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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial toxins in the alkaline crater lakes Sonachi and Simbi, Kenya
Harmful Algae, Volume 4, No. 1, Year 2005
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Description
The phytoplankton communities and the production of cyanobacterial toxins were investigated in two alkaline Kenyan crater lakes, Lake Sonachi and Lake Simbi. Lake Sonachi was mainly dominated by the cyanobacterium Arthrospira fusiformis, Lake Simbi by A. fusiformis and Anabaenopsis abijatae. The phytoplankton biomasses measured were high, reaching up to 3159 mg l -1 in L. Sonachi and up to 348 mg l-1 in L. Simbi. Using HPLC techniques, one structural variant of the hepatotoxin microcystin (microcystin-RR) was found in L. Sonachi and four variants (microcystin-LR, -RR, -LA and -YR) were identified in L. Simbi. The neurotoxin anatoxin-a was found in both lakes. To our knowledge this is the first evidence of cyanobacterial toxins in L. Sonachi and L. Simbi. Total microcystin concentrations varied from 1.6 to 12.0 μg microcystin-LR equivalents g-1 DW in L. Sonachi and from 19.7 to 39.0 μg microcystin-LR equivalents g-1 DW in L. Simbi. Anatoxin-a concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 μg g-1 DW in L. Sonachi and from 0 to 1.4 μg g-1 DW in L. Simbi. In a monocyanobacterial strain of A. fusiformis, isolated from L. Sonachi, microcystin-YR and anatoxin-a were produced. The concentrations found were 2.2 μg microcystin g-1 DW and 0.3 μg anatoxin-a g-1 DW. This is the first study showing A. fusiformis as producer of microcystins and anatoxin-a. Since A. fusiformis occurs in mass developments in both lakes, a health risk for wildlife can be expected. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Ballot, Andreas
Germany, Berlin
Leibniz-institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Krienitz, Lothar
Germany, Berlin
Leibniz-institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Kotut, Kiplagat
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenyatta University
Billker, Oliver
Germany, Berlin
Leibniz-institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Pflugmacher Lima, Stephan
Germany, Berlin
Leibniz-institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Statistics
Citations: 163
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 2
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.hal.2004.01.001
ISSN:
15689883
Study Locations
Kenya