Responses of alkaline phosphatase activity to wind-driven waves in a large, shallow lake: Implications for phosphorus availability and algal blooms

Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for algal growth, thus, a better understanding of phosphorus availability is essential to mitigate harmful algal blooms in lakes. Wind waves are a ubiquitous characteristic of lake ecosystems. However, its effects on the cycling of organic phosphorus and its usage by phytoplankton remain poorly elucidated in shallow eutrophic lakes. A mesocosm experiment was carried out to investigate the responses of alkaline phosphatase activity fractions to wind waves in large, shallow, eutrophic Lake Taihu. Results showed that wind-driven waves induced the release of alkaline phosphatase and phosphorus from the sediment, and dramatically enhanced phytoplanktonic alkaline phosphatase activity. However, compared to the calm conditions, bacterial and dissolved alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in wind-wave conditions. Consistently, the gene copies of Microcystis phoX increased but bacterial phoX decreased under wind-wave conditions. The ecological effects of these waves on phosphorus and phytoplankton likely accelerated the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus and promoted phytoplankton production in Lake Taihu. This study provides an improved current understanding of phosphorus availability and the phosphorus strategies of plankton in shallow, eutrophic lakes.     

Isolation, identification and characterization of an algicidal bacterium from Lake Taihu and preliminary studies on its algicidal compounds

In an effort to identify a bio-agent capable of controlling cyanobacterial blooms, we isolated a bacterial strain, A27, which exhibited strong algicidal activity against the dominant bloom-forming species of Microcystis aeruginosa in Lake Taihu. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, this strain belongs to the genus Exiguobacterium. This is the first report of an algicidal bacterial strain belonging to the genus Exiguobacterium. Strain A27 exhibited algicidal activity against a broad range of cyanobacteria, but elicited little or no algicidal activity against the two green algal strains tested. The algicidal activity of strain A27 was shown to be dependent on the density of the bacteria and to have a threshold density of 1.5× 10⁶ CFU/mL. Our data also showed that the algicidal activity of strain A27 depended on different growth stages of Microcystis aeruginosa (exponential ≈ lag phase > early stationary) rather than that of the bacterium itself. Our results also suggested the algicidal activity of strain A27 occurred via the production of extracellular algicidal compounds. Investigation of the algicidal compounds revealed that there were at least two different algicidal compounds produced by strain A27. These results indicated that strain A27 has great potential for use in the control of outbreaks of cyanobacterial blooms in Lake Taihu.     

鄱阳湖蓝藻分布及其影响因素分析

利用鄱阳湖的原位监测数据,分析鄱阳湖水华蓝藻的分布现状及其影响因素,探索鄱阳湖水华蓝藻的源头.研究结果表明,鄱阳湖浮游植物的优势种为硅藻,蓝藻为鄱阳湖的次级优势种,蓝藻在浮游植物总生物量的比例有逐年增加的趋势.水华蓝藻的主要优势种为鱼腥藻,其次为微囊藻和浮游蓝丝藻. 鄱阳湖蓝藻水华形成初期的基本规律为水华蓝藻在营养盐浓度相对较高且水流较缓的内湾及尾闾区生长分布,在夏秋季水位较高时在水流和风的作用下向主航道输移聚集. 结合鄱阳湖水文特点,主航道的水华蓝藻聚集有可能是上游四个湖区的蓝藻向下游漂移综合作用的结果.研究成果可为控制鄱阳蓝藻水华区域风险灾害提供基础数据.     

Decomposition and phosphorus release from four di erent size fractions of Microcystis spp. taken from Lake Taihu, China

Decomposition of Microcystis is accompanied by the release of phosphorus, during bacteria play an important role. A series of experiments were undertaken to evaluate the e ect of bacteria on the decomposition of Microcystis taken from Lake Taihu, China, a lake that is su ering from dense Microcystis blooms. The 16 experiments involved four size fractions of colonial Microcystis with or without the addition of lake sediment and Gram-negative bacterial inhibitor NaN3. The highest decomposition rates were recorded for the smallest size Microcystis fraction (< 25 m) with the addition of the sediment. The lowest decomposition rates were recorded for the smallest Microcystis fraction without the sediment, but with the addition of Gram-negative bacterial inhibitor NaN3. The higher decomposition rates in the treatments with NaN3 and sediment suggest that Gram-positive bacteria in the sediment are important for the decomposition process. Additionally, higher concentrations of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) in the treatments with NaN3 suggest that more phosphorus accumulates in the Gram-negative bacterial cells around the colony, which may be an important source of phosphorus for Microcystis cells. In the no-sediment treatments, the ratios of TDP concentration to initial TP concentration were 64%–82%. The results of this experiment suggest that both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria play an important role in the decomposition of Microcystis cells and the release of phosphorus from Microcystis colonies.     

