Description
Cyanobacteria, such as Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii are prokaryotes, lacking a cell nucleus, but because of the size of their colonies and their role in photosynthesis, they have been traditionally lumped with the true algae (eukaryotes).
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monera | Cyanophyta | Cyanophyceae | Nostocales | Nostocaceae | Cylindrospermopsis |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
| First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Established | Unknown | Introduced | Regular Resident | North America | Unknown-Freshwater | Shipping(Ballast Water), Ornamental(Aquatic Plant); Fisheries(Fisheries Accidental); Natural Dispersal(Natural Dispersal) |
History of Spread
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii was described from Indonesia in 1913, and was later found widely in tropical areas around the world, including Brazil and Australia. In recent decades, it has been found with increasing frequency in temperate lakes (Briand et al. 2004; Weidner et al. 2007). It was present in Hungary by 1986. and is now known from France, Germany, and Austria (Briand et al. 2004). Genetic studies suggest that separate lineages occur in Australia, Europe, and the Americas. Unexpectedly high genetic diversity was found in Florida lakes, suggestive of rapid evolution (Dyble et al. 2002). It was first reported in North America in 1955 from Wooster Lake, Kansas, and was later found in lakes in Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, and Texas, and Ontario (Rick et al. 2008). Extensive blooms have occurred in Florida lakes (Chapman and Schelske 1997) and the St. Johns River (Leonard and Paerl 2005; Rick et al. 2008). It was reported from Lake Erie in the 1970s (Rick et al. 2008). However, its occurrence in open water of the Great Lakes was not confirmed until 2005 (Conroy et al. 2008).
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii has a limited tolerance of brackish water and has been recorded in oligohaline waters, including lagoons of the Caspian Sea and Sea of Azov (Ramezanpoor 2004). In the laboratory, it grows at salinities up to 4 ppt (Moisander et al. 2002). In Louisiana, it is widespread in the rivers and lakes of the Mississippi Delta, and occurs at salinities up to 4.8 ppt in the Caernavon-Breton Sound estuary (Rick et al. 2008). It occasionally occurs in the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina (Moisander et al. 2002).
In surveys in tidal fresh waters of Chesapeake Bay, this blue-green has been identified microscopically, in surveys taking place from 2000-2006, although its toxin was not detected in a subset of samples (Tango and Butler 2009). It has also been found in oligohane waters in Back Bay, Virginia, an arm of Currituck Sound (Marshall et al. 2009). Possible vectors for the transport of this cyanobacterium include ballast water, ornamental aquatic plants, trailered boats and fishing gear, and dispersal of spores by migratory birds.
Invasion Comments
None
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | 35.0 | |||
| Salinity (‰) | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
| Oxygen | None | |||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | fresh-oligo |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Maximum Longevity (yrs) | ||
| Typical Longevity (yrs |
Reproduction
| Start | Peak | End | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive Season | |||
| Typical Number of Young Per Reproductive Event |
|||
| Sexuality Mode(s) | |||
| Mode(s) of Asexual Reproduction |
|||
| Fertilization Type(s) | |||
| More than One Reproduction Event per Year |
|||
| Reproductive Startegy | |||
| Egg/Seed Form |
Impacts
Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii produces a toxin, cylindrospermopsin, which is known to kill fishes and cattle, and produce skin reactions, liver damage, and death in humans (Jones and Sauter 2005; Center for Aquatic Resource Studies 2008). Impacts of this organism in Chesapeake Bay tidal waters are not known. Although C. raciborskii was occasionally found 'in abundance', cylindrospermopsin was not detected in samples in a 200-02006 survey (Tango and Butler 2008). Blooms of other, presumably native cyanobacteria, such as Microcystis aeruuginosa and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae have led to the closure of some freshwater Chesapeake Bay tributaries to recreational use during blooms (Tango and Butler 2008).
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii produces a toxin, cylindrospermopsin, which is known to kill fishes and cattle, and produce skin reactions, liver damage, and death in humans (Jones and Sauter 2005; Center for Aquatic Resource Studies 2008). A bloom of C. raciborskii in drinking water caused an epidemic of hepatoenteritis, in Palm Island, Queensland, Australia. This organism is considered especially problematic because it does not produce surface scums, bad odors, or bad flavors in water (Jones and Sauter 2005). Its rapid spread in temperate zones has been attributed, in part, to climate change (Briand et al. 2004; Weidner et al. 2007).
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a planktonic cyanobacterium which was first found in tropical regions and has been colonizing mid-latitude temperate waters (Briand et al. 2004; Weidner et al. 2004). Its competitive advantages include nitrogen fixation, efficient phosphorus and ammonia uptake, and an ability to grow well at low light levels (Briand et al. 2004). In addition, its blooms seem to depress the condition and feeding of larger zooplankton, such as copepods and cladocerans (Leonard and Paerl 2005). This organism is capable of producing a powerful toxin, cylindrospermopsin, which can cause liver and nerve damage in animals, and has been associated with kills of fish and birds (Jones and Sauter 2005). Impacts of this organism in Chesapeake Bay tidal waters are not known. Although C. raciborskii was occasionally found 'in abundance', cylindrospermopsin was not detected in samples in a 200-02006 survey (Tango and Butler 2008).
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
The cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii does produce a toxin (cylindrospermopsin) which could potentially adversely affect introduced zooplankton (e.g., the cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi), fishes, and waterfowl). Although C. raciborskii was occasionally found 'in abundance', cylindrospermopsin was not detected in samples in a 2000-2006 survey (Tango and Butler 2008).