aeruginosa production in a hypertrophic reservoir Journal of Plankton Research 14 235–247

    Google Scholar 

  • B. J. Robson D. P. Hamilton (2003) ArticleTitleSummer flow event induces a cyanobacterial bloom in a seasonal Western Australia estuary Marine and Freshwater Research 54 139–151 Occurrence Handle10.1071/MF02090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute, Inc., 2004. SAS/STAT User’s Guide, Version 8. SAS Institute Inc., SAS Campus Drive, Cary, NC.

  • K. G. Sellner D. C. Brownleee M. H. Bundy S. G. Brownlee K. R. Braun (1993) ArticleTitleZooplankton grazing in a Potomac River cyanobacteria bloom Estuaries 16 859–872

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Sivonen G. Jones (1999) Cyaonbacterial toxins I. Chorus J. Bartram (Eds) Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water. World Health Organization London 41–112

    Google Scholar 

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), 1983. Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes. Washington, DC. Technical Report EPA-600/4-79-020.

  • H. Utermohl (1958) ArticleTitleZur Vervollkommung der quantitativen Phytoplankton-methodik Mitteilumgen Internationale Verejunigung fur Theoretische und Angewandtet Limnologie 9 1–38

    Google Scholar 

  • A. J. Westhuizen ParticleVan der J. N. Eloff (1985) ArticleTitleEffect of temperature and light on the toxicity and growth of the blue-green alga Microcystis aeruginosa (UV-006) Planta 163 55–59 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00395897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. M. Watanabe (1995) Isolation, cultivation and classification of bloom-forming Microcystis in Japan M. F. Watanabe K. Harada W. W. Carmichael H. Fujiki (Eds) Toxic Microcystis. CRC Press New York 13–34

    Google Scholar 

  • M. M. Watanabe K. Kaya N. Takamura (1992) ArticleTitleFate of the toxic cyclic heptapepetides, the microcystins, from blooms of Microcystis (cyanobacteria) in a hypertrophic lake Journal of Phycology 28 761–775 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.0022-3646.1992.00761.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXhslGiu7k%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameWorld Health Organization (1998) Guidelines for Safe Recreational-Water Environments: Coastal and Freshwaters. Draft for consultation World Health Organization Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • J. S. Yunes P. S. Salomon A. Matthiensen K. A. Beattie S. L. Raggett G. A. Codd (1996) ArticleTitleToxic blooms of cyanobacteria in the Patos Lagoon Estuary, Southern Brazil Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health 5 223–229 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00662183

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. W. Lehman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lehman, P.W., Boyer, G., Hall, C. et al. Distribution and toxicity of a new colonial Microcystis aeruginosa bloom in the San Francisco Bay Estuary, California. Hydrobiologia 541, 87–99 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-4670-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-4670-0

Keywords

Navigation