Seasonal dynamics of water bloom-forming Microcystis morphospecies and the associated extracellular microcystin concentrations in large, shallow, eutrophic Dianchi Lake

The increasing occurrence of Microcystis blooms is of great concern to public health and ecosystem due to the potential hepatotoxic microcystins （MCs） produced by these colonial cyanobacteria. In order to interpret the relationships between variations of Microcyst/s morphospedes and extracellular MC concentrations, the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton community composition, MC concentrations, and environmental parameters were monitored monthly from August, 2009 to July, 2010. The results indicated that Microcystis dominated total phytoplankton abundance from May to December （96%--99% of total biovolume）, with toxic Microcystis viridis and non-toxic Microcystis wesenbergii dominating after July （constituting 65%- 95% of the Microcystis population）, followed by M. viridis as the sole dominant species from November to January （49%--93%）. Correlation analysis revealed that water temperature and nutrient were the most important variables accounting for the occurrence ofM. wesenbergii, while the dominance ofM. viridis was related with nitrite and nitrate. The relatively low content of MCs was explained by the association with a large proportion of M. viriclis and M. wesenbergii, small colony size of Microcystis populations, and low water temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen. The extracellular MC （mean of 0.5 ± 0.2 μg/L） of water samples analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） demonstrated the low concentrations of MC in Dianchi Lake which implied the low potential risk for human health in the basin. The survey provides the first whole lake study of the occurrence and seasonal variability of Microcyst/s population and     

Spatial heterogeneity of cyanobacterial communities and genetic variation of Microcystis populations within large, shallow eutrophic lakes (Lake Taihu and Lake Chaohu, China)

Cyanobacteria, specifically Microcystis, usually form massive blooms in eutrophic freshwater lakes. Cyanobacterial samples were collected from eight sites of both Lake Taihu and Lake Chaohu in late summer to determine the diversity and distribution pattern of cyanobacteria and Microcystis in large, shallow, entropic lakes with significant spatial heterogeneity and long-term Microcystis bloom. Molecular methods based on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and clone library analysis were used. A similar heterogeneous distribution pattern of cyanobacteria in both lakes was observed. Most parts of these two lakes with high trophic level were dominated by Microcystis. However, in the regions with low trophic levels as well as low concentrations of chlorophyll a, Synechococcus occupied a considerable percentage. Different morphospecies and genotypes dominated the bloom-forming Microcystis populations in these two lakes. Microcystis viridis and Microcystis novacekii were dominant in Lake Chaohu, whereas Microcystis flos-aquae was dominant in Lake Taihu. Only 2 of the13 Microcystis operational taxonomic units were shared between these two lakes. Analysis of molecular variance based on 16S to 23S internal transcribed spacer sequences indicated the significant genetic differentiation of Microcystis between these two lakes (F_st = 0.19, p < 0.001). However, only 19.46% of the genetic variability was explained by the population variation between lakes, whereas most (80.54%) of the genetic variability occurred within the lakes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed no phylogeographic structure of Microcystis population in these two lakes, as illustrated by their cosmopolitan nature. Our results revealed that spatial heterogeneity within lakes has more impact on the cyanobacterial diversity than geographical isolation in a local scale.     

藻华高风险期微囊藻在洱海中的垂直分布特征及其影响因素

大量微囊藻浮力调节及其垂向迁移是形成蓝藻水华的重要机制之一.为研究微囊藻的垂直分布特征及影响因素,以洱海北部湖心为监测点位,采用野外采样室内分析的方法,于2016年9—12月对微囊藻生物量、伪空胞体积、粒径等指标进行了测定.结果表明:9—11月微囊藻生物量逐月增长并于11月达到峰值（1.77 mg/L）,在12月出现下降（月均值为0.34 mg/L）;9月、11月微囊藻伪空胞体积（18.0~22.6 μm3/cell）较高,10月、12月较低（10.2~17.3 μm3/cell）;9—11月微囊藻的垂向迁移速率（5.4~14.5 m/d）、漂浮百分率（57%~96%）及群体粒径（91~305 μm）逐渐增大,12月明显减小.微囊藻生物量、伪空胞体积及群体粒径的垂直分布规律均表现为表层最高,中层次之,底层最低.9—11月,微囊藻在洱海中出现垂直分层现象,伪空胞提供的浮力作用和藻群体粒径作用大于风力扰动作用,促使微囊藻在水柱中主动迁移并聚集在水面;而在12月,风力扰动对微囊藻垂直分布的影响远超过浮力及粒径的作用,微囊藻在水柱中趋于均匀分布.研究显示,藻华高风险期微囊藻在洱海呈弱分层分布,且浮力及群体粒径是影响其垂直分布的主要因子.      

Decomposition and phosphorus release from four different size fractions of Microcystis spp. taken from Lake Taihu, China

Decomposition of Microcystis is accompanied by the release of phosphorus,during bacteria play an important role.A series of experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effect of bacteria on the decomposition of Microcystis taken from Lake Taihu,China,a lake that is suffering from dense Microcystis blooms.The 16 experiments involved four size fractions of colonial Microcystis with or without the addition of lake sediment and Gram-negative bacterial inhibitor NAN_3.The highest decomposition rates were reco...     

Seven microcystins from Microcystis waterbloom in Lake Dalai,China

Seven types of microcystins,isolated from Microcystis waterbloom in Lake Dalai, were characterized.The major toxins:MCYST-LR,MCYST-RR,[D-Asp³]MCYST-LR and [Dha⁷]MCYST-LR were identified by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC),as compared with the authentic microcystins.The minor toxins:MCYST FR,[L-Mser⁷]MCYST-LR and an unknown MCYST which was most likely to be MCYST-(H₄)YR were identified with fritfast atom bombardment liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry(Frit-FAB LC/MS)and amino acid analysis.The toxigenic diversity in blue-green algae(cyanobacteria)was discussed.     

太湖春季和秋季浮游植物的光合作用活性

应用Phyto-PAM浮游植物荧光仪对2012年太湖浮游植物群落光合作用活性的时空分布进行测定. 结果表明:春季蓝藻、绿藻和硅/甲藻的F_v/F_m(最大光量子产量)分别为0.35~0.49、0.34~0.68和0.09~0.56;秋季则分别为0.34~0.53、0.55~0.68和0.28~0.61. 春季蓝藻、绿藻和硅/甲藻的NPQ(非光化学淬灭)分别为0.012~0.165、0.085~0.201和0.104~0.281,秋季则分别为0.035~0.263、0.052~0.118和0.048~0.301. RLC(快速光响应曲线)的特征参数表明,太湖浮游植物群落光能利用效率和光合作用速率具有显著时空差异. 相关分析表明,绿藻和硅/甲藻的光合作用活性与环境因子没有显著相关性;而蓝藻的F_v/F_m与RLC的特征参数呈显著正相关,与ρ(Chla)呈显著正相关(P<0.05,R=0.49),与SD(透明度)呈极显著负相关(P<0.01,R=-0.56),说明太湖蓝藻的光合作用活性与富营养化水平具有一致性. 从空间分布来看,草型湖区蓝藻的光合作用活性和ρ(Chla)均显著低于藻型湖区,表明水草能抑制蓝藻的光合作用活性和生长,进而降低蓝藻水华强度.      

结合卫星遥感技术的太湖蓝藻水华形成风场特征

为进一步了解太湖蓝藻水华形成和分布与近地面风场的关系,利用太湖湖面及周边地区2003~2013年气象与卫星观测数据分析、并应用WRF3.5.1数值模型模拟,发现太湖蓝藻水华主要出现在卫星观测时刻前6h平均风速为0.5~3.4 m/s的区间,占比达94.7%;蓝藻水华面积总体上随风速增大而减小,大范围蓝藻水华主要出现在前6h平均风速≤2 m/s的情形下,占比达89%;风向则主要影响蓝藻水华在太湖的空间分布格局.结果表明局地风场对于太湖蓝藻水华的形成、输移和分布具有重要作用.     

Cyanobacteria-/cyanotoxin-contaminations and eutrophication status before Wuxi Drinking Water Crisis in Lake Taihu, China

After the appalling “Wuxi DrinkingWater Crisis”, increasing investigations concerning the contaminations of cyanobacterial blooms and their toxins in Lake Taihu have been performed and reported in the last two years. However, information regarding these issues before the crisis in 2007 remained insu cient. To provide some background data for further comparisons, the present study reported our investigations conducted in 2004, associated with the cyanotoxin contaminations as well as the eutrophication status in Lake Taihu. Results from the one-year-study near a drinking water resource for Wuxi City indicated that, unlike the status in recent two years, cyanobacteria and chlorophyta are the co-dominance species throughout the year. The highest toxin concentration (34.2 ng/mL) in water columns occurred in August. In bloom biomass, the peak value of intracellular toxin (0.59 g/mg DW) was determined in October, which was lag behind that in water column. In addition, MC-RR was the major toxin variant throughout the year. During the study period, nutrients levels of total nitrogen and phosphorus were also recorded monthly. Results from the present study will lead to a better understanding of the eutrophication status and the potential risks before “Wuxi Drinking Water Crisis”.     

风场对太湖梅梁湾水华及营养盐空间分布的影响

为了解风场对湖泊表层蓝藻水华及营养盐空间分布的影响,以太湖梅梁湾为例,在蓝藻水华期间开展表层粒子漂流实验,研究风场对水体表层物质的推移规律,并开展全水域水体表、中、底层密集布点采样,测定水体藻类叶绿素a、氮、磷、高锰酸盐指数、溶解性有机碳、溶解氧等水质指标,探讨风场驱动下大型浅水湖泊蓝藻水华及营养盐时空分布特征.结果表明,在平均风速1. 9 m·s~(-1)和2. 3 m·s~(-1)的情况下,表层粒子的平均漂移速度分别为3. 0 cm·s~(-1)和5. 0 cm·s~(-1);风场对表层水体蓝藻水华的空间分布具有决定性影响,能够引起蓝藻水华在空间上较高的异质性;蓝藻水华物质的空间变化对水体颗粒态氮、磷、有机质和溶解氧等水质指标产生较大影响,表、中、底层颗粒态氮和磷、高锰酸盐指数与叶绿素a浓度的空间分布一致,而溶解态氮、磷浓度及溶解性有机碳的分布与叶绿素a浓度分布不尽相同;蓝藻水华物质在风场作用下的再分配对水体溶解氧产生复杂的影响,底层溶解氧平均值低于表层与中层,可能对沉积物营养盐释放产生影响;依据高密度布点调查估算,仅表层20 cm,梅梁湾水域的蓝藻干物质赋存量约396 t,远大于蓝藻打捞工程的清除量.研究表明,鉴于水华期间风场作用下对蓝藻水华漂移的巨大影响,在湖泊水质调查采样方法及数据分析时应充分考虑蓝藻水华漂移的影响因素;防控湖泛灾害的蓝藻打捞作业对湖体蓝藻水华赋存量的清除能力有限,只能对岸边带湖泛的预防产生影响.     

鄱阳湖悬浮颗粒物絮凝沉降典型藻类的动力学研究

为了探讨鄱阳湖水动力条件改变引起的悬浮颗粒物浓度变化可能导致的鄱阳湖浮游植物群落结构的变化,本文研究了鄱阳湖悬浮颗粒物絮凝沉降3种典型藻类的动力学过程.以铜绿微囊藻(蓝藻)、四尾栅藻(绿藻)和菱形藻(硅藻)为研究对象、鄱阳湖采集沉积物为悬浮颗粒物,使用混凝试验搅拌仪模拟动力学条件,在颗粒物投加量为20 mg·L-1时分别研究了静置沉降时间、扰动强度和扰动时间对颗粒物絮凝沉降藻细胞的影响.结果表明,絮凝沉降效率:蓝藻绿藻硅藻.在扰动强度为20 s-1、扰动时间为30 min时,0.5~4 h静置沉降时间均促进3种藻类的絮凝沉降.绿藻和硅藻的絮凝沉降效率随着静置沉降时间的延长而降低,前0.5 h的絮凝沉降效率最大;而蓝藻的絮凝沉降效率变化无明显规律.扰动时间和静置沉降时间均为30 min时,随着扰动强度在2~40 s-1增加时,3种藻的絮凝沉降效率逐渐增大.扰动强度为20 s-1、静置沉降时间为30 min时,5~60 min扰动时间均促进藻细胞的絮凝沉降,并且随着扰动时间的增加,絮凝沉降效率呈先增大后降低的趋势.30 min为蓝藻絮凝沉降的最佳扰动时间,絮凝沉降效率为12.56%;45 min为绿藻和硅藻絮凝沉降的最佳扰动时间,絮凝沉降效率分别为11.93%和7.54%.因此,水动力条件的改变可以引起悬浮颗粒物与藻类的絮凝沉降效率发生变化,从而对藻类的群落结构以及水华发生规律产生影响.     

太湖水华期营养盐空间分异特征与赋存量估算

基于2013年7月的空间高密度采样数据,对太湖水华期水体营养盐进行了空间分异特征分析及赋存量估算,探讨了大型浅水湖泊不同生态类型湖区水华与营养盐的相关关系及样点设置的代表性.结果发现,水华期太湖水体营养盐及叶绿素a浓度(CHL)总体上均呈现由西北向东南降低的趋势;氮主要以溶解态存在,占总氮(TN)的76.28%,磷主要以颗粒态赋存,占总磷(TP)的66.38%.采用主成分分析和聚类分析,可以将采样点分为相互之间具有显著性差异的4个区域:第一区位于西北湖区,代表水华严重的重富营养湖区;第二区主要包括梅梁湾及南太湖的入湖河口一带湖区,代表水华和富营养化程度都相对中等的湖区;第三区包括湖心区和西南湖区,代表中等污染但水华频现湖区;第四区包括贡湖湾、胥口湾和东太湖等其他区域,代表水华影响较弱、水质较好湖区.分区统计分析表明,不同湖区影响浮游藻类生长的因子也不同:从全湖来看,与CHL显著相关的营养盐指标为TP、TN、溶解性总氮(TDN)和硝态氮(NO-3-N),而在第一区则为TP和TDN,第二区为TN和TDN,第三区为TP、磷酸盐(PO3-4-P)和TDN,第四区为PO3-4-P、溶解性总磷(TDP)和亚硝酸盐(NO-2-N).基于空间插值获得调查期间太湖水体TN、TDN、TP和TDP的赋存量分别为12 800、9 800、445和150 t.研究表明,作为一个大型浅水湖泊,因蓝藻水华空间迁移积聚特征和生态类型异化等特征,太湖水华期的营养盐具有高度空间异质性,对于此类大型浅水湖泊的监测与评价,应当考虑点位的合理布设及结果的恰当解读,避免因监测布点和统计方法不当而以偏概全.     

不同磷质量浓度体系中pH变化对铜绿微囊藻和四尾栅藻竞争的影响

铜绿微囊藻和四尾栅藻分别是太湖中最为常见的蓝藻和绿藻.微囊藻在湖泊中形成优势是微囊藻水华发生的重要条件.在模拟太湖水的竞争实验(ρ(磷)分别为0.012,0.112,0.412和1.612 mg/L)中,四尾栅藻均形成优势,而且在稳定期时pH达到10以上.但用0.04 mol/L HCl将pH都降到5.8后,2种藻的增殖都出现明显的变化,在ρ(磷)低于0.412 mg/L时,四尾栅藻优势变得更加明显;而在ρ(磷)为1.612 mg/L时,铜绿微囊藻则形成优势.说明pH对蓝藻和绿藻竞争的影响在不同ρ(磷)的水体中是不同的.      

藻毒素生物降解技术的研究进展

藻毒素是湖泊水华现象滋生的有害有毒污染物,它严重恶化了饮用水水源地的水质。有效控制水华爆发及去除藻毒素是环境科学领域的一个难题。近些年来,利用生物降解技术去除藻毒素已经取得了显著的效果。笔者对国内外利用生物降解技术去除微囊藻毒素的最新研究进展进行了综述,并提出了控制藻毒素的新途径。     

南京玄武湖微囊藻水华种类组成的研究

2005-08～2006-10采集蓝藻水华样品, 通过形态学特征和ITS序列分子标记的方法对南京玄武湖水华的优势种类进行了鉴定. 结果表明,玄武湖水华主要由微囊藻构成, 通过形态特征鉴定主要种类为铜绿微囊藻(M. aeruginosa)、M. novacekii 和惠氏微囊藻(M. wesenbergii). 3种藻的生物量在水华中的相对比例分别为30%～45%、35%～40%和10%～15%. 采用分子标记的方法对２种优势种类进行了分子鉴定. PCR扩增ITS序列并进行测序, 通过基因序列比对和基于ITS序列的系统发生树分析, 进一步确定了优势种类为M. aeruginosa和M. novacekii; 通过检测产毒基因mcyB来确认2株优势微囊藻的产毒特性, PCR扩增结果均出现了大约为780 bp的特异性片段, 表明这2种藻均为产毒种. 对水华提取物的高效液相色谱(HPLC)测定表明, 玄武湖水华中微囊藻毒素的种类主要是MC-LR和MC-RR.     

太湖不同湖区蓝藻细胞裂解速率的空间差异

2009年在太湖蓝藻水华形成初期(五月)、盛发期(九月)和衰亡期(十月和十一月),运用基于颗粒态酯酶,溶解性酯酶以及酯酶衰变常数测定的酯酶活性方法对不同湖区(藻型和草型湖区)蓝藻的细胞裂解速率进行了计算,在测定颗粒态酯酶、溶解性酯酶活性时,同步分析了太湖优势种群中蓝藻叶绿素a的含量.统计分析结果表明,叶绿素a的浓度与颗粒态酯酶、溶解性酯酶活性有很好的相关性,说明以酯酶活性为指标来计算太湖蓝藻细胞裂解速率是可行的.对不同湖区的细胞裂解速率进行比较,可见湖心和西太湖在蓝藻水华形成初期细胞裂解速率分别为0.072,0.048d-1.水华盛发期以及水华衰亡期,湖心和西太湖的细胞裂解速率分别为0.074～0.770d-1,0.014～0.110d-1.太湖湖心磷酸盐浓度比西太湖低,所以蓝藻生长速率慢,导致细胞裂解速率比西太湖高.但是,在梅梁湾和贡湖,衰亡末期磷酸盐浓度比其它月份高,细胞裂解速率也高.4个采样点在衰亡末期的细胞裂解速率比水华形成初期,暴发期和衰亡初期要高,可能的原因是气温和水体温度下降导致蓝藻生长速度减慢.本研究结果表明,太湖蓝藻细胞裂解速率有明显的空间差异,其具体的影响因素很多,营养盐只是其中一个.     

Quantification of microcystin-producing and non-microcystin producing Microcystis populations during the 2009 and 2010 blooms in Lake Taihu using quantitative real-time PCR

Lake Taihu, a large, shallow hypertrophic freshwater lake in eastern China, has experienced lake-wide toxic cyanobacterial blooms annually during summer season in the past decades. Spatial changes in the abundance of hepatotoxin microcystin-producing and non-microcystin producing Microcystis populations were investigated in the lake in August of 2009 and 2010. To monitor the densities of the total Microcystis population and the potential microcystin-producing subpopulation, we used a quantitative real-time PCR assay targeting the phycocyanin intergenic spacer (PC-IGS) and the microcystin synthetase gene (mcyD), respectively. On the basis of quantification by real-time PCR analysis, the abundance of potential toxic Microcystis genotypes and the ratio of the mcyD subpopulation to the total Microcystis varied significantly, from 4.08× 10⁴ to 5.22× 10⁷ copies/mL, from 5.7% to 65.8%, respectively. Correlation analysis showed a strong positive relationship between chlorophyll-a, toxic Microcystis and total Microcystis; the abundance of toxic Microcystis correlated positively with total phosphorus and ortho-phosphate concentrations, but negatively with TN:TP ratio and nitrate concentrations. Meanwhile the proportion of potential toxic genotypes within Microcystis population showed positive correlation with total phosphorus and ortho-phosphate concentrations. Our data suggest that increased phosphorus loading may be a significant factor promoting the occurrence of toxic Microcystis bloom in Lake Taihu.